HP August 2023 BIOS refresh (for 2021 notebook PCs) (2023)

FAQs

Should I do HP notebook system BIOS update? ›

This process is also known as 'flashing the BIOS'. Updating the BIOS is recommended as standard maintenance of the computer. It can also help to improve computer performance, provide support for hardware components or Windows upgrades, or install specific BIOS updates.

Potential Time-of-Check to Time-of Use (TOCTOU) vulnerabilities have been identified in the HP BIOS for certain HP PC products which may allow arbitrary code execution, denial of service, and information disclosure.

Go to the HP Software and Driver Downloads page. Navigate to the product page for your computer. Select BIOS from the list that displays, and then review any available BIOS updates.

Press and hold the Windows key and the B key at the same time, and then press and hold the power button for 2 to 3 seconds. Release the Power button but continue pressing the Windows and B keys. You might hear a series of beeps. The HP BIOS Update screen displays and the recovery begins automatically.

BIOS updates have the capability of correcting problems occurring with your computer hardware that cannot be fixed with drivers or an operating system update. You can think of a BIOS update as an update to your hardware and not your software.

Should You Update Your BIOS? If there's an update available for your BIOS, and it's something you can reliably do right now, then, by all means, go ahead. We strongly recommend it—it'll help you reinforce your system and make it work better all around.

BIOS updates don't usually introduce new features or huge speed boosts, so you probably won't see a huge benefit. Unless the latest BIOS comes with security patches, support for new hardware you plan to use, or fixes a bug that's been plaguing your daily usage, you're best off leaving it alone.

Motherboard manufacturers warn against updating your motherboard if your PC is working normally. Risks of updating your BIOS include corruption if power is lost during the minutes-long update or if a crash occurs. Updating also resets BIOS settings to their default values, which could impact system stability.

90% of the time, the answer is that you only need to install the latest version of the bios. Occasionally, the hardware manufacturer drops support for certain devices or updates things like the mechanism used to update the bios.

Press 'Windows key + R' and you'll see a dialog box appear. Type in the command 'msinfo32' in the box next to 'Open'. Then click on 'OK'. You will see the system summary on your screen and your BIOS version and date.

How often does HP release BIOS update? ›

HP releases BIOS/Firmware updates 3-4 times/year for most platforms. These updates usually benefit users by patching vulnerabilities, fixing known issues, and providing important feature enhancements.

Usually in the first year or two after a machine is released HP posts new updates every few months or as needed to address issues found later. Once a laptop reaches about 2 yrs old there may not be any unless some critical security issue is found like the recent Spectre/Meltdown vulnerabilty.

Any additional BIOS/Firmware updates will be completed after restarting your computer. If any of these updates are available for your computer, it may take up to 20 minutes to install it when it has restarted. Please make sure your power cable remains plugged in and that you have time for this update to complete.

Please access the recovery environment by turning your computer on and off three times. After that, Win 10 will boot into the diagnostics mode. Now, you should click on Advanced options on the recovery screen. Then, choose Troubleshoot, Advanced options and Startup Repair in order.

Go to the BIOS settings of the computer that's stuck on the BIOS screen. Change the boot order to let the computer from a USB drive or CD/DVD. Insert the DVD/CD into the problematic PC or plug in the bootable USB into it. Reboot your faulty computer; you will now be able to gain access.

Because a BIOS is critical to making your PC run, updating it carries a bit more risk than other software updates. If a BIOS update goes wrong, it could stop your motherboard from working correctly and potentially stop your computer from starting as expected.

Is it safe to update BIOS? Each motherboard model requires its own BIOS version, so an incorrect or even a slightly different BIOS version can cause major problems. If something goes wrong such as a computer losing power during the update, it can eventually brick your computer and cost hundreds to repair.