BIOS Questions

If the notebook is running good, Do we have to update the BIOS? I'm using F.27 now, I saw the F.3A on HP drivers download website, Do I need to update it ? or F.27 is fine.

 

In most cases, no. Unless you run into problems, you're safe to assume that you don't need to update your BIOS since in most cases they are released to fix various problems.

That's not to say you shouldn't keep an eye on it, but unless you're running into hardware/compatibility issues, you can most likely pass up on it.

 

Pros:
+ improve performance
+ fix bugs

Cons:
+ could "fry" the bios if don't do it correctly (which may require the unit to send back to HP)

I just update my bios, which claims to "improve battery performance". I haven 't verified their claim yet.

 

Thanks! daedal and luxuguy, I'm new on notebook.
-Luxuguy, If you don't might would you give some details how to flash and update the new BIOS.

 

Super easy.
1/ Go to HP website
2/ Find your notebook's bios update executable file (spxxxxxx.exe, where xx are a whole bunch of nubmers). This step is IMPORTANT. Find the wrong bios may cause you lots of trouble.
3/ Unplug all external devices (usb drive, blah blah blah). Plug in Power supply (when you run the file, it will tell you to do this step.)
4/ Run it. Patiently wait. It will reboot for you, but it's not done yet. After it reboot, you will see something like "updating keyboard .....". After that, it will load windows and yey ... u're done.

 

Thanks Luxuguy, last question, After I update if I don't like it or I have some problems, Can I re-install it to the previous version ?

 

haha, I just posted this in another post.
The answer is YES, and NO.
NO. because another user here try it and he was told by a HP tech support that he couldn't do that.
YES, you can bring it back to the previous version but you need to bring it to a intermediate version, then upgrade your bios from that version. Depending on the plattform, this could be done differently. I need to look up instruction here in the lab all the time I wanna downgrade bios. So my 2 cent is, make up your mind carefully before you do bios update. I did mine because I thought it was worth it (the claim was "improve battery performance").

 

Anyone know where the BIOS' went?

I searched the HP site and couldn't find the BIOS' listed in the drivers and download section. It seems HP has removed them or relocated them.

Any ideas where they went and how to get them?

PS - I have a clean install, so none of HP software is installed such as the update manager.

 

Dont fix it if it aint broke is my motto

 

The updated BIOS knocked off my wireless card driver and am having problems loading it back. HP doesn't have the previous BIOS versions.

 

I updated to F.3A from F.27 & the notebook, DV9225, went through several reboots until it "settled out.

When I shut it off then turned it back on, same thing so I reflashed it back to F.27, which answers your other question.

Very stable now as was before.

 

I just want to clear your post, you updated from F.27 to F.3A after you re-booted your notebook there wasn't any different then you reflashed back to F.27 is that right? if yes, How did you reflash back to the previous version (F.27) because I want to update it but I want to make sure if I have any problems I can reflash back to F.27.

 

Thank god I saved the original SWSetup on my dv2000z and found the original bios flash. I re-flashed it back to f22 from f34 and now my wireless is working. It's true, if it broke don't touch it. What was HP thinking when they released the f3A flash. Didn't they test it before it was released? The HP forum has a lot of the same problem with the wireless as I did and with various models.

Now things are right again.

 

I just refran the F.27 exe file.
It did ask me if I wanted to revert to the older BIOS, I obviously opted yes & did a "flash back!"

Now it boots fine.

I'll wait until the next BIOS claims draft N & 4 GB support, if that ever happens so I can change out my G card & upgrade my RAM.

 

I saw in SwSetup, that has a bios.bak file, if I change the extension for WHP, I will get a previous version?