Create Bootable USB Keys to perform Bios Update on EliteBooks

[SimonGI]

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?

[erico]

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@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

[SimonGI]

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,

[erico]

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

[SimonGI]

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!

[disarli]

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.

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1732259