Upgrade BIOS for Compaq F700 laptop- Windows 7 OS

[suiramix]

I am trying to upgrade the BIOS for Compaq F700 laptop ver F.04 to F.08 !

Can I do that under Windows 7 OS ( the sp39468 file WinFlash is recommended under Vista environment)?

Thanks

[Mumbodog]

Yes, but I suggest doing it safe mode.

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[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Make sure your antivirus program is disabled. It should be in safe mode, but double check to be sure. 

If the antivirus program is active during a windows-based BIOS flash, the antivirus program may attempt to interrupt the flash "thinking" a virus is attacking the BIOS. An interrupted BIOS flash = dead computer.

[suiramix]

I will try it! Thanks guys!!

[kam_a]

Oh great, thats just what I did and now I have a dead laptop. (Wish i would have found that information before i did the bios upgrade...)

What do I do now?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

Sorry to learn your BIOS flash failed.  I take it you flashed the BIOS with your AV program running?

I don't think there is anything you can do. If your notebook is still under warranty, I would contact HP and see if they will repair it.

Paul

[kam_a]

It's true, and its no longer in warranty.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

I'm sorry.

I do not have any idea how you fix a failed BIOS flash other than to replace the CMOS chip or the entire motherboard. Such procedures are normally very expensive, and you would be much better off buying a new laptop, IMO.  Some PC's normally business PC's, have a method to recover from a failed BIOS flash, but not all. Many PC's built for home use do not.

However, maybe someone else with a lot more techical knowledge than I have, will read your post, and have a solution for you that is less costly.

Normally as I posted above a failed BIOS flash = a dead computer. That is why it is so important to do it right the first time.

Paul

[Mumbodog]

There is a way on some models to do what is called a crisis recovery of the bios, it is a bit complicated, here is the overview

1. Download the bios for your specific model, unpack the sp file using winzip or other software, you will find the bios image file in the package, copy this bios image to a floppy diskette, rename the file using the first 4 numbers of the original image file name.

2. Connect a usb floppy drive to the laptop with the diskette inserted, with the laptop powered off, hold the windows key and the B key down while you power up, keep holding them down until you hear a beep or two, let up and wait 3-5 minutes for it to recover, power down and see if you get a post screen when you power up again.

This is a general overview of the process and can vary depending on the model and year of manufacture.

Generally speaking the name of the bios file must match the motherboard number which is 4 digits.

You can google "HP crisis recovery" and do some digging on the subject.

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