Should I update the BIOS?

[TOADintree3]

I have a HP Pavilion dv4 Notebook PC x64 bit, circa 2008, running Windows 10. The OS has been restored (Windows restore key) in the last month and (other than the fact the computer is turtle slow) it runs fine.

My BIOS version is Hewlett-Packard F.04, 6/23/2008.

My questions are:

1. Should the bios be updated?

2. Or should I leave well enough alone, seeing things are working fine?

3. If one updates the BIOS, what BIOS do they use for this computer?

4. What is the correct way to do it?

I found this method:

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=how+do+i+enter+the+bios+menu+on+a+dell+computer+in+windows+10&&...

5. Is it a good method to use?

Any assistance on this is appreciated, thank you

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

I would not recommend updating the BIOS for two reasons...

1. Any BIOS updates for that model were written for Vista or W7, and if you run the BIOS update on W10, you stand a great risk of permanently wrecking the notebook.

2.  If things are working OK, there is no need to update the BIOS.

All the latest BIOS release (F.66 -May 31, 2010) did was:  - Fixes an intermittent issue where the system cannot detect that the AC adapter is plugged in.

If you want to reinstall Vista or W7...

Here are the links to the BIOS update files...

Info:

ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp48501-49000/sp48847.html

Exe file:

ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp48501-49000/sp48847.exe

Two things that concern me about this BIOS update:

Doesn't say if it is for notebook's with Intel or AMD processors.

I believe it is for Intel processors but I can't be 100% sure.

BIOS version F.66 seems awful far away from F.04...

[TOADintree3]

Thank you Paul. I figured as much but just wanted to check to be sure. It is a process, and one that if not done exactly right (the techs say) you lose the computer. At least my HP is still ticking, and typing (these posts)! My new Dell is down (oh no) and we don't know when it will be back in service. I have to hand it to HP, this computer is over 11 years old and still going strong!

It's a classic tortise and hare parallel. 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

You can't beat some of those old relics.

I still have a notebook running on W10 that was made in 2007.