How to update BIOS on Compaq 615?

[rpoday]

Whatever you do don’t turn to HP for help with an HP product.

I just wasted over two hours of my life trying to run the BIOs update specifically designed for my EltieBook 8540w but, as is usually the case with HP, the BIOS will not run on my EliteBook laptop.

Turns out my version of HPQFlash doesn’t work with the BIOS update.

Classic!

A company that does not know their suggested solutions have no chance in Hell of running on the computer they say it is designed to fix is not a company I am ever going to do business with ever again.

HP is such a joke these days!

Hey HP why not outsource a few thousand more jobs overseas and see how your joke of a company fares!

[Eurometal]

If you get infamous error when updating HP Portables (laptops/notebooks/ netbooks) BIOS within Windows:

"SYSTEM DOES NOT CONTAIN THE NECESSARY WMI SUPPORT FOR THIS VERSION OF HPQFLASH":

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I am posting a solution found for own business laptop (HP 8540W & 8760W) so WebSearch engines index/register it in a few days - future sufferers come here and get a SOLUTION, finally.  Disreagrd previous "experts" advises, they don't work 100% & pity on TechSupport folks who get HP paychecks yet don't know products their co. designs/manufactures (on deep Technical level):

Below is a SOLUTION (WORKING) !

Go into Services (Run "services.msc" or get there thru ControlPanel-->AdminTools-->), find following 2 services ==> make sure they're running, chances are they're NOT (as in my case I keep them disabled unless need running):
1) "HP Software Framework"
2) "HP Service" [no typo - a real plain name]

If not running, set Properties-->Manual and click "Start", make sure both are running.

Rerun BIOS updater, choose option for "Within Windows" or something to that effect (using HPQ/ROMpaq updater), rather than "create USB BootDisk on Key", this time it should work without the hassle of a BootDisk creation.
Should work from within Windows environment.

Notes:
a) Likely only one (1) service is responsible - namely "HP Software Framework" for HPQ Updater to fail, but doesn't hurt to reenable/restart both services.
I in fact am responding to other customers who elect to Update BIOS within Windows, perhaps oldfashioned but to me Boot Updater is more natural & always works regardless of WMI Support.
b) After done, don't forget:

*) Recheck BIOS settings - update may've added new and/or changed old, so rescan tobe sure.

**) Go BACK into Windows-->Services.msc & redisable both aforementioned Services if were originally disabled; or you're a computer Pro, you know what you're doing & like me keep all HP services disabled.  The ones we got on EliteBook 8760W are pests consuming system resources, you just enable "Software Framework" when occasional issues emerge with HP softupdate (typically no issues) & redisable after use, rest of services are bloatware - some attempt to overrun Windows Wireless console, some seekout HP Networked printers (Ethernet, Wireless, but not USB), some do this & that - I study/know which one does what and decided to disable all. This is called a "minimalist" philosophy & turns your machine into a fast beast, I recently sold a very obsolete 4-year laptop which however handles 3DMCAD & complex designs/simulations, better new machines out fo a store, as new machines are loaded w/bloatware chocking down resources.
BUT nobody is requiring you to disable anything though.
The solution merely states the fact:

These 2 (or 1) services when not running halt BIOS Update "within Windows" (you can still run "BootDisk option", however, if preferred).
Simply restartung them solves your problem.  Usually

Ya'll have a good day and enjoy!

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BELOW ARE IMPORTANT WARNINGS:
1) IF YOUR BIOS UPDATE STILL FAILS, SOME OTHER PIECE IN WMI SUPPORT IS MISSING - IN MY CASE WAS THESE 2 SERVICES, BUT THERE'S REMOTE POSSIBILITY SOMETHING ELSE MIGHT BLOCK UPDATER.  DON'T WASTE TIME & CHOOSE "USB/BootDisk" options instead
2) Once BIOS updater does its job, will ask to auto-restart - let it go on & complete, it will self-shutdown (click "Next" to skip 60-second timer), then do NOT turn it on manually!, wait - it'll turn on by itself in 15 seconds, let it boot into Windows, you're done!
3) WARNING: close other apps before proceeding, be 100% sure your ACpower won't be interrupted or better yet - make sure battery is in/charged (so if ACpower accidentally disconnects, you're autoswitched onto battery) b/c power loss may result in severe damage to internal hardware.  In the old days it'd result in fatal damage, these days powerloss would still result in a major repair (ROM chip corruption).

So to summarize: those 2 services I specified, are often responsible for whether HPQ/ROMpaq will or won't run.
Other causes possible, but I've not witnessed; and if so - choose BootDisk option.

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Stan M. Starinski, MSEE.