Invalid product information after BIOS update - fixable?

[iGadget]

After jumping through many, many hoops to get the latest ProBook 6550b BIOS onto a bootable USB stick, I finally managed to update the BIOS of my trusty old 6550b from version F03 to version F60. However, after rebooting the system, I now get this error:

Product Information not valid

The following product information programmed into the system board is missing or invalid.

SYSTEM BOARD (00A) -

Product Name

Product Serial Number
Product SKU

After this, this system does in fact boot, but it's awfully slow. When I entered the BIOS to check the settings, I noticed the disk controller is now set to IDE mode instead of AHCI, so that might explain the slow performance. Also, (a.o.) WiFi is disabled and worst - none of the settings I change in the BIOS are retained when I save them....

So unless the F60 version of the BIOS has some serious bugs, it seems the flashing procedure did not entirely go as planned.

Being unable to boot from USB (no devices show in the Boot Menu invoked by ESC, F9), how can I re-try flashing the BIOS, if this is even possible?

[ub6424]

Hello @iGadget 

Sorry to hear that you are having problems ... I would like to help you.

F60 is the wrong version, because it is not compatible with your notebook model.

(1) Power off notebook

(2) Disconnect charger

(3) Press and hold <power> button for 30 seconds

(4) Connect charger

(5) Follow --->>> BIOS Recovery Reinstall with USB

Use another Windows 7 computer to create <USB flash drive>

HP Notebook System BIOS Update

F.20

19.4 MB

Sep 2, 2011

Download

Use a FAT32-formatted small <USB flash drive> (Type USB 2.0)

(6) Repeat reflash procedures:

• windows + b <USB flash drive> not connected
• windows + v <USB flash drive> not connected
• windows + b <USB flash drive> connected
• windows + v <USB flash drive> connected 

Keep me updated

Kind regards

[iGadget]

Thanks @Ub6424 for your elaborate reply.

Weird that HP offered me the F60 version for my model. And disappointing that the firmware updater app (apparently) does not contain any built-in checks to make sure the right BIOS is used.

At any rate, I created a new stick with the F20 BIOS from the sp54664 source.

I followed the initial steps you described, but at step 3, the system turns on after about 20 seconds. Is this correct?

Assuming it wasn't, I turned the system off again before proceeding.

As for the recovery key-combo's:

• windows + b <USB flash drive> not connected -> does nothing, system stays off
• windows + v <USB flash drive> not connected -> system turns on, blank screen and the [caps lock] LED starts blinking (blue). Also, the system fan starts blowing full speed. Then nothing happens and the system even doesn't respond to the power button anymore... I tried holding it (up to 30 secs), but nothing happens.

Should I disconnect the charger and remove the battery to turn it off?

[ub6424]

---

@iGadget wrote:

Thanks @Ub6424 for your elaborate reply.

...

Should I disconnect the charger and remove the battery to turn it off?

---

Hello @iGadget 

Yes, then the notebook will definitely switch off. But for the reflash process, the battery and the charger must be reconnected.

[iGadget]

Ok, system powered down after disconnecting the charger and removing the battery.

Now after replacing the battery (without the charger plugged in) and holding the power button for 30 secs, I see a brief flashing of all the LEDs after about 15 seconds and then the system stays off. So perhaps removing the battery before doing the preliminary power-button steps is required.

Now, continuing the next steps (with charger and battery connected):

• windows + b <USB flash drive> connected -> Powers up the laptop, but now I only see the HP logo and a 5x blinking CAPS LOCK led. According to this thread , this means 'General system board failure'. Sounds pretty bad...
• windows + v <USB flash drive> connected -> Powers up the laptop, blank screen and the [caps lock] LED starts blinking (blue). I see a brief activity with the USB key, so it seems something is happening there. Then it stops. Also, the system fan starts blowing full speed again and then I'm in the same situation as with 'windows + v <USB flash drive> disconnected'.

So it appears the system is trying to recover the BIOS from the USB key, but silently fails. Perhaps because it detects a version prior to F.60?

What's worse - now the system doesn't boot any more at all, I'm stuck with the 5x blinking CAPS LOCK led.

I'm confused... As per this thread , why does HP offer the F.60 BIOS for my system when it apparently bricks it? Nowhere in the F.60 releasedoc is there *any* notice that a) my notebook ROM (68CDE) would not be compatible or b) I should have upgraded to a different BIOS version first.

And as per this thread, upgrading from F.03 to F.20 first would (most likely) have prevented me from moving up from there - what's that all about?

So many questions... what to do? Re-try with the F.60 USB key?

[ub6424]

Hello @iGadget 

Thanks for reporting.

Try ...

F.07	Apr 22, 2011	14.2 MB		Download
F.06	Jan 11, 2011	14.2 MB		Download
F.05	Nov 29, 2010	14.2 MB		Download

Please report your results