Compaq dc7900 BIOS Flash Q&A White Paper

Compaq dc7900 - Convertible Minitower PC Manual

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  • Compaq dc7900 | BIOS Flash Q&A White Paper - Page 1
    2 In what operating systems can I update the PC BIOS 4 Will I lose my setup configurations when updating the BIOS 4 How do I update my PC BIOS in Vista, Windows XP, or 2000 4 How do I update the BIOS in a DOS environment 4 How do I update the BIOS when not running Vista, Windows XP, 2000
  • Compaq dc7900 | BIOS Flash Q&A White Paper - Page 2
    method depending on the operating environment of the computer(s). BIOS updates are available in a softpaq downloadable containing the BIOS image and upgrade instructions for the various methods. Regardless of the BIOS flash method, business PC products provide a high degree of upgrade reliability
  • Compaq dc7900 | BIOS Flash Q&A White Paper - Page 3
    /setup password to flsh.cpu o Flashbin.exe - DOS utility to update and/or restore BIOS o Flsh.cpu - Hardware specific driver required by Flashbin.exe to update/restore the BIOS • BIOS CD (directory): o BIOS.iso - CD image containing the binary BIOS file for F10 and flash recovery o Readme.txt - Text
  • Compaq dc7900 | BIOS Flash Q&A White Paper - Page 4
    files and directories previously mentioned. For example, HP Business PC products, which do not integrate the Management Engine, will not require the contents of the ME Flash directory. HP Business Blade PC products do not support the Windows BIOS updates and will not require the HPQFlash directory
  • Compaq dc7900 | BIOS Flash Q&A White Paper - Page 5
    BIOS administrator/setup password has been established on the business PC, the Flashbin utility driver must be assigned the password. Assign Password (Assignpw.exe) can be used with DOS Flash if an administrative/setup password has been previously set on the target PC have been typed in will
  • Compaq dc7900 | BIOS Flash Q&A White Paper - Page 6
    media files, an error message will be displayed and another media source can be selected. Once the desired binary image is selected and confirmed, the BIOS will begin the flashing process. The flash process should not be interrupted. The percentage completion will be displayed during the process. 6
  • Compaq dc7900 | BIOS Flash Q&A White Paper - Page 7
    The user is prompted when the process is completed. The new BIOS code will not take effect until the PC is rebooted. Alternatively, the user or administrator can use a Preboot eXecution Environment (PXE) to boot to a PXE server, such as Altiris. The Flashbin utility can
  • Compaq dc7900 | BIOS Flash Q&A White Paper - Page 8
    before proceeding. The user must have administrative privilege on the PC to proceed with the BIOS update. Otherwise, the application will respond with a warning message and exit without updating the BIOS image. If the PC has an administrative or setup password configured, HPQFlash will require
  • Compaq dc7900 | BIOS Flash Q&A White Paper - Page 9
    process will begin, and the user is warned not to interrupt the flashing process. Interrupting the flashing process can corrupt the BIOS image. If the BIOS does not update successfully, the business PC would enter flash recovery when rebooted. After the flash process has successfully completed, the
  • Compaq dc7900 | BIOS Flash Q&A White Paper - Page 10
    the HPQFlash application in a silent mode on an administrative/setup password protected PC. HPQPswd utility is an application which allows the user (typically a system administrator with the /s option to perform a silent mode update of a PC BIOS on Hewlett-Packard computers which have a BIOS 10
  • Compaq dc7900 | BIOS Flash Q&A White Paper - Page 11
    PC to be updated has administrator/setup password set. What are the steps necessary to create a bootable CD for BIOS update? A bootable, El-Torito compatible, CD can be created for BIOS update. Most third party CD burning software supports on the business PC, the Flashbin utility driver must be
  • Compaq dc7900 | BIOS Flash Q&A White Paper - Page 12
    BIOS binary image CD, follow instructions provided by the application. 4. Place the newly created BIOS binary image CD in the CD drive of the computer to be updated or restored and cycle system power supporting USB flash media boot. Any Hewlett-Packard business PC with the following system BIOS BIOS
  • Compaq dc7900 | BIOS Flash Q&A White Paper - Page 13
    diskette or DOS Bootable diskette into the floppy drive. 4. Turn on power to the computer to boot from the Startup diskette. 5. Run Fdisk from the "A:\" prompt by typing "Fdisk" and pressing Enter. 6. If prompted, select Yes ("Y") to enable Large Disk support and answer "Yes" to any other questions
  • Compaq dc7900 | BIOS Flash Q&A White Paper - Page 14
    files to the ROMFlash folder: a. Flashbin.exe b. Assignpw.exe c. XXX_MMmm.bin (desired BIOS update image) Step 2: Create Flash.bat 1. Open a command box 2. Start|Run: cmd 3. cd\express 4. cd ROMFlash 5. edit flash.bat 6. Type in the following, where [Altiris Sever Name] is the name of the server
  • Compaq dc7900 | BIOS Flash Q&A White Paper - Page 15
    server: a. Right click on the client computer name b. Select properties c. Check "Apply regular license" The ROM Flash Event Setup is completed and will be delivered to the client PC. What if the PC does not complete the BIOS flash process? HP business PC products provide flash disaster recovery if
  • Compaq dc7900 | BIOS Flash Q&A White Paper - Page 16
    Typical processors download code from the BIOS during initialization referred to as microcode. If a new, supported processor is installed in the business PC which requires a microcode currently not adequately provided by the BIOS, the BIOS will issue a POST warning "1801-Microcode Update Error". To
  • Compaq dc7900 | BIOS Flash Q&A White Paper - Page 17
    flash a new image. The image stored in the BIOS will be compressed with RLE4. If the image being HP Drive Key and M-Systems DiskOnKey. The following image shows the successful completion of the ME FW update process in a Windows XP environment. The update process will stay at the "Performing Update
  • Compaq dc7900 | BIOS Flash Q&A White Paper - Page 18
    HP Drive Key and M-Systems DiskOnKey®. The update process output is similar to the Windows-based version. What are the steps necessary to use Altiris for ME firmware update? This section contains instructions the Client PC to the Altiris Console Step 1: Copy FWUpdLcl.exe and ME firmware update image
  • Compaq dc7900 | BIOS Flash Q&A White Paper - Page 19
    . The Events Properties Form should show: • PC to the LAN with the Altiris Server 2. On the client: Access the Altiris eXpress folder on the server a. Click Start | Run b. Type in the path to the server: \\[server name]\express 3. Run Aclient.exe a. Double click on Aclient b. Follow the instructions
  • Compaq dc7900 | BIOS Flash Q&A White Paper - Page 20
    regressed to a previous version after successfully completing the update process. The ME firmware can only be updated to a newer image. Summary HP's Business PC BIOS provides update methods to allow the user or administrator to manage the BIOS upgrades and ME firmware in a flexible manner. HPQFlash
  • Compaq dc7900 | BIOS Flash Q&A White Paper - Page 21
    to copy Flashbin.exe, flsh.cpu, and the BIOS binary image onto the FreeDOS boot diskette, the following statements: ƒ @echo off ƒ set disksrc=A: ƒ set bootsrc=realdisk ƒ set cputype=80386 • Driver directory o Delete all files except HIMEM.EXE • Root directory o Modify FDCONIG.SYS to contain the
  • Compaq dc7900 | BIOS Flash Q&A White Paper - Page 22
    -Packard Waterford Building, 9th Floor 5200 Blue Lagoon Drive Miami, Florida 33126 USA Phone: (305) 267 HP products and services are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. HP
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1
Table of Contents
Introduction
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2
What are the files and directories in a BIOS softpaq?
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2
In what operating systems can I update the PC BIOS?
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4
Will I lose my setup configurations when updating the BIOS?
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4
How do I update my PC BIOS in Vista, Windows XP, or 2000?
............................................................
4
How do I update the BIOS in a DOS environment?
..............................................................................
4
How do I update the BIOS when not running Vista, Windows XP, 2000, or DOS?
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5
What are the steps necessary to execute the HPQFlash utility?
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8
What are the steps necessary to execute the HPQPwsd utility?
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10
What are the steps necessary to create a bootable floppy for BIOS update?
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11
What are the steps necessary to create a bootable CD for BIOS update?
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11
What are the steps necessary to create the BIOS image CD for F10 ROM flash and recovery?
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12
What are the steps necessary to create a bootable USB flash media (DOK) for BIOS update?
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12
What are the steps necessary to use SSM for BIOS update?
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13
What are the steps necessary to use Altiris for BIOS update?
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13
What if the PC does not complete the BIOS flash process?
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15
What is a processor microcode update softpaq and how is it used?
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16
How can a processor microcode update be executed in Windows?
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16
What does the BIOS binary image naming convention indicate?
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16
Can the BIOS POST splash screen be modified?
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16
How do I update the ME firmware in Vista, Windows XP, or Windows 2000?
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17
How do I update the ME firmware in a DOS environment?
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18
What are the steps necessary to use Altiris for ME firmware update?
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18
What if the ME firmware does not complete the update process?
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20
Can the ME firmware be restored to a previous version after updating?
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20
Summary
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20
Appendix A – Modifying a DOS boot diskette for Flashbin.exe
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20
For More Information
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22
BIOS Flash Q&A
Updated June, 2008