Broken internal display I don't see the Bios to activate secure boot activated

[KingOfOhio]

A while back my graphics card went bad in my laptop and I sent it in for repair. When it was repaired, the laptop came with a new test profile with a password that they put on a sticker on top of my laptop; I put it on and was able to create another profile for my personal use and delete the test one.

I now have a broken internal screen. I have tried getting it to show BIOS image over HDMI and nothing; also trying to change the settings over Windows and I get an error showing that the BIOS blocks the option, either leaving it grayed out or the BIOS has a password which I don't know if it could be the same as the sticker. I need to enable it either by going into the settings blindly, knowing that the BIOS may have a password, or with another method, so that the BIOS can be viewed from an external display with my laptop.

If you are wondering why I want to activate the option, well, to play Valorant, which because of its anticheat does not allow to play without this option activated.

Here is more information about my BIOS.

BIOS version and date AMI F.22, 09/30/2024

SMBIOS version 3.3

Embedded controller version 80.73

UEFI BIOS Mode

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @KingOfOhio 

Welcome to the HP Support Community!

Thanks for posting your query! We're here to help you get back up and running.

Since your Victus by HP 16-e0000 has a broken internal display and isn’t showing the BIOS over HDMI, enabling Secure Boot is tricky. Here are some steps to try:

Option 1: Blind Navigation into BIOS

1. Turn off your laptop.
2. Press F10 repeatedly while turning it on to enter BIOS.
3. Even though the screen is blank, try pressing:
   • Right Arrow → Navigate to Security tab.
   • Down Arrow → Select Secure Boot Configuration.
   • Enter → Open the menu.
   • Arrow Keys → Enable Secure Boot.
   • F10 → Save and exit.

Option 2: Use an External Display (Alternative Method)

Some HP models require BIOS settings to be changed before external displays work:

1. Turn off the laptop.
2. Hold Shift and restart to enter Advanced Startup.
3. Select Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > UEFI Firmware Settings.
4. If the BIOS appears, enable Secure Boot.

Option 3: Reset BIOS Password

If the BIOS is password-protected, it might be the same as the sticker password from the repair. Try entering it when prompted.

 

If my response helped, please mark it as an Accepted Solution! ✅ It helps others and spreads support. 💙 Also, tapping "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" makes a big difference! Thanks! 😊

Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye

[KingOfOhio]

Hi, I need a more specific answer because you are telling me to hit: Right Arrow → Navigate to the Security tab.

Down arrow → Select secure boot settings.

Enter → Open menu.

Arrow Keys → Enable Secure Boot.

F10 → Save and exit.

When I can't even tell if I'm on the secure tab because my screen, as I think I mentioned earlier in my note, is completely broken; also, I'm typing this from this very laptop because I have an external display, but opening the BIOS gives no image. I guess that option will be locked in the BIOS for some reason.

I'll explain again: I need you to tell me how to activate the secure boot in the BIOS blindly. So, don't tell me “right arrow”, but how many times I have to touch it to get right to that security tab in my BIOS and so on with the other steps, please. Understand that if I go into the BIOS I have no idea where or what tab I am in, so I need very specific steps.

Option 2: Use an external display (workaround).

Some HP models require BIOS settings to be changed before external displays will work:

Turn off the laptop.

Hold down the Shift key and reboot to enter Advanced Boot.

Select Troubleshoot > Advanced > UEFI Firmware Settings.

If the BIOS appears, enable Secure Boot.

What I don't understand here is how you want me to shut down the laptop and, once with the laptop off, hold the Shift key and then restart the laptop when that option is not available when the laptop is off. And I tell you again, my screen does not give image in the BIOS because I have it connected by HDMI, which uses exclusively my graphics card, and I think the BIOS only gives image with my CPU integrated graphics, which are connected exclusively on my internal screen (the screen that comes with the laptop), which is the only one that gives image with the BIOS. Is it that the option to use external display is blocked by the BIOS or that I don't know how to make it give image in the BIOS one. Anyway, I hope to look again on my laptop the type of model it is and if you can use an external screen to see the BIOS.

Option 3: Reset the BIOS password.

If the BIOS is password protected, it could be the same as the repair password. Try it when prompted.

[Hawks_Eye]

@KingOfOhio 

I really appreciate the detailed explanation—you’ve gone through a lot of troubleshooting already, and I can imagine how frustrating this must be, especially without a working internal display to navigate the BIOS. Since you need exact key presses to enable Secure Boot blindly, let's go step by step:

Blind Navigation for Secure Boot Activation

Once in the BIOS:

1. Press Right Arrow four times → This should move to the Security tab.
2. Press Down Arrow two times → This should highlight Secure Boot Configuration.
3. Press Enter → This should open the Secure Boot settings menu.
4. Press Down Arrow one time → This should select Enable Secure Boot.
5. Press Enter → This should confirm the selection.
6. Press F10 → This should save changes and exit.

Since screens can behave differently depending on BIOS versions, it's always a good idea to listen for confirmation sounds or check if the system reacts after exiting BIOS.

 

Option 2: External Display Workaround

You're right—many HP models only display BIOS on the integrated GPU, meaning an HDMI-connected external screen likely won't show anything until Windows loads. Some models allow external display in BIOS if an advanced setting is changed, but since you can't see the BIOS, it’s tricky.

The Shift + Restart method works when booting from Windows, not from a powered-off state. Try:

• Holding Shift, then clicking Restart from Windows Start Menu.
• Choose Troubleshoot → Advanced Options → UEFI Firmware Settings.
• See if the BIOS appears—if not, the external display may truly be blocked.

Your patience in troubleshooting this is impressive, and I know this situation isn't easy. Let me know which steps work or if you need further guidance!

Thanks,

Hawks_Eye

[KingOfOhio]

Hi, I just tried the method you just gave me. And unfortunately it did not work for me. First, I don't hear any confirmation sound as you were telling me, and second, when I hit F10 to save and exit, it does nothing. Literally, I left it there for about 5 min and nothing, it was still just a blank broken screen.

Then, with the help of ChatGPT, I tried to use BIOS Configuration Utility (BCU) to disable it from Windows, but although in the CMD I got that the changes had been applied, I restarted the laptop and I still got the secure boot disabled. ChatGPT tells me that the PK, KEK and DB keys are not installed and therefore it is not possible to activate the BIOS.

But equally for me the important thing is why it doesn't give confirmation sound in the BIOS (I don't know what that is) and why when I hit F10 it doesn't do anything and stays there without doing anything. Likewise, I want you to keep in mind that the PK, KEK and DB keys, although until I can not save and exit I can not confirm that they are not installed, because once solved the problem of F10, if I follow your steps and let me save and exit and is still disabled, probably need to install the PK, KEK and DB keys from the BIOS and would need the steps. Blindly to install the keys and enable secure boot.

[Hawks_Eye]

@KingOfOhio 

We sincerely thank you for your patience and co-operation during this troubleshooting process.

I'm sending you a private message to guide you on the next steps.

To access it, click the private message icon in the upper-right corner of your HP Support Community profile, next to your name.

If this resolves your issue, kindly mark this post as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" if it was helpful.

Take care and have a great day!

Regards,

Hawks_Eye