BIOS System Update Failed

[yassmine]

Hello,

I have an HP EliteBook 840 G2 that I received as a gift from my brother. He purchased the laptop used, so I do not have the previous BIOS administrator password.

When I turn on the laptop, press Esc, and select F10 (BIOS Setup), it asks me to log in as a guest. When I select No, it shows two accounts that aren't mine.

I do not know these accounts or the administrator password.

I need to access the BIOS because Intel Virtualization Technology (VT-x) is currently disabled, and I need to enable it to use Docker.

My laptop information is:

Model: HP EliteBook 840 G2

BIOS date: 02/24/2020

BIOS mode: Legacy

Could you please tell me the official procedure for removing or resetting the previous BIOS administrator protection, and what proof of ownership or documentation you require?

Thank you.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

As of March 1, 2019, HP support stopped providing SMC.bin files that were used to clear BIOS passwords from HP business class notebooks.

If you contact HP support, you will be informed to replace the system board.

HP Business PCs - Forgotten or lost BIOS password | HP® Support

Also, not that it matters in your situation because it is impossible for anyone to help you with your request, The HP forum rules of participation, Rule 4.d., prohibit anyone on this forum to provide instructions intended to bypass, defeat, or subvert security mechanisms including passwords, licensing systems, encryption, fingerprint authentication, activation controls, or other device security protections.

This also includes instructions generated by AI tools that are intended to bypass security protections.

Rules Page - HP Support Community

[yassmine]

when replacing system board, every single file I have in my PC will be deleted? btw I checked warranty and it seems like it is expired

[Paul_Tikkanen]

The files on the drive won't be deleted but you may have issues with activating Windows again since the product key is tied to the original system board when you get into Windows again.

If you decide to replace the system board, you will have to activate Windows, because a new system board = a new PC, and the Windows OEM product key is tied to the system board.

I recommend you replace the system board with one that has a Windows product key encrypted in the BIOS, and those boards will end in a part number suffix of -601. 

A suffix of -001 = no Windows product key.

Your PC is around 11 years old, so if it even had a 3-year warranty, that would have expired a long time ago.