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HP Notebook PCs - Recovering the BIOS (Basic Input Output System)

The BIOS is the first firmware to run after turning on the computer. If the BIOS on your computer becomes corrupted, the computer fails to boot to Windows.

The BIOS can be corrupted during normal operation, through environmental conditions (such as a power surge or outage), from a failed BIOS upgrade, or damage from a virus. If the BIOS is corrupted, the system automatically attempts to restore the BIOS from a hidden partition when the computer is restarted. This document covers other steps to restore the BIOS if the automatic BIOS restoration does not work.

If your computer enters the automatic BIOS recovery process, the screen either remains black or a pop-up window displays the progress of the BIOS recovery. If the restoration is successful, the computer displays the following message:

To dismiss the message, press enter.

Note:

If you do not press enter, the computer automatically restarts after 15 to 20 seconds.

If you experience any of the following symptoms after restarting the computer, recover the BIOS.

Windows does not start and the caps lock or num lock keys blink, or the computer beeps 2 times
Power light or charging light continues to blink
A BIOS APPLICATION ERROR 501 is displayed
The computer stops at a black or blank screen when turned on
The computer turns on and you might hear the internal fan, but the display is blank and Windows does not start

Note:

For business computers, your IT department or local IT service might manage BIOS settings. Confirm this if you cannot access BIOS settings or restore the BIOS.

HP PCs with the HP Sure Start security feature do not support BIOS recovery using the manual, 4-in-1 USB key, or USB recovery drive methods. HP Sure Start automatically repairs HP BIOS and HP firmware corruption using the HP Endpoint Security Controller-isolated backup copy of the HP BIOS and HP firmware.

BIOS recovery options for PCs with HP Sure Start
	PCs with HP Sure Start	PCs without HP Sure Start
CMOS reset procedure	X	X
Automatic BIOS recovery	X	X
Manual BIOS recovery (Windows + b)		X
4-in-1 USB recovery		X
USB recovery drive procedure		X

To determine if your PC was released with HP Sure Start, check the product specifications for the PC model. PCs with HP Sure Start indicate that it is enabled on the HP logo screen when the computer is started.

HP Sure Start was enabled for business notebooks in the following generations and later.

Business notebook generations with HP Sure Start
CMIT NB Series	Generation where HP Sure Start was enabled
400 Series	G7
400 (ZHAN) Series	G3
600 Series	G4
700 Series	G5
800 Series	G3
1000 Series	G1
Education Series	G9

Perform a hard reset

Performing a hard reset erases all the information that is stored in your computer's temporary memory. This forces Windows to do a complete scan of the system, including the battery. Perform a power reset (or hard reset) of your computer to clear information from the computer memory without erasing personal data.

Performing a Hard or Forced Reset on Your HP Notebook (Fixed Battery)

In this video, we will learn how to perform a hard reset on your HP Notebook with a non-removable battery. Sometimes called a forced reset, this allows you to clear the memory if Windows or other software are unresponsive or if there are problems with the display or the computer.

Turn off the computer.
Disconnect the AC adapter.
Remove any discs from the disc drive.
Remove memory cards from the card reader slot.
Disconnect all nonessential peripheral devices, such as printers, scanners, external hard drives, and USB flash drives.

Note:
Do not disconnect your mouse, keyboard, or monitor.
With the AC adapter unplugged, press and hold the power button for approximately 15 seconds.
Reconnect the AC adapter, and then turn on the computer.

Reset the CMOS

In some cases, the automatic BIOS recovery fails because the Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) data is corrupted. The CMOS stores BIOS settings. Use this procedure to reset the CMOS and recover the BIOS.

Turn off the computer.
Press and hold the power button for 25 seconds, and then turn the computer on.

After the completion of a successful CMOS reset, a message similar to the following one might be displayed, depending on your system. As long as the system turns on, the CMOS reset was successful.
Press enter to restart the computer.

If this does not recover your computer, see Recover the BIOS.

Manually recover the BIOS

If your computer BIOS still does not reset, you can try to recover the BIOS using a key press combination or a USB recovery drive.

Note:

These recovery processes are not supported on computers with the HP Sure Start feature.

Recover the BIOS using a key press combination

Learn how to recover the BIOS using a key press combination.

Many HP computers have an HP BIOS Restore tool that might be able to recover the BIOS from an earlier version and restore basic function. This tool might not be able to recover the BIOS, depending on the cause of the corruption.

Note:

This recovery process is not supported on computers with the HP Sure Start feature.

Restoring the BIOS on HP Computers with a Key Press Combination

Learn how to restore the BIOS on your HP computer with a key press combination.

Turn off the computer and be sure that the AC adapter is connected to power.
Press and hold the Windows + b keys, and then simultaneously press the power button.
After 2 to 3 seconds, continue to press and hold the Windows + b keys, but release the power button. You might hear a series of beeps.
- If the HP BIOS Update screen is not displayed, repeat the previous steps but press the Windows + v keys. If the screen is still not displayed, your computer might not support the feature or there is a hard drive issue.
- If the power light turns off, the power button was held too long. Repeat the previous steps, making sure that you press and hold the power button for only 2 to 3 seconds.
- If a BIOS recovery message is displayed repeatedly, see Recover the BIOS using a USB recovery drive.
- If a message displays that the computer improperly shut down or a boot problem is detected, follow the on-screen instructions to resolve the error.
- If Windows starts, update to the latest BIOS version. Go to HP Consumer Notebook PCs - Updating the BIOS (Basic Input Output System) (Windows) or HP Business Notebook PCs - Updating the BIOS (Basic Input Output System) for more information.
The HP BIOS Update screen is displayed and the recovery begins automatically.

If this recovery method fails, use another working computer to create a BIOS recovery flash drive to install the latest BIOS file.

Recover the BIOS using a USB recovery drive

If you are unable to recover the last working BIOS version, install a BIOS recovery file from the HP website using a USB flash drive.

Note:

This recovery process is not supported on computers with the HP Sure Start feature.

Create a USB recovery drive

Use a second working computer with an active internet connection to create a BIOS recovery USB flash drive. To recover the BIOS, the necessary BIOS binary recovery files must be present on a storage device connected to the failed system.

Creating a BIOS Recovery Flash Drive for HP Notebooks

Learn how to create a BIOS recovery flash drive for HP notebooks that have had hard drive failure or no longer have the HP_Tools volume or partition.

Get the product number for the original notebook that requires a BIOS recovery. This number is typically found on a label on the bottom of the notebook or on the box it shipped in.

Go to Find product and serial numbers for HP PCs, printers, and accessories for additional options.

Note:
The general or series name near the keyboard or on the frame around the screen is not specific enough to identify the correct download files.
Insert a blank USB flash drive into an available port on the second computer.

Note:
Do not use a USB Type-C flash drive on Intel platforms. USB Type-C flash drives are not supported for crisis recovery because of design limitations.
Go to the HP Customer Support - Software and Driver Downloads page.
Navigate to the product page for your computer.
Select BIOS, and then review the details of the latest available version or the specific version recommended for the recovery. Confirm that it is the correct BIOS update before proceeding.

CAUTION:
Read the Details section to confirm that it applies to the computer. Installing the wrong BIOS could cause the computer to stop working.
Click Download > Run.
Click Yes on the User Account Control screen.
On the InstallShield Wizard window, click Next.
Select I accept the terms in the license agreement, and then click Next.
In the HP BIOS Update and Recovery window, click Next.
Select Create Recovery USB flash drive, and then click Next.

HP Consumer Notebook PCs

HP Business Notebook PCs
Select your USB flash drive, and then click Next.

HP Consumer Notebook PCs

HP Business Notebook PCs
Wait while the BIOS files copy to the drive.
When The recovery flash drive was created successfully message is displayed, click Finish.
If necessary, click Cancel to close the update utility.
Remove the USB flash drive from the computer.

Install the BIOS recovery file

Use the HP emergency BIOS recovery feature with the recovery flash drive to recover the BIOS.

Restoring the BIOS with a Recovery Flash Drive on HP Notebooks

Learn how to restore the BIOS with a recovery flash drive on HP notebooks.

Turn off the notebook that requires the BIOS recovery, and then wait 5 to 10 seconds.
Make sure that the AC adapter is connected to the notebook during the recovery process.

Note:
Do not use a USB Type-C flash drive on Intel platforms. USB Type-C flash drives are not supported for crisis recovery because of design limitations.
Insert the USB flash drive with the BIOS file into an available USB port on the notebook.
Press and hold the Windows + b keys, and then simultaneously press and hold the power button.

On some notebook models, you instead might need to press and hold the Windows + v keys.
After 2 to 3 seconds, continue to press and hold the Windows + b keys, but release the power button. You might hear a series of beeps.
- If a message is displayed that the computer improperly shut down or a boot problem is detected, follow the on-screen instructions to resolve the error.
- If HP BIOS Update is not displayed or the issue persists, your computer might not support this function or there is a hard drive issue. Contact HP Customer Support for assistance.
Note:
The HP BIOS Update screen is displayed and the recovery begins automatically. Follow any on-screen prompts to continue the startup and complete the recovery.

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