How to get SMC.bin file

[Maximusk]

Hi.

I just bought an Elitebook 8470p on ebay. It was shipped with Windows 10, however I don't want to use windows on it (I planned to install Archlinux).

I need to access the BIOS setup but it is password protected and I don't have the password.

I tried to contact the HP assistance but I have a big problem :

I am French and will be in Italy for 6 months. I don't speak Italian. I tried to call HP in France who told me to call HP Italy because the PC was Italian and they couldn't help me. I then tried to call HP Italy, and they couldn't help me neither because they almost only speak Italian, and the only thing they could tell me was to pay to change the motherboard, which would probably cost me twice the price i paid the laptop, if not more.

So I know I need the SMC.bin but I don't know how to get it from the support.

[IT_WinSec]

Hi @Maximusk

Welcome to the HP Support forum.

You have made and excellent choice with your PC.

Since you are French and you speak French, contact HP Support for France, explain that you are temporary in Italy (e.g. on vacation - you don't need to be completely 100% honest with the support agent)  and insist on assistance from French support team. Your PC is a commercial/business class product and you need to contact HP Business support team. If you do not speak Italian, there is no way to receive support in Italian language.

>> https://support.hp.com/fr-fr/contact-hp

>> http://www8.hp.com/fr/fr/contact-hp/phone-assist.html

HP Business support should be able to send you a customised SMC.bin file and instructions which you can use  to reset the password. Note that assistance for such issues is usually free of charge for HP business class computers.

Once you receive the SMC.bin file, here are the necessary instructions you need to follow

Please make sure USB pendrive is formatted to FAT32 (not NTFS, not else)

Follow these steps to clear an unknown password for the BIOS administrator:

1. Save the attached SMC.bin file to a blank USB pendrive.
2. Shut down the notebook. Insert the USB pendrive into any USB port. (If this notebook has both USB 2.0 and 3.0 ports, use a USB 2.0 port.)

3. Press and hold the following three keys at the same time:

the Windows key (near alt) , the Up-Arrow key, and the Down-Arrow key

4. Click one and release the power button

You will understand it worked

5. Once you see a grey "SMC Command" screen, release the three keys mentioned in step 3.

(Note: Steps 3, 4, and 5  signal the BIOS of this notebook to examine the USB ports and the HP_TOOLS partition for an SMC.bin file, and if it detects one, to run its command. This SMC.bin file contains the command to allow access into the BIOS as a BIOS administrator without supplying a password.)

You should see something on your screen

6. Read the grey screen about "SMC Command":

6a. If you see a message "SMC Command failure", contact HP support and attach photo of the F1 System Information
screen.

6b. On the other hand, if you see no "SMC Command" message of any sort, try steps 3, 4, and 5 again. You may also use a different brand and smaller capacity USB key. If that does not succeed, contact HP support. Pay attention to step 3 - press and hold the 3+1 button at the same time or very very fast one after another.

6c. If you see a message "SMC Command success", then the command has worked. Follow the on-screen instructions and restart the device. Begin tapping the F10 key (or the Esc key) like tap-tap-tap during start, so that the machine will go into the BIOS setup screen. (For this boot only, the machine should let you enter Setup without having to supply an administrator password. If the unit is restarted without performing the next step, the process will need to be ran again).

7. From the File screen in the BIOS, highlight and select the option to "Reset BIOS Security to factory defaults". (This will clear the old unknown password.) Follow the prompts, and restart the notebook when prompted. Reminder: if this notebook uses
BitLocker full disk encryption software, please choose to NOT reset the TPM! If it does not use BitLocker, you can also clear the TPM.

8. If you wish to set a new administrator BIOS password, you may do so on a future boot cycle by pressing F10 and setting a fresh BIOS admin password within the BIOS setup screen.
If there is any difficulty, particularly at steps 6a or 6b, contact HP support

Hope this helps!

[Maximusk]

I called them again without mentioning that I am in Italy, and went straight to the fact that I need an SMC.bin file, and it almost worked. I have to call again, but I think it will be OK.

I mentionned it the first time because I expected them to call back to avoid a huge phone bill.

[Maximusk]

Hmmm.

They sent me an email explaining how to reset the BIOS password... but they forgot the SMC.bin file... .

I will try to call again but I'm almost sure it's closed on sundays.

But everything's OK, because I have the coolest paperweight ever !

Also, they told me I needed a USB drive of maximum 4GB, and preferably 2GB. is that true ? Because if yes, i'm doomed, I don't have one and I don't think we can still buy less than 8GB in 2017.

[IT_WinSec]

No, not really. Even 32 GB flash drive will work, don't worry. I tried it myself on 2 different models. 8 GB should be ok.

It is very important - please, make sure USB pendrive is formatted to FAT32 (not NTFS, not else)

Let me know if you experience issues 🙂

Here are the necessary instructions you need to follow once you have the SMC.bin file

1. Save the attached .bin file to a blank USB pendrive (freshly FAT32 formatted)
2. Shut down the notebook. Insert the USB pendrive into any USB port. (If this notebook has both USB 2.0 and 3.0 ports, use a USB 2.0 port.)

3. Press and hold the following three keys at the same time:

the Windows key (near alt) , the Up-Arrow key, and the Down-Arrow key

4. Click one and release the power button

You will understand it worked

5. Once you see a grey "SMC Command" screen, release the three keys mentioned in step 3.

(Note: Steps 3, 4, and 5  signal the BIOS of this notebook to examine the USB ports and the HP_TOOLS partition for an SMC.bin file, and if it detects one, to run its command. This SMC.bin file contains the command to allow access into the BIOS as a BIOS administrator without supplying a password.)

You should see something on your screen

6. Read the grey screen about "SMC Command":

6a. If you see a message "SMC Command failure", contact HP support and attach photo of the F1 System Information
screen.

6b. On the other hand, if you see no "SMC Command" message of any sort, try steps 3, 4, and 5 again. You may also use a different brand and smaller capacity USB key. If that does not succeed, contact HP support. Pay attention to step 3 - press and hold the 3+1 button at the same time or very very fast one after another.

6c. If you see a message "SMC Command success", then the command has worked. Follow the on-screen instructions and restart the device. Begin tapping the F10 key (or the Esc key) like tap-tap-tap during start, so that the machine will go into the BIOS setup screen. (For this boot only, the machine should let you enter Setup without having to supply an administrator password. If the unit is restarted without performing the next step, the process will need to be ran again).

7. From the File screen in the BIOS, highlight and select the option to "Reset BIOS Security to factory defaults". (This will clear the old unknown password.) Follow the prompts, and restart the notebook when prompted. Reminder: if this notebook uses
BitLocker full disk encryption software, please choose to NOT reset the TPM! If it does not use BitLocker, you can also clear the TPM.

8. If you wish to set a new administrator BIOS password, you may do so on a future boot cycle by pressing F10 and setting a fresh BIOS admin password within the BIOS setup screen.
If there is any difficulty, particularly at steps 6a or 6b, contact HP support