Bios rollback?.How?

Hi ,
I recently upgraded my BIOS to the latest version F.3D from F.36M1.

I used the flashing tool that came with the new BIOS when downloaded from the HP/Compaq site.

I noticed that when the new BIOS was flashed a new file was made called “bios.bak”
I assume that this is a copy of the old BIOS that was on the machine before the new was flashed…..can I use this file to get back to my old BIOS?

I can’t find any settings in the flash tool that allows me to select the BIOS to flash so how would I do it?

Thanks for any help.

 

It might be or not possible, depends on the computer, what kind of computer are we talking about?

***Just remember that messing with your bios can render your system useless, so try to collect as much information as you can or contact tech support from the system manufacturer.

Sometimes there might be an option to force a bios downgrade, or you can just try to change the .bak extension to be able to use it with the flash tool.

 

Can you explain why you want it back? Is something wrong with new BIOS?

 

The laptop is a Compaq V6133EU….sorry I should have mentioned that

The new BIOS makes the fan run all the time…I suppose this is a good thing as people are reporting that their machines are running quite a bit cooler....I don't think mine is that much different though.

I would just like to know how to go back to the old BIOS by using the bak file that was created….there must be a way to do this or what is the point in saving the bak file.

Regards.

 

I believe that if you download the bios you want to downgrade to from the HP website and run that installer it will let you install it like normal, I think it just asks if you want to downgrade or not. I'm not 100% sure but i think that's how I did it.

 

The old BIOS I replaced, F.36M1 is not available from the site...the only one that is available is the new one that I now have on the machine.

The bak file must be a backup of the F.36M1 BIOS I replaced so I must be able to get this back onto the machine some how.

Is it just a case of renaming the bak file to a WPH file then flashing it ?

 

Ok, when you run the SP38061.EXE file it shows:

"PURPOSE: Critical
SoftPaq NUMBER: sp38061
SUPERSEDES: sp37157
EFFECTIVE DATE: November 30, 2007
CATEGORY: BIOS
SSM SUPPORTED: YES"

so the previous version should be in the sp37157.exe file, i couldn't find the file in the ftp but a quick search on the internet and i found:

http://files.filefront.com/sp37157exe/;9114389;/fileinfo.html

....or you can just rename the .bak file extension to .WPH and try if the sp37157.exe is not the correct one.

It seems the new bios has some critical fixes maybe that's why they removed the old one:
"PURPOSE: Critical
Fixes
# Updates the fan control algorithm of the system to reduce the likelihood of future system issues.
# Fixes issue where the touchpad scroll function does not work on some notebooks.
# Fixes issue where the battery fails. "

 

Hi,
Thanks for that...but...

How will I know if the sp37157.exe is the right one...if it's the wrong one my machine is dead...isn't it?

I renamed the bak file to .WPH & browsed to it with WinPhlash....I then tried opening it with the Advanced Settings tab but it throws up an error saying...

"Corrupted interface descriptors in the new BIOS file"
"Part Table Signature not found in the Interface
Error code:-161"

 

You are right, i didn't check but that sp37157.exe file doesn't shows as a F.36M1 bios. As i wrote before, the previous bios was removed because the new one contains some critical updates, so your only chance is to look for previous bios file with someone with the same system in online forums.

Question: are you sure the previous bios was F.36M1?

 

Yeah I'm sure the previous bios was F.36M1 as before flashing the new (F.3D) I checked in system information.

However...this laptop has had a new motherboard because of a power problem so maybe the version that was on was a one off version.

The sp37157 doesn't show as F.36M1 BIOS it shows as F.3B....but scrolling down it lists the Compaq Presario V6000 ....I assume this means the whole V6000 series?

Reading the threads on this forum a lot of people have the new BIOS (F.3D) that makes the fan run all the time....but they have different laptops to me....will there be different versions of the F.3D BIOS for each model of machine or will they all be the same?

 

Most likely is the same i think the bios shoes is for v6000, 6000 and 9000 series or something like that. They wouldn't make a bios for each different model and the v6000 series they all use AMD processors should is the same for all, the different models just make changes in configurations.

 

Thanks for that xoul.

I have just tried doing the same thing with the F.3D Bios which I know is ok (it's on the machine & working) & it throws up the exact same error !

The WinPhlash I’m using to do this is version 1.3 build 46…I found it on the Internet….the one that comes with the new BIOS from HP is a stripped down version that doesn’t let you browse to the BIOS you want

 

Dont worry if you dont get the exact same version of the BIOS as included by HP. Since it was replaced, they probably installed a BIOS which may not even be released to their website. So, as long as you have a BIOS SPxxxx.exe from a previous version than the current one then you shouldn't have any problems downgrading it. Also the BIOS between all AMD based models in the V60xx(dv60xx) to V64xx(dv64xx) are the same.

 

Thanks for that miner.

Do you know if it's possible to restore your original BIOS using the bak file from WinPhlash?

If not, what is the point of the bak file as I believe this is a copy of the BIOS that was on the machine before you flashed the new one.

 

See specs below...I upgraded my bios and it messed up the charge port. I simply went back to the HP site and clicked on the previous bios and hit "flash". It said "warning: Older bios are you sure you want to continue to flash"....I did and all is fine.

From working many years with computers, if you have no issues, don't upgrade.

 

My only caution is that I had a very bad experience when I "backflashed" to an older BIOS -- which worked just fine -- and then re-flashed to a newer version a couple days later: killed my laptop. It could be coincidence, but you can bet I won't try it again.

 

also, I believe a copy of the installer will be in your swsetup folder. If you can figure out which installer corresponds to the bios you want you can just run the installer from there.

the only problem being the folders in the swsetup folder are numbered by the HP SoftPaq number so it will require a bit detective work or just trial and error.

 

From F.3D to your old bios version in Vista, using a backup file in stead of floppy. Use the bios.bak file in folder SwSetup. Change the name of bios.wph in bios2.wph. Then change the name of bios.bak in bios.wph and start SWinFlash in Aministrator mode (rightclick on SWinFlash and click on "Run as Administrator"). System will ask if you want to go futher and displayd the change you are ready to make.
I just changed my own back and I am very happy it worked out.