Notebook Software and How To Questions

Hi,

2 days ago I followed a message with a red exclamation mark, received via HP Support Assistant to urgently update my BIOS.

something like this:

"NOTE: HP strongly recommends transitioning promptly to this updated BIOS version which supersedes all previous releases." which is still on the HP BIOS page...

So I did, reluctantly... my hunch was not unfounded and turned out correct, unfortunately too late.

A slew of crashes followed, a atikmpag.sys issue.

On Mon 2018-12-10 4:14:43 AM your computer crashed
crash dump file: C:\WINDOWS\Minidump\121018-7406-01.dmp
This was probably caused by the following module:[edit](atikmpag+0xF624) 
Bugcheck code: 0x116 (0xFFFFD609125F7010, 0xFFFFF8064340F624, 0xFFFFFFFFC0000001, 0x3)
Error:[edit]

 Every 10-15 min. for no reason screen went blank/white and automatic reboot after 15 secs. Had maybe a 50-60 crashes that day. It was supposed to be a day with enhanced HP new BIOS security...

Uninstalled, cleaned, reinstalled drivers in several different ways, safe mode including, to no avail.

So far I was using the 22.19.655.1 Rev.B, tried base VGA... same thing. Driver installed or not video card was crashing.

Tried flashing the BIOS...

big surprise, can't do it. Recovery failed, it said after flash I'll go back to F16 but...!! it decided to keep F19 instead.

Made USB disk etc, no go. Cannot read older BIOS'es signature file !!! even though fresh downloaded.

But it has no problem reading signature file of F19 BIOS, the same that I installed. I can flash with F19 as many times as I want. But no other version. Conclusion: downgrade is disabled in software. No rollback, even though HP dignostics includes this option... it's been crippled on purpose by a thoughtful HP.

Did "factory reset" as well, fresh install etc. but BIOS stayed the same, no going back. But my laptop did not come with F19 BIOS... !?

In DOS laptop is stable, in Windows every 10 min. it crashes and reboots itself, I don't have to do anything.

Chrome in Windows invokes a freeze with a message "Applications has been blocked from accessing graphics hardware". So how can I use this computer without graphics hardware??? Forget browsing or video, freezes constantly.

Tested memory, video, CPU and HDD in HP diag. All checks out.

The culprit is obvious, a home cooked F19 BIOS that meddles with video memory, that was upposed to be a plus.

A BIOS that I cannot get rid off because HP closed this door.

My laptop, from 100% working... became useless piece of junk. Thanks to HP BIOS!!!

Anyone has suggestions?

Thinking about 3rd  party flash utility...