Update BIOS without Battery, AC Adapter Not Read

[JPierceV2]

First, thanks to all my fellow troubleshooters and puzzle masters out there.
I read through forums regularly as a Sr Sys Admin and believe the most common problem is a lack of detailed information provided by posters.
Therefore I endeavor to provide a comprehensive first post. Please excuse me if it is not concise.

My goal for this forum post is to learn:
1) If HP support page does not have BIOS update for my OS, what is my course of action?
2) If battery is not detected, and AC power is not detected during BIOS update, what is my work around?

Problem Statement:
An old laptop does not recognize it's battery. Last steps of HP Support Assistant call for BIOS update. Cannot update BIOS without >10% battery charge OR plugged in to AC adapter. While computer runs on AC adapter splendidly, upon BIOS update attempts produces an error stating the AC adaptor is not detected, ergo BIOS update cannot continue.

Secondarily, but perhaps most important, I am not able to verify the correct BIOS version for this computer.

General Troubleshooting:
I've purchased a new off-brand battery, it is also not detected. Verified adequate power supply via AC adapter. Unsuccessfully hunted for the "platform.ini" file to tweak the "[AC_Adapter]" setting and bypass this requirement, but cannot find this file. Launched via Windows tool, launched via USB Boot Drive.

Verbose Troubleshooting: BIOS Version Mismatch
Let us address the second problem first, as it may negate any need for further efforts.
After following all other HP Support Assistant steps (reseat battery, hard power off, reset BIOS to default) it is time to update BIOS. This old laptop has Windows 10 Pro installed (full machine details below). When I query HP for the proper updated BIOS version, I do not see a "Windows 10" option under this laptop.

(see "https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/selfservice/hp-elitebook-8560w-mobile-workstation/5071171/model..."
see pic)

As the expert WAWood mentioned on another post, BIOS versions are specific to OS and machine types. Therefore I do not know if the proper thing to do is install
A) sp68041 - For W7 x64 - F.63 RevA - Oct 27, 2016
B) sp78085 - For W8.1 x64 - F.50 RevA - Aug 9, 2014
C) none of the above, never install a mismatched version

This is perhaps the clutch which will make the remainder of my post a moot point. Nevertheless I feel we need to have a frank and earnest discussion about how to overcome a troubleshooting step that is rendered impossible by the very problem it purports to resolve. And, if there IS NO WAY to bypass this on HP, then we just need to call it what it is and save folks like me from accidentally learning WAY more than intended on a Saturday afternoon. If you say its not possible, I will accept this as a viable answer. But if it is possible, I have not seen it except on Dell forums.

Verbose Troubleshooting: BIOS Install

New-to-me laptop presents with ability to boot up without issue, on AC power.
In system tray the battery icon has an "X" in it AND a little wall plug icon (see pic).

HP Support Assistant "Specifications" tab lists the Power source as "A/C power"
HP Support Assistant "HP Battery Check" reports - "Primary Battery: No Battery, A battery was not detected. If a battery is installed, please re-insert the battery and AC adapter to retest the battery." Secondary Battery is also "No Battery" as expected.
HP PC Hardware Diagnostics "Component Test" list the Battery Check and the AC Adapter Test as "Cancelled" (see pic).

Per HP Customer Support - Knowledge Base "Battery Not Detected" ("https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c01702473#UpdatingTheBios"):
Performed Hard Reset, no change in behavior.
Reset the BIOS defaults, no change in behavior.
Test the battery with HP Support Assistant as seen previously, no change in behavior.
Determine if notebook starts on battery only, bad test for my situation. It does not and never did.
Update the BIOS, this is the last path to take and herein lies the problems.
I am using a couple of batteries. One is likely the original official battery. HP branded 14.8V, Spare Number 632427-001, CT:6BRSF02BJ0Y0MZ. I would not be surprised if this is just plain dead, with a birth date of 2011/7. The second battery purchased recently is an after market, which conformed to the proper spare number and is "VH08 Notebook Battery 8560W" rated at 14.8V. I inspected the contacts on the laptop and the batteries, they seem clean and in good condition.
I am using one AC adapter. An after market "Delta Electronics Inc" Model Number DA150PM100-00, rated at 19.5 volts 7.7 amps. This is compliant with the Electrical Specifications outlined in the HP support page, (https://support.hp.com/us-en/product/hp-elitebook-8560w-mobile-workstation/5071171/model/5071175/doc...) which call for 19.5 volts. I don't have the link any longer but I did read a page further calling for 7.7 amps. So the AC adapter is providing adequate power.

That said, when attempting to install a BIOS, I follow the recommended path which I will belabor for the sake of transparency, though I should doubt it's of much interest to most readers.
Go to HP site, identify laptop by serial number, enter Windows 8.1 x64 AND Windows 7 x64 in separate but parallel attempts at updating BIOS. Steps are the same.
Download sp68041.exe, run as admin, install to default location.
Choose to install on USB disk. Properly and successfully create USB bootable disk. Files are successfully copied over (68SVD.BIN, eRompaq.exe, gpl2.txt). Successfully boot to eRompaq BIOS Update Utility via USB bootable disk. When I select "Update" receive warning, "The computer must be running on AC power to perform this operation. Press any key to continue." And the only other option is to exit. Now, we know the AC is connected because there is no battery in the laptop.
I used 7zip to extract the 68SVD.BIN. The only directory therein is "Insyde.vol". Searched using the Windows search function, where Advanced Options set to include non-indexed locations, file contents, system files, and zipped (compressed) folders. View Hidden Files and Show File Extensions are selected during all of my searches. I searched for this alleged platform.ini file which is supposed to contain an operator for "[AC_Adapter]". This query spurred on by an HP forum result at (https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebooks-Archive-Read-Only/How-to-update-bios-without-external-power/...").
No such file or references to the commands could be found. I find "PlatformAmt.efi" and "PlatformMe.efi", but no *.ini files at all. As the switch must be *somewhere* on the USB disk because when it boots to the disk its self referencing and cannot be pulling those operating parameters from eleshere. Nevertheless, I cannot find it.

Do you know where this switch is?

Not to be deterred, I relaunch sp 68041.exe, run as admin, install to default location.
Choose to "Initiate BIOS update on this system".
HPQ Flash Wizard launches as expected. I close all windows and click Next when ready to continue.
Choose to "Update the system BIOS on this computer".
As soon as I click Finish it will reboot the computer and load up the "HP BIOS Update" page as expected. The following message appears on the page, "An important System BIOS update is available, but the computer is not connected to external power. Please connect external power and select Enter to continue." There are two options. "Apply update now" is greyed out whenever I mouse over it, and "Cancel update" is my only choice.

Per a Dell forum post, right before clicking the final "Finish" button on this install wizard I'm supposed to go to ~\appdata\local\temp and find the most recent folder created, copy it to a permanent location eg Desktop, cancel the wizerd, and search the Desktop copied folder for "platform.ini". However I find that in the HP's wizard, this newest created folder in ~\temp is empty and there is no "platform.ini" at all in the directory. I searched all the way to ~\appdata, and I even looked in currentuser, "guest" account, and "default account". View Hidden Files is selected, yes.

I read some things about Windows Button + B on boot to a USB boot disk. But my OS boots fine and that sounds like something to fix a bricked mobo. Also, I am not certain that the BIOS versions available will be compatible with my OS.

I would like to point out that even though it's an old computer and someone put a new OS on it, it works well. It is not sluggish nor does it have a hard time handling CPU load. The license key is valid, and it looks like a good legal legit copy of Windows.

In closing, again my goal for this forum post is to learn:
1) If HP support page does not have BIOS update for my OS, what is my course of action?
2) If battery is not detected, and AC power is not detected during BIOS update, what is my work around?
3) If it is NOT POSSIBLE to update, how to I stop the "HP BIOS Update" page from presenting every time I reboot (as with no battery I'll be rebooting frequently). This started after the first time I ran the utility and needs to be disabled if it will never work.

If any further information would help please let me know.

I have exhausted my knowledgebase.

Thanks in advance for all the assistance.

HP EliteBook 8560w Mobile Workstation (ENERGY STAR)
(As a first-time poster, I do not know if it's uncouth to post my serial number)

Systeminfo=

Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.17763.316]
(c) 2018 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Users\user>systeminfo

Host Name: DESKTOP-H7OE45O
OS Name: Microsoft Windows 10 Pro
OS Version: 10.0.17763 N/A Build 17763
OS Manufacturer: Microsoft Corporation
OS Configuration: Standalone Workstation
OS Build Type: Multiprocessor Free
Registered Owner: user
Registered Organization: N/A
Product ID: 00330-80000-00000-AA584
Original Install Date: 1/30/2019, 7:35:54 PM
System Boot Time: 2/23/2019, 3:48:16 PM
System Manufacturer: Hewlett-Packard
System Model: HP EliteBook 8560w
System Type: x64-based PC
Processor(s): 1 Processor(s) Installed.
[01]: Intel64 Family 6 Model 42 Stepping 7 GenuineIntel ~2201 Mhz
BIOS Version: Hewlett-Packard 68SVD Ver. F.03, 7/25/2011
Windows Directory: C:\Windows
System Directory: C:\Windows\system32
Boot Device: \Device\HarddiskVolume1
System Locale: en-us;English (United States)
Input Locale: en-us;English (United States)
Time Zone: (UTC-07:00) Mountain Time (US & Canada)
Total Physical Memory: 10,190 MB
Available Physical Memory: 5,913 MB
Virtual Memory: Max Size: 10,830 MB
Virtual Memory: Available: 5,750 MB
Virtual Memory: In Use: 5,080 MB
Page File Location(s): C:\pagefile.sys
Domain: WORKGROUP
Logon Server: \\DESKTOP-H7OE45O
Hotfix(s): 6 Hotfix(s) Installed.
[01]: KB4462930
[02]: KB4470788
[03]: KB4480056
[04]: KB4480979
[05]: KB4487038
[06]: KB4487044
Network Card(s): 3 NIC(s) Installed.
[01]: Intel(R) 82579LM Gigabit Network Connection
Connection Name: Ethernet
Status: Media disconnected
[02]: Intel(R) Centrino(R) Ultimate-N 6300 AGN Driver
Connection Name: Wi-Fi
DHCP Enabled: Yes
DHCP Server: 192.168.1.1
IP address(es)
[01]: 192.168.1.24
[02]: fe80::512a:1b8a:706:9105
[03]: Bluetooth Device (Personal Area Network)
Connection Name: Bluetooth Network Connection
Status: Media disconnected
Hyper-V Requirements: VM Monitor Mode Extensions: Yes
Virtualization Enabled In Firmware: No
Second Level Address Translation: Yes
Data Execution Prevention Available: Yes

[DaveIam1976]

Hi,

I would try to find original adapter because I suspect that maybe is the problem.

For the bios update:

I can confirm that you can download latest bios update F.63 Rev.A from okt.27 2016  sp78085.exe and install it without 

any problem in Windows 10 because I just did it for two laptops.

I changed compatibility settings in properties to Windows 7 and and installed as administrator.Just make sure 

you also have a battery installed and connected power supply.Before I failed to install with usb stick,I don't know why?

You can also download Intel driver and support assistent Hp driver and support assistent and check every driver in device manager manually with Windows 10.

You can also download fingerprint scanner ,then update in device manager and install sp98508 Hp Client Security Manager

and it works.