Bios update difficulties

[Jim144]

Hi,

I have an older Pavilion dv8000 (dv8305ca) laptop and I would like to upgrade the BIOS so it will accept/read 4 gigs.  I would also like to install Linux on this laptop.  The laptop is currently running XP Home 

However, when I put my serial number in the space provided at the HP Support to find my machine - it can't find it - even when I put in the Product number.  

The serial number is:  CND62610PH

and the p/n is EZ591UA#ABL and the product name is:  HP Pavilion dv8000

Is someone able to help/tell me how to get this BIOS upgrade information? 

Thank you in advance for your help. 

Jim 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi, Jim:

The reason you can't find any info on your PC is because HP retired support for the dv8000 model series since it is 10 or more years old.

I looked up the specs for your notebook, and it has an AMD processor, correct?

If so, here is the last BIOS update for the dv8000 notebooks with AMD processors...

Info file:

ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp35001-35500/sp35204.html

Exe file:

ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp35001-35500/sp35204.exe

[Jim144]

Hi,

Thank you for getting back to me.  Yes, it has the AMD processor.  

Thank you for the links - I will check them out.  That is very helpful.  

Jim 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome, Jim.

[Jim144]

Hi Paul,

I downloaded the file and began to install it.  The dialog boxes told me that that version of bios is already installed.  

Is there a newer update available for this machine? 

I read that if the bios was upgraded to the latest it would then it would accept 4 gigs of ram memory instead of just 2 - it presently has 1 gig of ram memory.  

Any thoughts on this? 

Thanks again for you help. 

Jim 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi, Jim:

Everything I can find by searching on the internet indicates that F.54 was the last BIOS revision for models with AMD processors.

I do not see anything in the release notes for that BIOS update or the 4 that preceeded it that shows added support for 4 GB of memory.

I think that 4 GB memory BIOS fix was only for the dv8000 models with the Intel processors.

[Jim144]

Thank you for your help.  

Jim 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Anytime, Jim.

Glad to have been of assistance.

Paul