Update firmware

[PieterHdV]

1.  I updated my diagnostics software for my HP Pavilion, i.e. the software that you can activate by pressing the esckey while Windows starts. In the updated version, however, the option 'firmware management' is absent. What should I do to include it?

2. I need this option in the future, if a want to update my BIOS by means of an USB-stick (Windows would then be practically inactive because of an outdated BIOS). If the 'firmware management' option is missing, I wouldn't know how to carry out this external update. I did not find any answers on existing HP-websites.

[tk_srq]

@PieterHdV,

HP PC Hardware Diagnostics UEFI ver 8.2.0.0 contains the Firmware Management. What you can do is to install this version to a usb flash drive. Here's the link to a softpaq for the version 8.2.0.0. When you are prompted to choose the location of the installation, select usb drive. The installation size is less than 200 MB so you don't need a usb of a large size.

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp115001-115500/sp115284.exe

When F2 is pressed on bootup, the system loads the Diagnostics UEFI from the usb drive first rather than from the hard drive. See the screenshot below. Note "USB" to the right of the version number.

The usb drive is labeled HP_TOOLS. You can copy an update bios bin file and signature file(s) to the HP_TOOLS\Hewlett-Packard\BIOS\current folder and execute the update via the method outlined in the link below.

HP Consumer Notebook PCs - Updating the BIOS (Basic Input Output System) (Windows) | HP® Customer Su...

[PieterHdV]

Thank you, this is very helpful.

I have an additional question: the link you gave does not give the separate bin- and signature files but an install file. Does the installation of this file allow the copying of the bin- and signature files to the HP_TOOLS USB?

[tk_srq]

The sp115284 just installs the Diagnostics UEFI tool to a usb drive and doesn't install any specific update bios files.

You can follow the steps below to update bios:

1. Connect the usb drive with the Diag. UEFI ver 8.2.0.0 installed and run an update bios file.

2. When you come to the screen that displays three options; Update, Create Recovery USB Flash Drive and Copy,

select Copy.

3.Click Browse and navigate to \HP_TOOLS\Hewlett-Packard\BIOS\Current and click Next.

[Edit]4. You should see the screen as shown below. Your usb drive (HP_TOOLS)'s letter may be D, E or F. Click Next and a bios bin file and signature file(s) will be placed in the aforementioned folder directory.

5. Restart the laptop, tap F2 to boot into the Diagnostics UEFI from the usb drive, and click Firmware Management.

[Edit] 6. Go to "Updating the BIOS Manually from a USB Drive (Outside of Windows)" in the 2nd link in my previous post then see No.6 in the section "Update the BIOS with a USB Flash Drive" and follow the subsequent instructions there.