Recovery Manger , HP Support Assistant , Windows Updates Total Frustration

[IT_WinSec]

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@Slartibarti wrote:

Hi IT_WinSec

I have a slight issue.   I have installed the HP Drivers.   All seemed to go well until the BIOS update.   The machine is working OK but the BIOS update did not work.

I only discovered this because the machine dismounted the SD card of its own acord.   This was a constant issue from when I bought the machine and was a real pain as when I was using the SD card it would suddenly unmount ... Grrrr.   HP Support eventually resolved it I think by a BIOS update but I recall then there was a similar issue of the BIOS update not working,

The BIOS is on F14.   I tried to install the latets version F16.  The install didn't give any error messages but after a restart it was still at F14.     I tried F15 ... again no errors during the install but it did not update from F14.

Any ideas ? 

Ian

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Hey Ian,

Thank you so much for keeping me posted. It's great you installed Windows successfully despite having some issues during the process.

With regards to BIOS, I'd recommend you simply ignore it. Personally, I do not recommend users update it unless they experience some issues with their existing BIOS and their are sure that the new BIOS will fix it.

General recommendation I provide to users/customers is NOT to upgrade BIOS/UEFI unless they experience any kind of specific BIOS/UEFI issue. Updating just for updaing and just for using the latest verson is not solution. Any kind of update (no matter for what and who relesed it) can fix 2 issues but may introduce 10 more issues. Additionally, upgrading the BIOS (for any vendor) poses more risks because BIOS recovery is not that easy as compared to typical software updates IF something goes wrong.

Same applies for Windows Updates, OS update, drivers updates, etc - upgrade/update IF you have issues which you know are fixed in the newer version or for some severe security issues. Otherwise, keep the existing version as long as possible.

Here is one more opinion on this matter >> https://www.howtogeek.com/136881/htg-explains-do-you-need-to-update-your-computers-bios/

Cheers ! Enjoy your computer and more space. 🙂

[Slartibarti]

Thanks again for your help IT_WinSec.

Just a final update.   Everything is installed and the machiine is working as well as expected.

The batlle continues to stop Windows and Apps eating up all the disk space but that's what I get for buying  machine with only 32Gb !   Mostly my fault for asking it to run hefty software it was not intended for 🙂 

The Windows install was so hassle free I dd the same with a G580 Lenovo I have which is slow as a dog so I got rid of all the Lenovo software and started from scratch on that too ! 

[IT_WinSec]

Thanks for your update ! This is much appreciated.

It's good all is fine now.

32 GB are not that much, really but it's not the 32 GB which are the problem. It's just Windows (10) which is a lot more intrusive compared to what Windows 7 was like. For the long run, you could consider moving away from Microsoft environment (Windows) and try a completely different operating system GNU/Linux, which is completely free, open source and not much in common with Microsoft. Here are just some tips:

>> http://whylinuxisbetter.net/en/

>> http://www.zdnet.com/article/linux-mint-18-the-best-desktop-period/

>> http://www.zdnet.com/article/dumping-windows-and-installing-linux-mint-in-just-10-minutes/

>> http://www.computerweekly.com/blog/Open-Source-Insider/International-Space-Station-adopts-Debian-Lin...

>> https://www.gnu.org/gnu/gnu.html

>> https://sites.google.com/site/easylinuxtipsproject/

[Slartibarti]

Thanks I amy give it a try on a "spare" machine 🙂