Need Help with BIOS & Firmware Issues on HP Pavilion Gaming 15-dk0015la (Clean Win11 Install)

[Saladfingwr]

Hi everyone,

I'm having some serious issues after doing a clean install of Windows 11 on my HP Pavilion Gaming 15-dk0015la.

After wiping the system and reinstalling Windows 11, I noticed a few issues in Device Manager:

Firmware device shows "This device cannot start" (Code 10).

The NVMe controller is also not working properly — it’s either not recognized or throwing errors.

I’ve been trying to update the BIOS to the most recent version:

F.68 Rev.A (10.1 MB, released Nov 12, 2024)

Here’s what I’ve tried so far:

Used the HP BIOS Update tool in Windows — it just gets stuck at “initializing” for hours.

Tried using a USB BIOS recovery method — but when I boot with the USB, all I get is a backlit screen and a fan that turns on and off.

Repeated the process multiple times with different USBs and BIOS versions — same result.

At this point, I'm not sure what else to try. Has anyone dealt with something similar? Is there a way to force flash the BIOS safely or another method to get firmware and NVMe functioning again?

Any help, advice, or resources would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance.

[zoey7886]

@Saladfingwr, Welcome to the HP Support Community!  

Thanks for reaching out about your query regarding BIOS & Firmware Issues on HP Pavilion Gaming 15-dk0015la! 

We're thrilled to have the opportunity to assist you and provide a solution.  

After experiencing device issues following a clean installation of Windows 11 on your HP Pavilion Gaming 15-dk0015la, here’s a step-by-step guide to address BIOS and firmware problems:

Updating BIOS and Firmware

1. Run Windows Update:
   • Ensure your computer is connected to the internet.
   • Search for and open "Check for updates" in Windows.
   • Install available updates. If any updates require a restart, allow your computer to do so.
   • Repeat this process until no further updates are available.

Update BIOS through HP Support Assistant:

• Open HP Support Assistant from the Start menu.
• Check for BIOS updates available for your device on the "Updates" section.
• Follow the prompts to install any BIOS updates.

Use Device Manager:

• Search for and open "Device Manager".
• Expand the "Firmware" section.
• Right-click on the firmware device with the error and select "Update driver".
• Choose "Search automatically for updated driver software".

Manually Update BIOS:

• Visit HP Customer Support and search for your HP Pavilion Gaming 15-dk0015la.
• Download the latest BIOS update available for your model.
• Follow the provided instructions to install the BIOS update.

Troubleshooting NVMe Controller Issue

Update NVMe Controller Driver from Device Manager:

• Open Device Manager.
• Expand the "Storage controllers" section.
• Right-click on your NVMe controller and select "Update driver".
• Choose "Search automatically for updated driver software".

Hope this helps! 

Take care, and have an amazing day!  

Did we resolve the issue? If yes, Please consider marking this post as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" to give us a helpful vote - your feedback keeps us going!  

Regards, 

[Saladfingwr]

Hello, Ive tried all these steps and hp assistant says the bios is up to date. However, in the bios setting it still has an older version. It still has the hardware issues and stuck at initializing bios update.

[zoey7886]

@Saladfingwr, Thanks for the update — I understand how frustrating this can be, especially after trying all the recommended steps.

If HP Support Assistant shows the BIOS is up to date, but your system BIOS version hasn’t changed and you’re still seeing hardware issues, it’s likely the BIOS update isn’t completing properly — especially with it getting stuck at “initializing.”

Here are a few things you can try next:

1. Use HP BIOS Update via UEFI (Outside Windows)

Let’s try updating the BIOS directly through the UEFI environment:

Shut down your laptop completely.

Press and hold Win + B, then press the Power button for 2-3 seconds (keep holding Win + B).

Wait for the BIOS recovery screen — you should see an HP BIOS update screen if it detects the BIOS file on your USB.

If this screen doesn’t come up, try the same with Win + V instead.

Make sure the USB drive is FAT32-formatted, and only contains the BIOS .bin or .exe file downloaded from HP support site for your exact model.

2. Reset BIOS to Defaults

In the BIOS setup, try resetting everything to default settings:

Restart the laptop and tap Esc repeatedly to enter the Startup Menu.

Press F10 to enter BIOS Setup.

Look for “Load Setup Defaults” or something similar, save, and exit.

3. Hardware Diagnostics

Since NVMe and firmware issues persist:

Boot into HP Diagnostics by pressing Esc > F2 at startup.

Run a full system test, especially on storage and firmware.

Hope this helps! 

Take care, and have an amazing day!  

Did we resolve the issue? If yes, Please consider marking this post as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" to give us a helpful vote - your feedback keeps us going!  

Regards,