The problem is that HP’s BIOS update process requires “HP PC Hardware Diagnostics” software to be installed on the drive. There’s apparently a small, hidden partition on the drive where this little bit of code lives. When Windows was reinstalled on this machine, that partition was wiped clean so the “HP PC Hardware Diagnostics” software disappeared. HP’s BIOS update, except for that really old F.02 version, requires that software to be installed. Without it, the BIOS update doesn’t work.
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This information is not shown on HP’s site or included with any “read me” file or otherwise disclosed anywhere that I’ve been able to find.
Once the software was downloaded and installed, I was able to run the current BIOS updater package and at next reboot the BIOS was updated as expected. It’s now running the current BIOS version.
The software is here: https://www8.hp.com/us/en/campaigns/hpsupportassistant/pc-diags.html
This issue has been solved.
The problem is that HP’s BIOS update process requires “HP PC Hardware Diagnostics” software to be installed on the drive. There’s apparently a small, hidden partition on the drive where this little bit of code lives. When Windows was reinstalled on this machine, that partition was wiped clean so the “HP PC Hardware Diagnostics” software disappeared. HP’s BIOS update, except for that really old F.02 version, requires that software to be installed. Without it, the BIOS update doesn’t work.
Once the software was downloaded and installed, I was able to run the current BIOS updater package and at next reboot the BIOS was updated as expected. It’s now running the current BIOS version.
The software is here: https://www8.hp.com/us/en/campaigns/hpsupportassistant/pc-diags.html