New Bios update for Envy x360 Ryzen

[mdklassen]

I created an Microsoft Excel document that compares the four latest BIOS updates, and have included an screen-capture of it.

There is not much difference, except: F.13 states "PURPOSE: Critical", while the latest update (F.05 states "PURPOSE: Recommended". 

My question: is applying the "critical" update good-enough?

BIOS comparisons

[numanair]

BIOS F.16 is now available and is the correct version for this laptop. I was able to install it just fine.

[SumMortuus]

Where did you grab the new update?  When I look it says a new F.07 is available as of Feb 1, but this is the same issue as the original one.  Wrong Bios update with insyder flash running.

[TeeChad · Accepted solution]

Under the BIOS update click "previous versions" there will be one dated for Feb 1. It's version F.16 Rev.A 

[SumMortuus]

Yeah, I had just come back to say I had found it in previous versions already, and had loaded it successfully.....  Not sure why the wrong BIOS type keeps getting loaded as the current to install from.

[mdklassen]

> It gets hung up on the seperate flash.exe inside, and won't finish install. 

Are you using "Run as Administrator", to allow something as "vital" as a BIOS update to be installed?

[SumMortuus]

Are you running sp85084 or sp85085 as I mistakenly had dl'd and ran.  The sp85085 is for the 07 BIOS which is the wrong Bios.  No need to run as admin.

[Muhsintt]

Hi All,

I also had BIOS version F.07 listed which does not follow the same naming logic as the previous BIOS versions. However, I was able to install version F.16 by selecting F.07 and looking at previous versions. Both F.07 and F.16 were released on the same date. You will notice that F.05 and F.07 are different file sizes and structure from F.11 to F.16. I believe they are for a different laptop model (maybe the AMD FX or the Intel version) or there may be a Ryzen version with a different CMOS. Whatever the case, it may be helpful for HP to clarify this in the release notes or update their website so it does not show incompatible drivers and BIOS versions. Considering that HP support assistant does not always display available updates or at least it did not display this BIOS update for me.

Also the fixes of this BIOS update are quite vague. Will be helpful to know if it addresses the vulnerabilities that are currently affecting most CPUs.

Cheers

[mdklassen]

> Also the fixes of this BIOS update are quite vague.

Agreed.

> Will be helpful to know if it addresses the vulnerabilities that are currently affecting most CPUs.

If you're talking about the Meltdown/Spectre vulnerability, it is doubtful that HP would fix just "one" of their "many" models. But, looking at "Version 8" of HP's document, it now has updates for some of the HP Business computers.

Here's a snapshot of my updated spreadsheet, in two side-by-side parts, because it is so "wide".

and:

I hope this helps.