How to downgrade HP Diagnostics UEFI

[deirksdics]

On both my Probook notebooks 4540S and 450 G1 I updated the HP Diagnostics UEFI from version 7.5.2.0 to 8.2.0.0

After updating I get a black screen after I hit F2 (at boot). When I reboot Windows boots normally, but this diagnostics utility doesn't work anymore.

In the previous version I didn't have this issue. Re-installing didn't work, so I want to downgrade to version 7.5.2.0

When I just run the 7.5.2.0 installer to try t do so I get the message that a newer version is already installed and setup can't continue.

Then I looked at my EFI partition: open an Administrator Command Prompt window by right-clicking the Command Prompt icon and selecting the option to run it as Administrator. In the Command Prompt window, type mountvol P: /S. (You can change P: to any unused drive letter; that's arbitrary.) Use the Command Prompt window to access the P: (EFI System Partition, or ESP) volume. When I look there I see the contents of 'EFI\HP\SystemDiags' which apparantly contain this tool:

I tried deleting the folder 'EFI\HP\SystemDiags' and run the 7.5.2.0 installer again, but I keep getting this message.

I don't know what to try from here. Does anyone have a suggestion? Is there maybe a way to unpack the installer and try to replace the files in that directory manually? Or another solution?

The installer for 7.5.2.0 can be found here

[tk_srq]

@Deirksdics:

A few years ago, I replaced a  2.5" SSD with a bigger-sized one in my Probook 650 G1 and installed HP Diagnostics UEFI. With F2 key pressed, however, the screen would turn scrambled and I couldn't run the app. I thought it was installed corrupted so I deleted the EFI\HP folder and reinstalled an older version and the same error as yours came up.

My guess is that the Diagnostics UEFI installation setup places the version number in Windows registry and it would prevent an older version from being installed.

Eventually, I found that the UEFI with CSM mode allows the app to run perfectly ok. If you are currently on the UEFI mode, switch to the hybrid UEFI ( UEFI with CSM) mode and see F2 works or not. The boot mode option should be in Boot Options in Advanced in the BIOS.

[deirksdics · Accepted solution]

Thanks for your reply. Unfortunately your solution doesn't work if you have version 8.2.0.0 installed. I still get a black screen. I happened to have another 450 G1 around with version 7.7.0.0 installed and then your solution will work! This laptop didn't get a black screen, but a screen like you described:

So I was still stuck with the notebooks with version 8.2.0.0 installed. I found the solution:

Go to the following registry-location and just change the DisplayVersion in for example 7.0.0.0 and the installer will just install the lower version and the tool will work too! 😀

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UserData\S-1-5-18\Products\CBA3D42957CF2404D9BDBF48A65448D8\InstallProperties

The latest version that will work normally is 7.6.0.0