My Device HP Notebook - 17-ak024cy Product 3ZF51UA

[MrChrisDoesStuf]

I can not install Windows. It will install any form of Linux I try, but Windows will not install. I am Running the F6 Bios and found the F8, but I can not figure out how to update the bios. I tried making the boot USB, but it did not work. It has the folders on it, but when I boot off it, nothing happens.   I have looked for a setting to update in the bios, but no luck. The Disg screen does not have an update bios option.  I do not find any exe on the USB disk.  

When I try to boot a Windows installer, I have tried about five different USBs. It just skips to boot in off the HD. I even tried the ESC and F9 for boot and picked the USB. I have tried EFI and not EFI. Nothing is working. Linux runs great, but that is not what I need.

MrChris

[MrChrisDoesStuf]

IU also tried the HP cloud recovery tool, and it rejected my Product Code.  😞 

[Nal_NR]

Hi @MrChrisDoesStuf,

Welcome to the HP Support Community. 

I'd be glad to help you! 

It sounds like you're facing a couple of issues with your HP Notebook 17-ak024cy: you're unable to update the BIOS and cannot boot or install Windows despite trying multiple USB drives. Here are a few troubleshooting steps to help resolve the issue:

1. Ensure Correct Windows USB Bootable Media Creation

• Use a tool like the Microsoft Media Creation Tool to create a bootable Windows USB drive. It formats the USB properly for both UEFI and Legacy BIOS modes.
• Make sure the USB drive is at least 8GB and formatted as FAT32 (not NTFS).
  • You can reformat the USB using the Media Creation Tool or a third-party tool like Rufus, selecting UEFI or BIOS (non-UEFI) based on your system setup.

2. Check BIOS Boot Mode Settings

• Restart your laptop and enter the BIOS by pressing Esc or F10.
• Verify that your boot mode is set correctly:
  • If you're using a UEFI-based Windows installer, ensure Secure Boot is disabled and Legacy Support is enabled (if you are booting in UEFI mode, Legacy should be off).
  • If you're using a Legacy boot mode, Legacy Support should be enabled, and Secure Boot should be disabled.
• Save the changes and restart.

3. BIOS Update Troubleshooting

• Verify the BIOS Update Method: HP laptops often use the HP BIOS Update Utility, which runs off the USB. Here's how you can retry the update:
  • Ensure the USB drive is formatted to FAT32.
  • Redownload the BIOS update file for your model from the HP Support website and extract it directly to the root directory of the USB drive.
  • Power down the notebook, plug in the USB, press Esc, and then select F10 for the BIOS menu. If the BIOS update doesn’t appear, try booting with F2 for the HP Diagnostics Utility, as this might have a Firmware Update option.
• Alternative BIOS Update: If the USB method isn't working, check if there’s an option to update BIOS within your existing Linux installation using fwupd, which supports HP firmware updates for some models:
• In terminal: sudo fwupdmgr get-updates
• If an update is available, follow the prompts.

Please find the remaining steps in the next post. 

Please mark this post as “Accepted Solution” if the issue is resolved and if you feel this reply was helpful click “Yes”.

[Nal_NR]

Hi @MrChrisDoesStuf,

Please find the remaining steps below.

4. Disable Fast Boot / Secure Boot

• Go into the BIOS settings and disable Fast Boot and Secure Boot.
• This can prevent certain USB devices and boot modes from working correctly, especially with Windows installers.

5. Test with Different USB Ports & Drives

• Try using a different USB port, particularly USB 2.0 instead of USB 3.0, which can sometimes cause issues with bootable media.
• Ensure that all USB drives used are properly created using Windows bootable media tools, and not corrupted. Re-create the bootable media on a different, verified USB stick to eliminate issues with the USB itself.

6. Try a Different Boot Loader for Windows (e.g., Rufus)

• If you're still encountering boot issues, use a different tool to create the bootable USB, such as Rufus.
  • Select the right partition scheme: if using UEFI, choose GPT; if using Legacy, choose MBR.
• This method can often help bypass compatibility issues with USB booting.

If you follow these steps and still encounter issues, there may be a deeper hardware issue or BIOS incompatibility causing the problem. Let me know if you need further assistance!

Keep me posted for further assistance

Please mark this post as “Accepted Solution” if the issue is resolved and if you feel this reply was helpful click “Yes”.

[MrChrisDoesStuf]

PLEASE help me fix this.  Why is it rejecting my product?