Re: [SLUG] Upgrading HP laptop BIOS without Windows, how?
On Tue, Sep 18, 2007 at 11:42:13AM +1000, John Clarke wrote: Unfortunately HP only provide updates as a package with a Windows (not DOS) program called WinFlash. Thanks to all who replied with suggestions on how to do the upgrade without reinstalling Windows. I did finally manage to do the upgrade, but it took a few attempts before I got it to work: - replacing my hard disc with another containing Windows didn't work. The only disc I could get hold of was from a Dell laptop, and that wouldn't boot (apparently because Dell do something weird in their boot loader). - building the Ultimate Boot CD for Windows on a Windows PC at work failed build because the machine I was using had a different version of Cygwin (cygwin1.dll) installed to that used by the tools in the UBCD4Win package, which meant that the UBCD4Win tools wouldn't run, and neither would any Cygwin programs on the PC until I rebooted it. - building the Ultimate Boot CD for Windows on a new (Dell) latop with Vista and no Cygwin worked, but the BIOS upgrade program wouldn't run because it's hard-coded to use C:, and only B: (RAM disc) and X: (CD) were available. Mounting a network drive onto C: was my first thought for a workaround but that wasn't possible because I couldn't get networking to start. - unpacking the BIOS program under Wine and copying to a USB flash drive didn't work either because it didn't accept the hotplugged flash drive. - rebooting from the Windows CD with the flash drive plugged in worked, and finally something went right: the flash drive appeared as C:. I ran the program, upgraded the BIOS, and it worked. It even fixed the corrupted model and serial numbers :-) Cheers, John -- Ah, the advantage of M$ software. As the number of errors in the software grows towards infinity, the probability that a specific error is non-trivial approaches 0. Which means all M$ related problems are trivial and easily solved by Googling. -- Toni Lassila -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
Re: Slug digest vol 20 issue 25 - Subject: [SLUG] Upgrading HP laptop BIOS without Windows, how?
-The following applies mostly to John Clarke message. John have you looked up what motherboard you have. I know that HP probably isn't using the stock Intel or amd motherboards, but if you can find out it's chipset you might be able to use the vendors, in this case probably intel, own programs. Failing this, I'm sure you can grab a windows xp live cd (I have not personally used one but I know they exist) or use some one else's hardisk as a temporary fix. If you feel like emulating windows, you can do that too. Perhaps calling HP will yield another version of the update utility. -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
Re: [SLUG] Upgrading HP laptop BIOS without Windows, how?
On Tue, Sep 18, 2007 at 01:53:04PM +1000, Visser, Martin wrote: I'll see if I can get answer internally. Thanks Martin. I'm a little annoyed that when my laptop died the motherboard was replaced under warranty, the replacement had a very old BIOS, and they didn't set the model and serial numbers. An alternative might be to see if you can hold of one of the Windows PE or similar bootable CDs. I didn't know such a thing existed. I gave up on Windows years ago :-) We do use it at work though, so I'll see what I can do. Thanks, John -- If you want to watch [a hard drive] die a slow agonizing death, whilst incoveniencing the maximum number of your lusers, install it in the part of your news spool that handles alt.sex.* -- Brian Kantor -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
Re: [SLUG] Upgrading HP laptop BIOS without Windows, how?
On Tue, Sep 18, 2007 at 06:37:00PM +1000, Visser, Martin wrote: Martin, Even easier, might be get basically any Windows loaded hard drive, stick it in a USB hard drive case and boot from that (assuming your model I have a selection of USB hard drive adapters (who needs a case :-) so I'll see what I can get hold of at work tomorrow. I'm sure I'll be able to get hold of a drive for the few minutes it'll take to flash the BIOS. I'll probably still have a go at building a bootable Windows CD in case I ever need one again. Even if the hardware such as video is substantially different you should at least be able to get it to boot into safe mode. (Ugly I know). Appearance is unimportant, I only want to do one thing then I'll go back to Linux :-) Thanks, John -- In my cats case, if they're well fed, it just means they have more time to play with the little squeaking feathery/furry things that they find and bring home. It's probably more humane on the wildlife to starve the buggers. -- Iain Rae -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
RE: [SLUG] Upgrading HP laptop BIOS without Windows, how?
Even easier, might be get basically any Windows loaded hard drive, stick it in a USB hard drive case and boot from that (assuming your model allows you to boot from USB hard drives). If it is a notebook harddrive you could even temporarily replace it with the one in your notebook. Even if the hardware such as video is substantially different you should at least be able to get it to boot into safe mode. (Ugly I know). Martin Visser Technology Consultant Consulting Integration Technology Solutions Group - HP Services 410 Concord Road Rhodes NSW 2138 Australia Mobile: +61-411-254-513 Fax: +61-2-9022-1800 E-mail: martin.visserAThp.com This email (including any attachments) is intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above and may contain information that is confidential, proprietary or privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify HP immediately by return email and then delete the email, destroy any printed copy and do not disclose or use the information in it. -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of John Clarke Sent: Tuesday, 18 September 2007 5:19 PM To: slug@slug.org.au Subject: Re: [SLUG] Upgrading HP laptop BIOS without Windows, how? On Tue, Sep 18, 2007 at 01:53:04PM +1000, Visser, Martin wrote: I'll see if I can get answer internally. Thanks Martin. I'm a little annoyed that when my laptop died the motherboard was replaced under warranty, the replacement had a very old BIOS, and they didn't set the model and serial numbers. An alternative might be to see if you can hold of one of the Windows PE or similar bootable CDs. I didn't know such a thing existed. I gave up on Windows years ago :-) We do use it at work though, so I'll see what I can do. Thanks, John -- If you want to watch [a hard drive] die a slow agonizing death, whilst incoveniencing the maximum number of your lusers, install it in the part of your news spool that handles alt.sex.* -- Brian Kantor -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
Re: [SLUG] Upgrading HP laptop BIOS without Windows, how?
Hi my understanding was that hp was moving towards, non windows upgrades of bios/firmware etc. This being done with either free dos or linux boot images Alex On Tue, Sep 18, 2007 at 06:37:00PM +1000, Visser, Martin wrote: Even easier, might be get basically any Windows loaded hard drive, stick it in a USB hard drive case and boot from that (assuming your model allows you to boot from USB hard drives). If it is a notebook harddrive you could even temporarily replace it with the one in your notebook. Even if the hardware such as video is substantially different you should at least be able to get it to boot into safe mode. (Ugly I know). Martin Visser Technology Consultant Consulting Integration Technology Solutions Group - HP Services 410 Concord Road Rhodes NSW 2138 Australia Mobile: +61-411-254-513 Fax: +61-2-9022-1800 E-mail: martin.visserAThp.com This email (including any attachments) is intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above and may contain information that is confidential, proprietary or privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify HP immediately by return email and then delete the email, destroy any printed copy and do not disclose or use the information in it. -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of John Clarke Sent: Tuesday, 18 September 2007 5:19 PM To: slug@slug.org.au Subject: Re: [SLUG] Upgrading HP laptop BIOS without Windows, how? On Tue, Sep 18, 2007 at 01:53:04PM +1000, Visser, Martin wrote: I'll see if I can get answer internally. Thanks Martin. I'm a little annoyed that when my laptop died the motherboard was replaced under warranty, the replacement had a very old BIOS, and they didn't set the model and serial numbers. An alternative might be to see if you can hold of one of the Windows PE or similar bootable CDs. I didn't know such a thing existed. I gave up on Windows years ago :-) We do use it at work though, so I'll see what I can do. Thanks, John -- If you want to watch [a hard drive] die a slow agonizing death, whilst incoveniencing the maximum number of your lusers, install it in the part of your news spool that handles alt.sex.* -- Brian Kantor -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html signature.asc Description: Digital signature -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
Re: [SLUG] Upgrading HP laptop BIOS without Windows, how?
John == John Clarke [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: John Unfortunately HP only provide updates as a package with a John Windows (not DOS) program called WinFlash. You can get a Win98 image that'll boot from a USB stick (assuming your laptop can cope with that) from http://www.bootdisk.com/ -- Dr Peter Chubb http://www.gelato.unsw.edu.au peterc AT gelato.unsw.edu.au http://www.ertos.nicta.com.au ERTOS within National ICT Australia -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
[SLUG] Upgrading HP laptop BIOS without Windows, how?
Hi all, I have an HP laptop (Pavilion dv5230tx) which has a very old BIOS installed and I want to upgrade to the latest version. According to HP's change log, Core 2 Duo support wasn't added to the BIOS until the version after the one I have, even though the laptop has a Core 2 Duo processor. I've been trying to get suspend and hibernate working, and I suspect the old BIOS is part of the problem. Hibernate used to work before I had the motherboard replaced, and I'm fairly sure that the old one had a more recent BIOS. I've had a couple of other weird occasional problems which I suspect are due to the BIOS (keyboard not working after boot and mouse behaving very strangely) too. Unfortunately HP only provide updates as a package with a Windows (not DOS) program called WinFlash. I've wiped Windows off the laptop, so my only choices are to reinstall Windows (which means wiping Linux first because HP only provide recovery discs and I don't have a spare laptop SATA drive), or to run WinFlash with wine. I've started the program and it does appear to run, but I haven't been game to let it flash the BIOS yet. Does anyone know whether it's likely to work or if it'll turn my laptop into a brick, or is there another way to do it? Thanks, John -- I can check out all the porn I want to at home, but when I get to work, that's when I'm supposed to be surfing the web and reading USENET. -- Eric Schwartz -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
RE: [SLUG] Upgrading HP laptop BIOS without Windows, how?
I'll see if I can get answer internally. An alternative might be to see if you can hold of one of the Windows PE or similar bootable CDs. Martin Visser Technology Consultant Consulting Integration Technology Solutions Group - HP Services 410 Concord Road Rhodes NSW 2138 Australia Mobile: +61-411-254-513 Fax: +61-2-9022-1800 E-mail: martin.visserAThp.com This email (including any attachments) is intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above and may contain information that is confidential, proprietary or privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify HP immediately by return email and then delete the email, destroy any printed copy and do not disclose or use the information in it. -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of John Clarke Sent: Tuesday, 18 September 2007 11:42 AM To: slug@slug.org.au Subject: [SLUG] Upgrading HP laptop BIOS without Windows, how? Hi all, I have an HP laptop (Pavilion dv5230tx) which has a very old BIOS installed and I want to upgrade to the latest version. According to HP's change log, Core 2 Duo support wasn't added to the BIOS until the version after the one I have, even though the laptop has a Core 2 Duo processor. I've been trying to get suspend and hibernate working, and I suspect the old BIOS is part of the problem. Hibernate used to work before I had the motherboard replaced, and I'm fairly sure that the old one had a more recent BIOS. I've had a couple of other weird occasional problems which I suspect are due to the BIOS (keyboard not working after boot and mouse behaving very strangely) too. Unfortunately HP only provide updates as a package with a Windows (not DOS) program called WinFlash. I've wiped Windows off the laptop, so my only choices are to reinstall Windows (which means wiping Linux first because HP only provide recovery discs and I don't have a spare laptop SATA drive), or to run WinFlash with wine. I've started the program and it does appear to run, but I haven't been game to let it flash the BIOS yet. Does anyone know whether it's likely to work or if it'll turn my laptop into a brick, or is there another way to do it? Thanks, John -- I can check out all the porn I want to at home, but when I get to work, that's when I'm supposed to be surfing the web and reading USENET. -- Eric Schwartz -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
