BIOS and BIOS Firmware Updates

[Vivsim]

I'm troubleshooting a hardware issue and am working through the steps HP has advised me to follow.  So far, nothing has fixed the issue. 

The final bit of advice was to update the BIOS and I've done this successfully from V.12 to V.15, 

Now I'm wondering if I should also update the BIOS-System Firmware.  There is an update for V.43.

I don't like to do anything without understanding what I'm doing, so would appreciate advice.

For instance, how do I find out what version of BIOS-System Firmware I have; is there any risk in doing the update whether or not I know the current version?  Apparently, I won't be able to back out of the update.

The following is the update download page for my notebook.  It's hard to read here but, if you can help me and wish to see the page, it's at (https://support.hp.com/ca-en/drivers/hp-15-db1000-laptop-pc/model/28278452?sku=6GJ26UA&serialnumber=...).  If that doesn't work, it can be found using the serial no. [Personal Information Removed].

I would really like to do the update as it might be the missing solution, but need some confidence.

Thanks for any help.

[resistencia]

Hi @Vivsim 

I recommend you to use the HP Support Assistant and see if it indicates if there are pending updates.

HP Support Assistant | HP® Support

[Vivsim]

Thanks for that, Resistencia.  I really appreciate that you took time to help me.

I tried  the latest version of  HP Support Assistant  but it did everything it should except recommend updates.  I had upgraded my notebook to Windows 11 so thought that was the problem.  However, HP says the Assistant is Window's 11 compatible.  I also backed down to the legacy version which worked a little better by coming up with a couple of audio drivers but nothing else, despite the fact that there are quite a lot of driver and software updates for my notebook.  There are many people complaining about this so it's not just me.

In case you're wondering, HP's well documented sales pitch for my notebook was that it would be upgradable from Windows 10 to 11 when 11 became available.  11 appears to be working well, with the Assistant being the only problem so far.

As for the BIOS situation, I'm not happy with HP as I think there should have been clarifying information in the list of BIOS updates.   It's quite unusual to see two offerings with wildly different version numbers so it doesn't inspire confidence in applying them.  There appears to be no way to get an explanation direct from HP, other then to pay $125 for one-time support.

So, having got that off my chest, I took the (free) advice of an experienced technician at another company, and applied the V43 BIOS upgrade, and all is well.

Hope this helps someone else.

[resistencia]

Many models compatible with windows 11 HP does not deliver the drivers through the support page, but are delivered by Windows Update and that includes the BIOS, this wants to make Microsoft that the updates are channeled by Windows Update.

[Vivsim]

Interesting!  Thanks again.  I've had Win 11 for a year and, so far, no BIOS updates via Windows but there have been a few device drivers.  I'm just relieved to get over my latest confusion.  Seems my BIOS was sadly old 😶