HP Dc7900 BIOS Flash Q&A White Paper

HP Dc7900 - Compaq Business Desktop Manual

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  • HP Dc7900 | BIOS Flash Q&A White Paper - Page 1
    update softpaq and how is it used 16 How can a processor microcode update be executed in Windows 16 What does the BIOS binary image naming convention indicate 16 Can the BIOS POST splash screen be modified 16 How do I update the ME firmware in Vista, Windows XP, or Windows 2000 17 How
  • HP Dc7900 | BIOS Flash Q&A White Paper - Page 2
    of the upgrade manner chosen by the user or administrator, HP business PC BIOS provides flash recovery in the event of a BIOS flash failure. The softpaq is executed by selecting the file SPXXXXX.exe where XXXXX is a unique identification number assigned to each softpaq. The softpaq will present the
  • HP Dc7900 | BIOS Flash Q&A White Paper - Page 3
    .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 document describing
  • HP Dc7900 | BIOS Flash Q&A White Paper - Page 4
    (WMI) service to be installed and running on the target PC. How do I update the BIOS in a DOS environment? The Flash Bin Firmware Upgrade Utility (Flashbin.exe) can be executed in a DOS environment to upgrade or restore a PC BIOS image. The utility uses a driver (flsh.cpu) for specific hardware
  • HP Dc7900 | BIOS Flash Q&A White Paper - Page 5
    If the BIOS administrator/setup password has been established on the business PC, the Flashbin utility driver must be assigned flash utility will present the user with the option to select the media containing the BIOS image file (7F1_MMmm.bin). F10 ROM based flash can accept the binary file from
  • HP 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
  • HP 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,
  • HP Dc7900 | BIOS Flash Q&A White Paper - Page 8
    image. If the PC has an administrative or setup password configured, HPQFlash will require the user to enter the setup password before the BIOS can be successfully updated. If the user selects the Next button, entered the correct password (if needed), and has the appropriate rights, the application
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    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
  • HP Dc7900 | BIOS Flash Q&A White Paper - Page 10
    be used with the /p option of the HPQFlash application. This option is usually used along with the /s option to perform a silent mode update of a PC BIOS on Hewlett-Packard computers which have
  • HP Dc7900 | BIOS Flash Q&A White Paper - Page 11
    bootable CD for BIOS update? A bootable, El-Torito compatible, CD can be created for BIOS update. Most third party CD burning software supports the creation password has been established on the business PC, the Flashbin utility driver must be assigned the password. Assign Password (Assignpw.exe) can
  • HP Dc7900 | BIOS Flash Q&A White Paper - Page 12
    BIOS BIOS.iso. This will launch the CD burning software. 3. To make the BIOS binary image CD, follow instructions provided by the application. 4. Place the newly created BIOS for BIOS update supporting USB flash media boot. Any Hewlett-Packard business PC with the following system BIOS system BIOS •
  • HP Dc7900 | BIOS Flash Q&A White Paper - Page 13
    enable Large Disk support and answer "Yes" to any other questions that appear on the screen. 7. Select option number "5" to show hp.com/go/ssm). What are the steps necessary to use Altiris for BIOS update? This section contains instructions for using Altiris Deployment server to deliver a BIOS
  • HP Dc7900 | BIOS Flash Q&A White Paper - Page 14
    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. Select "DOS (from BootWorks)" 11. Click "OK" 12. The Events Properties Form should show: • Task: Run Script • Details: [path of the file] 13 instructions 14
  • HP Dc7900 | BIOS Flash Q&A White Paper - Page 15
    FAT32 configured media sources. NTFS and other file allocation methods are not supported. Once a binary image is located, the BIOS update process will be attempted again. The automatic flash recovery will continue until the BIOS is successfully updated or restored. If no binary image is found, the
  • HP Dc7900 | BIOS Flash Q&A White Paper - Page 16
    minimal changes to the BIOS source code typically involving minor problem fixes. Major version number changes indicate a greater degree of change to the BIOS source code such as new feature additions, additional hardware support, or significant POST modifications. Can the BIOS POST splash screen be
  • HP Dc7900 | BIOS Flash Q&A White Paper - Page 17
    to quickly flash a new image. The image stored in the BIOS will be compressed with RLE4. If the image being flashed is number of 1028. The update binary image and the Local-Win folder contents can be copied to any Windows accessible media such as a CD/DVD or USB flash media device, including HP
  • HP Dc7900 | BIOS Flash Q&A White Paper - Page 18
    firmware version and "bbbb" is the build version number. The update binary image and the Local-DOS folder contents such as a USB flash media device, including HP Drive Key and M-Systems DiskOnKey®. The update firmware update? This section contains instructions for using Altiris Deployment server to
  • HP Dc7900 | BIOS Flash Q&A White Paper - Page 19
    10. Select "DOS (from BootWorks)" 11. Click "OK" 12. The Events Properties Form should show: • Task: Run Script • Details: [path of the file] 13. ]\express 3. Run Aclient.exe a. Double click on Aclient b. Follow the instructions 4. When Aclient is properly installed and the system is connected to the
  • HP Dc7900 | BIOS Flash Q&A White Paper - Page 20
    HP's Business PC BIOS provides update methods to allow the user or administrator to manage the BIOS BIOS BIOS HP will remain the premier provider of comprehensive BIOS HP Business PC BIOS instructions necessary to create a DOS bootable flash diskette. In order to copy Flashbin.exe, flsh.cpu, and the BIOS
  • HP 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
  • HP Dc7900 | BIOS Flash Q&A White Paper - Page 22
    to your local phone directory, or call the HP regional office listed below. Corporate and North American 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?
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4
How do I update the BIOS in a DOS environment?
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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?
.....................................................
16
What does the BIOS binary image naming convention indicate?
.........................................................
16
Can the BIOS POST splash screen be modified?
................................................................................
16
How do I update the ME firmware in Vista, Windows XP, or Windows 2000?
......................................
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