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- HP Community
- Archived Topics
- Notebooks Archive
- Create Bootable USB Keys to perform Bios Update on EliteBook...

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03-21-2011 07:24 AM
Hello,
The HP Notebook System Bios Update utility has an option to "Create a bootable USB Disk on Key" but it does not work. I follow the onscreen instruction untli I get to the "HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool, V2.2.3"; I see that the option to "Create a DOS startup disk" is selected but grayed out and the source files points to a directory called FreeDOS; that folder only contains a file called Kernel.SYS.
When I click on Start, my USB key gets formatted and the Bios files are copied to it but the key is not bootable. I tried to create a bootable USB key to update an Elitebook 8440P, a 8530P and a 8540P using their respective files but I end up with unbootable USB keys. Files are missing to boot from DOS (command.com, IO.sys, MSDOS.sys)
Is there anything more that needs to be done?
03-21-2011 07:37 AM
@SimonGI wrote:Hello,
The HP Notebook System Bios Update utility has an option to "Create a bootable USB Disk on Key" but it does not work. I follow the onscreen instruction untli I get to the "HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool, V2.2.3"; I see that the option to "Create a DOS startup disk" is selected but grayed out and the source files points to a directory called FreeDOS; that folder only contains a file called Kernel.SYS.
When I click on Start, my USB key gets formatted and the Bios files are copied to it but the key is not bootable. I tried to create a bootable USB key to update an Elitebook 8440P, a 8530P and a 8540P using their respective files but I end up with unbootable USB keys. Files are missing to boot from DOS (command.com, IO.sys, MSDOS.sys)
Is there anything more that needs to be done?
can you post a link to the download in question?
Please identify your notebook/pc with more than the series number. Look at the base/rear/side of the notebook/pc at the barcoded sticker. Post everything you see on the sticker there except the serial number.
Post the installed operating system version ( and whether it is 32 or 64-bit)
Best regards,
erico
I am a volunteer forum member. If my suggestion helped you solve your issue, help others by marking that post as the accepted solution. Say thanks by clicking on the Yes button next to the "was this reply helpful?"
03-21-2011 08:39 AM
Hello Erico,
Thanks for answering!
HP EliteBook 8440P
XT916UT#ABA
Bios file: sp51150.exe
located at: http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodTypeId=32...
HP EliteBook 8540P
XT923UT#ABA
Bios File: sp51152.exe
located at: http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodTypeId=32...
HP EliteBook 8530P
KS046UA#ABA
Bios file: sp49270.exe
Located at: http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodTypeId=32...
They are all running XP SP3 32-bit.
Thanks,
03-21-2011 09:24 AM
HI,
@erico wrote:
@SimonGI wrote:Hello,
The HP Notebook System Bios Update utility has an option to "Create a bootable USB Disk on Key" but it does not work. I follow the onscreen instruction untli I get to the "HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool, V2.2.3"; I see that the option to "Create a DOS startup disk" is selected but grayed out and the source files points to a directory called FreeDOS; that folder only contains a file called Kernel.SYS.
When I click on Start, my USB key gets formatted and the Bios files are copied to it but the key is not bootable. I tried to create a bootable USB key to update an Elitebook 8440P, a 8530P and a 8540P using their respective files but I end up with unbootable USB keys. Files are missing to boot from DOS (command.com, IO.sys, MSDOS.sys)
Is there anything more that needs to be done?
can you post a link to the download in question?
Please identify your notebook/pc with more than the series number. Look at the base/rear/side of the notebook/pc at the barcoded sticker. Post everything you see on the sticker there except the serial number.
Post the installed operating system version ( and whether it is 32 or 64-bit)Best regards,
erico
Did you know that if you download the sofpaq to the target notebook and double-click the file that you can choose to update the notebook that the file was downloaded to?
Best regards,
erico
I am a volunteer forum member. If my suggestion helped you solve your issue, help others by marking that post as the accepted solution. Say thanks by clicking on the Yes button next to the "was this reply helpful?"
03-21-2011 10:04 AM
Yes I know Erico but I need the option of booting from a USB key. I was worried that I was doing something wrong some how. I think I need to contact HP directly about this issue so that they can fix their files.
I found a way to make it work by copying the dos files to the FreeDOS folder. The format utility is then able to copy them to the USB key and I can boot just fine.
Thanks!
12-01-2012 09:14 AM
Sometimes the invalid disk message from a USB key is because the HP software has trouble with USB thumb drives larger than 2GB(?). I changed to a small old USB drive and it worked perfectly.
