BIOS Flash Q&A

ManualsBrandsHP ManualsDesktopsHP Compaq dc7800 Base Model Small Form Factor PC

BIOS Flash Q&A

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

What are the files and directories in a BIOS softpaq? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 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? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

How do I update the BIOS in a DOS environment? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

How do I update the BIOS when not running Vista, Windows XP, 2000, or DOS? . . . . . . . . 6

What are the steps necessary to execute the HPQFlash utility? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

What are the steps necessary to execute the HPQPswd utility? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

What are the steps necessary to create a bootable floppy for BIOS update? . . . . . . . . . . . 14

What are the steps necessary to create a bootable CD for BIOS update? . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

What steps are necessary to create the BIOS image CD for F10 ROM flash and recovery? . 15

What are the steps necessary to create a bootable USB flash media for BIOS update? . . . .15

What are the steps necessary to use Altiris for BIOS update? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

What if the PC does not complete the BIOS flash process? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

What is a processor microcode update softpaq and how is it used? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

How can a processor microcode update be executed in Windows? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

What does the BIOS binary image naming convention indicate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Can the BIOS POST splash screen be modified? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

How do I update the ME firmware in Vista, Windows XP, or Windows 2000? . . . . . . . . . .21

How do I update the ME firmware in a DOS environment? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

What are the steps necessary to use Altiris for ME firmware update? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

What if the ME firmware does not complete the update process? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Can the ME firmware be restored to a previous version after updating? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Appendix A - Modifying a DOS boot diskette for Flashbin.exe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

For More Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Summary of content (26 pages)

PAGE 1
BIOS Flash Q&A Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 What are the files and directories in a BIOS softpaq? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 In what operating systems can I update the PC BIOS? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Will I lose my setup configurations when updating the BIOS? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
PAGE 2
Introduction This white paper outlines Hewlett-Packard business PC dc class BIOS flashing options beginning with the 2005 products (e.g. dc7600). The BIOS (Basic Input Output System) is the set of routines typically stored in read-only memory that enable a computer to load the operating system and communicate with the various devices in the computer, such as storage drives, keyboard, monitor, printer, and communications ports.
PAGE 3
After acknowledging the license agreement, the softpaq will allow the user or administrator to extract the contents to any directory. The following files and directories are an example of the extracted from a typical BIOS softpaq: • 786xx.cab - Compressed BIOS image which can by used by System Software Manager (SSM) to remotely update a system. • SPxxxxx.cva - Identification file used in SSM remote BIOS upgrade. • BIOS Flash.htm - Web document describing the softpaq contents and BIOS upgrade methods.
PAGE 4
• HPQFlash (directory): • HPQFlash.exe - Windows application to update and/or restore BIOS. • HPQFlash.txt - Text document describing HPQFlash.exe use and syntax. • HPQPswd.exe - Windows application which allows the user (typically a system administrator) to create an encrypted password file which can be used with the /p option of the HPQFlash application. • HPQPswd.txt - Text document describing HPQFlash use and syntax. • ROM.CAB - Compressed BIOS image file used by HPQFlash.
PAGE 5
How do I update my PC BIOS in Vista, Windows XP, or 2000? In single PC situations, the user or administrator should use the HPQFlash executable. For a system administrator with a network of Windows business PCs to update, HPQFlash can be deployed through the use of System Software Manager (SSM) to update all the appropriate PCs. HPQFlash requires the Windows Management Interface (WMI) service to be installed and running on the target PC.
PAGE 6
How do I update the BIOS when not running Vista, Windows XP, 2000, or DOS? BIOS can be updated using the F10 setup Flash System ROM feature. Reboot the PC and press F10 to enter setup. In the File menu, select the Flash System ROM item. This 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 the root directory of any removable media such as USB, legacy floppy diskette, and CD.
PAGE 7
When the media is selected, the user is presented with a list of valid binaries. If the BIOS cannot read the media or media files, an error message will be displayed and another media source can be selected.
PAGE 8
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. The user is prompted when the process is completed. The new BIOS code will not take effect until the PC is rebooted.
PAGE 9
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 be executed in the PXE DOS-like environment to perform the BIOS upgrade.
PAGE 10
What are the steps necessary to execute the HPQFlash utility? The HPQFlash application is executed in the Windows environment by selecting the HPQFlash.exe file. The initial HPQFlash application window will be presented as follows reminding the user that additional applications should be closed 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.
PAGE 11
If the user selects the Next button, enters the correct password (if needed), and has the appropriate rights, the application will interrogate the current PC BIOS image and compare it to the BIOS image file (ROM.CAB) in the same directory as the FLashbin.exe. If the BIOS image file is not applicable to the PC, a warning message will be displayed. If the image is applicable, HPQFlash will display the current BIOS and the BIOS version contained in the ROM.CAB file.
PAGE 12
If the image file is applicable to the PC but is an older BIOS version that currently installed, the user will receive the following warning; however the older image can be restored to the PC if the user selects the Next button. If Next is selected, the BIOS flashing 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.
PAGE 13
What are the steps necessary to execute the HPQPswd utility? The HPQPswd application is executed in the Windows environment by selecting the HPQPswd.exe file. The initial HPQFlash application window will be presented as follows options to the user or administrator.
PAGE 14
As indicated in the image, this utility will create an encrypted password file required to execute 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) to create an encrypted password file which can be used with the /p option of the HPQFlash application.
PAGE 15
What steps are necessary to create the BIOS image CD for F10 ROM flash and recovery? The softpaq BIOS.iso allows the user or administrator to create binary image CD that can be used to locally restore or update the system BIOS. This feature requires that a system is available with CD burning software and a compatible CD-R/RW drive installed. The following steps describe how the file can be used: 1. Obtain a blank CD and place it in the CD-R/RW drive. 2. Execute BIOS.iso.
PAGE 16
Procedure steps: 1. Turn off power to the computer. 2. Insert the USB flash media device into any of the computer’s USB ports. NOTE: Unplug all USB storage devices (except USB floppy drive) connected to the system other than the USB flash media device that you plan to make bootable. 3. Insert a Startup 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.
PAGE 17
3. Create the Altiris ROM Flash Event. 4. Connect the Client PC to the Altiris Console. Step 1: Copy Flashbin.exe, Adminpw.exe, and BIOS image to the server 1. Create a ROMFlash folder in the Altiris eXpress folder. 2. Copy the following 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 prompt. 2. Click Start > Run, and then type cmd. 3. Type cd\express. 4. Type cd ROMFlash. 5. Type edit flash.bat. 6.
PAGE 18
12. The Events Properties Form should show: • Task: Run Script • Details: [path of the file] 13. Click OK. Step 4: Connecting the Test Unit to the Altiris Console 1. Connect the client 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 as follows: a. Double-click on Aclient. b. Follow the instructions. 4.
PAGE 19
It will boot the PC in a recovery mode and search the root directory of the removable media sources (floppy, USB, or CD) for a compatible binary image. The BIOS.iso file, included in the softpaq, should be used to create a BIOS image CD if the user or administrator desires to use CD media for BIOS recovery. When flashing during recovery, the CD media, containing the BIOS image file, must be El-Torito compatible. Floppy or USB media sources can simply contain the BIOS binary image file in the root directory.
PAGE 20
How can a processor microcode update be executed in Windows? With the latest version of HPQFlash to support the 2007 HP Business PC products (e.g. dc7800), processor microcode patches can be updated in a Windows environment. As detailed in the previous section, the microcode softpaq specific to the general BIOS family can be downloaded containing the image file uXX_MMmm.bin. This image file must be copied to the same directory as the HPQFlash.exe utility.
PAGE 21
How do I update the ME firmware in Vista, Windows XP, or Windows 2000? FWUpdLcl.exe utility in the ME Flash\Local-Win directory is designed to update the ME firmware within a local Windows environment. For more information and utility options, view the readme.txt file located in the ME Flash\Local-Win folder. The ME can be updated by executing the following command FWUpdLcl.exe -generic. The ME Flash folder contains a binary update image for the ME. The binary image file is named XXX_bbbb.
PAGE 22
What are the steps necessary to use Altiris for ME firmware update? This section contains instructions for using Altiris Deployment server to deliver a ME firmware update. This information assumes that an Altiris Deployment server has been successfully configured. The basic steps required for ME firmware update through the Altiris Deployment server is as follows: 1. Copy FWUpdLcl.exe and ME firmware update image to the server. 2. Create MEflash.bat. 3. Create the Altiris ME Flash Event. 4.
PAGE 23
7. Click the folder button, which is the button to the right of Run the script from file button and has image of a folder on it. 8. Select the file “meflash.bat” created in the previous section. 9. Click Open. 10. Select DOS (from BootWorks). 11. Click OK. 12. The Events Properties Form should show: Task: Run Script Details: [path of the file] 13. Click OK. Step 4: Connecting the Test Unit to the Altiris Console 1. Connect the client PC to the LAN with the Altiris Server. 2.
PAGE 24
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 offers a familiar, Windows application interface that allows the user to confidently update the BIOS and processor microcode. Setup-based-flash and recovery provides a convenient, local upgrade method which is not dependent on the PC operating system.
PAGE 25
• Root directory • Modify FDCONIG.SYS to contain the following statements: - !FILES=20 - !BUFFERS=20 - !LASTDRIVE=Z - !SET PATH=A:\FREEDOS - !SWITCHES=/F /N - !SHELLHIGH=A:\COMMAND.COM A:\ /D /K A:\FREEDOS\FDAUTO.BAT - !echo=Welcome to FreeDOS (http://www.freedos.
PAGE 26
For More Information For the HP sales office nearest you, refer to your local phone directory, or call the HP regional office listed below.