Unable to open bios menu or use recovery USB drive on HP Pavilion 500-205t CTO Desktop PC

[Barry_Z]

This PC will boot up and is running Windows 10. It does not meet the requirements for Windows 11 and I want to explore alternate OSs. The problem is that the computer will not boot from a USB drive, either directly or using Setting\Update\Recovery\Restart Now. The USB drive that I am trying to use has worked on another computer. I have tried to open the Bios Setup menu to verify the boot order but have been unsuccessful using the Ecs key and various F keys. I suspect that the bios is corrupted but HP support does not provide any drivers for this model so I don't have a way to recover or update it. Any help or suggestions?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

I doubt that a BIOS update will make any difference.

The newest one I could find for your PC is 80.20.

If you have an older BIOS version than that, let me know and I will post the link to the 80.20 update.

Booting from the USB flash drive is ESC, then F9.

If you are happy with your PC, if you are interested in installing W11 24H2 on your PC as is, watch this video, which is the easiest way to do it in my opinion, and I have tried many different ways to do this during the last 3 years.

How to install Windows 11 24H2 on Unsupported PC (Early Access) 2024 (youtube.com)

Download the W24H2 ISO file and use that (3rd option).   

Download Windows 11 (microsoft.com)

You can download the free 7-Zip file utility from the link below.  The top line is for 64 bit.

7-Zip

You'll have to repeat this procedure each October when Microsoft rolls out the new builds because a PC that does not meet Microsoft's minimum W11 hardware requirements will never automatically get the update to the next build.

Other than that, your PC will continue to get the monthly cumulative and other updates.

That's only a minor inconvenience to have continued OS support beyond October of 2025.

And best of all, it can be done at absolutely no cost.

[Barry_Z]

Thanks for your response. When I hit Esc during boot the screen goes blank. It's lit but empty--no cursor or anything. That's what I'm saying about not being able to enter the (any) bios setup menu.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

The video I posted will allow you to do an in-place upgrade from W10>W11, so you don't need to boot from an external device to install W11 the way the person shows how to do it.

You can skip through the part where he provides the info for downloading the W11 ISO file because you can use the current one released to the public from Microsoft on the Microsoft link I posted.

Again, if you want the 80.20 BIOS update, I can provide the info and exe file links to it for you.

[Barry_Z]

Thank you, I will look at that. I would like the bios file link, though.

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

You're very welcome.

It looks like HP removed the BIOS update from their FTP site.

We are currently not allowed to post links to third party driver sites.

However, I don't see anything improper with letting you know that the DriversCollection.com website has the drivers for your PC.

I use the site all the time and the drivers are legitimate and virus free.

Just do a search for your HP Pavilion 500-205t CTO drivers and include in the search the Driverscollection website name and you will be able to find the drivers and the 80.20 BIOS update HP used to supply.