Laptop bricked after BIOS update

[IT_WinSec]

Hi @Rp60 

Since the PC is under warranty, that would be the best possibility - please reach to HP for assistance:

>> https://support.hp.com/us-en/products/

>> if the in the USA, you may call toll free >> 1-(800)-474-6836

HP service technicians may be able to restore your BIOS or to replace the entire motherboard.

• Make sure you watch this video, too >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7alIyHJMb6Y

Please, keep me updated how it goes. Good luck !

[Rp60]

Hi @IT_WinSec,

I contacted HP Support and arranged for the warranty repair.

Thanks again for all your help!

[CherylG]

@IT_WinSec @Rp60 

Check out this guy's solution to the problem on same model:
https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Boot-and-Lockup/HP-14-Laptop-Bricked-due-to-Windows-10-Firmwa...

[TaQ_CA]

I'm having the same issue as various other users on this board. To make matters worse, the BIOS installer that's supposed to prepare a recovery USB does not run on a non-HP computer. My only other computer is a Dell. I'm hoping HP can quickly release a patch for this, either through an updated BIOS or through Windows Update. It's completely mind-boggling that a Windows Update can be rolled out, without proper testing, and result in an end-users device to be completely bricked. Many people on other websites have run into the same issue. Even when this is resolved, there's no guarantee that a future update from HP won't result in the same issue. 

So please, HP, address this issue ASAP. The "fix" is not only tedious and rather difficult for the average user, but is also completely useless if the user cannot roll-back the Windows update.

[fungame]

yeah same thing for me. I am knowledgeable about software but HP recent update is junk.

In my case, windows 1903 update was working very well for couple of days. I received another HP update on windows update and install it (did the same thing before so no reason to suspect). All the problems started after installing that evil HP update (they need to pull that from windows update).  I was able to run BIOS recovery software on old XP laptop (lot of effort doing it) but genius software need USB flash drive name as HP_TOOLS (otherwise it won't recognize) ...seriously HP.. 

Does HP perform any QA on critical software before releasing to public? Seriously overseas developers are not very good (most of the support calls go overseas) in developing quality software.

Now I have to disable important windows update as well because you can't choose which one you want to install. They have to perform repairs on perfectly working laptop (no guarantee repair one won't introduce new problems). My computer was working like a charm and very happy with sub $300 laptop for the first time. 

HP Fix it ASAP.

[LeeerooyJenkins]

Hi IT_WinSec, 

I've got the same laptop + same problem from the BIOS update.

Also wasn't able to run the SP95066.exe on my Dell desktop to create the BIOS recovery flash key.

I formatted my USB as you directed but couldn't get the BIOS files from your zip file. I get an unspecified error when I try to extract, so I tried the 4-in-1 tool Ninja_Joe linked to in his post here: https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Boot-and-Lockup/HP-14-Laptop-Bricked-due-to-Windows-10-Firmwa...

That failed to run BUT I was able to get the 6 files from the partial run of the tool. Phew!

So, I was able to run the BIOS recovery but when the laptop goes to restart it still doesn't boot up. All I get is a dark screen with a dim, quick flash every 8 seconds. Does that mean anything? Any suggestions?  Thank you. 

[fungame]

I am in same situation as you dark screen after BIOS restored...nothing works... time for HP to repair

[sumitc96]

Here's the steps i took to recovery bios of my laptop.

1. https://www8.hp.com/us/en/campaigns/hpsupportassistant/pc-diags.html, http://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp96001-96500/sp96164.exe
2. Format and create a usb recovery disk. You can also use an existing usb drive, name the volume as HP_TOOLS and open sp96164.exe in 7zip, and unzip the contents of field folder into the root folder of usb drive.
3. Copy the following files from BIOS folder into HP\BIOS\Current\ of usb drive.
08498.bin
08498.s12
0849E.bin
0849E.s12
0852C.bin
0852C.s12
4. Press windows+B and perform the BIOS recovery process as mentioned in hp support website.
https://support.hp.com/ca-en/document/c02693833
5. In case recovery didn't work look for error logs here:HP\BIOSUPDATE\HpBiosUpdate.log
6. After recovery is complete I followed the following steps to disable bios from updating again. https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Boot-and-Lockup/HP-14-Laptop-Bricked-due-to-Windows-10-Firmwa...

[TaQ_CA]

Hi Sumitc96,

I just followed the steps you took, and it worked! The difference between what I did previously versus your steps is the copying of the BIOS files from the BIOS folder to HP\BIOS\Current\ of the USB Recovery Key. This was the key step I was missing, and I'm sure others where as well. Please sticky this.

[LeeerooyJenkins]

Thank you Sumitc96 for the subfolder details!  Sadly I didn't see a difference in result.  Like before BIOS restore completed, verified, but the laptop never boots when restart is attempted.

No log file found.  I tried the BIOS restore a 2nd time after creating the \HP\BIOSUPDATE subfolder to see if that would help get the log file output, nope.