In HP pavilion Gaming 15-ec0042ax F.20 bios is crashing

[RJeetSenpai]

Recently my Bios got updated to F.19 and later F.20, ever since then my booting gets stuck at the HP screen. I tried a workaround to go to boot menu and save and exit without any changes. It boots the laptop. But the real problem starts then. I have 2 8 GB RAM stocks in dual channel mode. Both are identical with everything same about it. However, if I check my RAM, out of 16 GB, only 5.88GB is usable and rest all are hardware reserved. I tried booting unchecking the maximum memory, adjusting the paging size, reseating the RAM discs, Reset windows. But nothing fixed the issue. Then I remembered that it all started after bios update. And now if I try to rollback or flash the old bios through USB it does not work. I want to rollback the BIOS to older version where it used to work. 

Please HELP with this!!!!!

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @RJeetSenpai 

Welcome to the HP Support Community! We're here to help you get back up and running.

I understand the concern. Based on the details you've already shared, you've performed extensive troubleshooting including reseating the memory modules, resetting Windows, adjusting memory settings, and attempting BIOS recovery. Since the behavior started immediately after the BIOS updates (F.19/F.20), it's reasonable to focus on the BIOS and firmware configuration.

For the HP Pavilion Gaming 15-ec0042ax, please try the following:

Perform a BIOS Defaults Recovery

• Power off the notebook.
• Turn it on and immediately tap F10 repeatedly to enter BIOS Setup.
• Press F9 to load BIOS defaults.
• Select Yes.
• Press F10 to save and exit.
• Restart and check whether the full 16 GB becomes available.

Verify Memory Detection in BIOS

• Enter BIOS Setup (F10).
• Check whether BIOS detects the full 16 GB RAM.
• If BIOS itself reports less than 16 GB, the issue is occurring before Windows loads.

Run HP Hardware Diagnostics

• Power off the notebook.
• Turn it on and repeatedly press F2.
• Run:
  • System Tests > Extensive Test
  • Memory Test
• Note any failure IDs if displayed.

Test One Memory Module at a Time

• Remove one 8 GB module and boot the system.
• Check usable memory.
• Repeat with the other module and with each memory slot.
• This can help identify whether the BIOS update exposed a memory training or slot initialization issue.

Check Hardware Reserved Memory

• Open Task Manager > Performance > Memory.
• Note the exact value shown for Hardware Reserved.
• If approximately 10 GB is reserved, it may indicate a BIOS memory mapping issue rather than a Windows configuration issue.

Perform an Embedded Controller Reset

• Shut down the notebook.
• Disconnect all external devices.
• Hold the power button for 15 seconds.
• Reconnect power and start the notebook.

Regarding BIOS rollback:

Many newer HP BIOS releases include rollback protection. Even when a previous BIOS is placed on a USB recovery drive, the notebook may prevent downgrading if the firmware policy blocks installation of an older revision. If BIOS Recovery does not detect or apply the older BIOS image, that behavior is often related to the BIOS security mechanism rather than the USB recovery media itself.

One important detail would help narrow this down:

When you enter BIOS Setup (F10), does the BIOS itself show the full 16 GB installed, or does it already show approximately 6 GB usable / incorrect memory information before Windows starts?

That result will help determine whether the F.20 BIOS is mismanaging memory allocation or whether Windows is simply receiving incorrect memory mapping information from the firmware.

Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye

[RJeetSenpai]

Hello @Hawks_Eye,

Thanks for you reply.

BIOS detects full 16GB RAM. Also if I remove the entire 8GB stick, it still shows 6.9 GB usable. In the task manager, also it shows 9.1GB hardware reserved and 6.9 GB usable. I did everything mentioned but nothing worked. In case it really is BIOS issue, then there must be some way to downgrade BIOS else the laptop will be mostly unusable as the 6.9 GB is always almost fully consumed.

In case there is any way to fix it please let me know.

Thanks and Regards,

RJeet

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @RJeetSenpai 

Thank you for the detailed update. I appreciate the additional testing you performed, especially confirming that:

• BIOS detects the full 16 GB installed memory.
• The issue remains even when one 8 GB memory module is removed.
• Approximately 9.1 GB is Hardware Reserved and only 6.9 GB is usable in Windows.
• The behavior started after the BIOS updates to F.19/F.20.

Since BIOS is correctly identifying the full 16 GB, and the usable memory remains nearly the same even when a memory module is removed, this no longer points to a faulty RAM module. It suggests that the firmware is reserving a significant portion of memory before Windows loads.

Please try the following additional checks:

1. Enter BIOS Setup (F10).
2. Load defaults again using F9, save with F10, and restart.
3. After restarting, enter BIOS once more and verify whether there is any option related to:
   • UMA Frame Buffer Size
   • Integrated Graphics Memory
   • Memory Remap
   • Graphics Configuration

If any of these options are available, please let us know their current values.

Also, perform a BIOS recovery attempt rather than a standard flash:

1. Turn the notebook off.
2. Hold Windows + B.
3. While holding those keys, press and hold the Power button for 2-3 seconds.
4. Release the Power button but continue holding Windows + B until the BIOS recovery screen appears.
5. Complete the recovery process if offered.

Regarding BIOS downgrade, some HP BIOS releases include rollback controls that can prevent installation of an older BIOS revision even when the BIOS file is available. HP firmware documentation also indicates that BIOS rollback policies can restrict downgrades on supported platforms, depending on the firmware security configuration. 

One final detail that would be very helpful:

Could you post a screenshot of Task Manager > Performance > Memory showing:

• In Use
• Available
• Hardware Reserved
• Installed Memory

and, if possible, a photo of the BIOS system information page showing the detected memory?

That information will help determine whether the reservation is being caused by firmware memory mapping or a graphics memory allocation issue.

Regards,

Hawks_Eye

[RJeetSenpai]

Hello @Hawks_Eye,

Thanks for your reply. I have genuinely tried everything suggested so far.

First of all, there are no Advanced BIOS settings available on my system, so options such as changing the UMA buffer size and other related settings are simply not available. I also ran an extensive memory test, and it passed successfully. I have checked everything on the hardware side, and everything appears to be in place.

Task Manager is also showing the maximum amount of RAM as Hardware Reserved memory, which strongly indicates that the issue is related to how the system is allocating the memory rather than a physical RAM problem. I have already tried every troubleshooting step I could find.

I can also guarantee that this issue started after my system BIOS was updated in July. Before that update, the system was working normally.

Another major issue is that HP updates the BIOS automatically. Windows does not provide an option to permanently prevent these updates. It only allows updates to be paused for a limited period, after which they are forced again. If an update causes a problem, there is apparently no straightforward rollback option available to return to the previous BIOS version.

I have now been dealing with this issue for more than a month. I have tried everything I can, waited for subsequent updates, and nothing has resolved the problem. At this point, it seems clear that unless I can downgrade the BIOS to the version that was installed before the July update, this issue is unlikely to be resolved.

What is particularly frustrating is that the laptop has effectively become unusable after the warranty period has ended, despite the problem appearing to have started directly after an HP BIOS update. The lack of a proper BIOS rollback option makes this situation even more frustrating and, honestly, makes it feel intentional.

I would appreciate a proper solution that allows me to revert to the previous BIOS version or otherwise resolve the memory allocation issue caused by the update.

[Hawks_Eye]

We sincerely thank you for your patience and co-operation during this troubleshooting process.

If after following these steps you still face issues, consider reaching out to our HP service center for further assistance.
 

Click on the link below and fill in the required details to find the closest service center and their availability.

Service Center Locator: https://support.hp.com/us-en/service-center

Please call before visiting a service center.

Thanks!

Hawks_Eye