Compaq 8000 - Elite Convertible Minitower PC, 8100 - Elite Convertible Minitower PC User Manual

Updated December 2009

Table of Contents:

Introduction ...........................................................................................1

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 Windows 7, Vista, or Windows XP? ................ 4

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

How do I update the BIOS when not running Windows 7, Vista, Windows XP,

or DOS? ......................................................................................................... 6

What are the steps necessary to execute the HPQFlash utility? .......................... 9

What are the steps necessary to execute the HPQPwsd utility? ........................ 12

What are the steps necessary to create a bootable floppy for BIOS update? .... 12

What are the steps necessary to create a bootable CD for BIOS update? ......... 13

What are the steps necessary to create the BIOS image CD for F10 ROM flash

and recovery? ............................................................................................... 13

What are the steps necessary to create a bootable USB flash media (DOK) for

BIOS update? ................................................................................................ 14

What are the steps necessary to use SSM for BIOS update? ............................ 15

What are the steps necessary to use Altiris for BIOS update? .......................... 15

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

What is a processor microcode update softpaq and how is it used? ................ 18

How can a processor microcode update be executed in Windows? ................. 19

What does the BIOS binary image naming convention indicate? ..................... 19

Can the BIOS POST splash screen be modified? .............................................. 19

How do I update the ME firmware in Windows 7, Vista, or Windows XP? ....... 20

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

What are the steps necessary to use Altiris for ME firmware update? .............. 21

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 ...................................................................................................... 23

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

For More Information ........................................................................... 25

Introduction

This whitepaper 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. As new processors, devices, and operating system features
are made available, the BIOS must be updated or flashed, in some situations, to
take advantage. The BIOS can be updated or restored in several methods. Users
or administrators can choose the best method depending on the operating
environment of the computer(s). BIOS updates are available in a softpaq
downloadable containing the BIOS image and upgrade instructions for the various
methods. Regardless of the BIOS flash method, business PC products provide a
high degree of upgrade reliability and offer failure safe recovery.

Starting with some 2006 products (e.g. dc7700), the biggest change is the
integration of an embedded Intel Management Engine (ME) which is used to
provide Active Management Technology (AMT), Alert Standard Format (ASF)
management, and other functions. Some HP Business PC products will only offer
ASF as configured from the factory. AMT capable PC products will allow the user
or administrator configuration of the management mode. AMT provides remote
access to a system regardless of the state of the operating system or power state as
long as the system is connected to a network. This ability to manage a system
when it is not powered on and/or fully operational is called Out-of-Band (OOB)
management. ASF is a subset of the monitoring features of AMT and does not offer
the rich range of OOB management options. ME is a hardware and firmware
platform resident solution. BIOS update softpaq images for systems incorporating
ME will contain a separate utility and binary for updating the ME firmware.

Another new feature for this product offering is the ability to update processor
microcode patches through HPQFlash in a Windows environment.

The remaining sections of this document attempts to ask about the typical BIOS
flash scenarios and provide the BIOS softpaq answers to these questions.

What are the files and directories in a BIOS softpaq?

BIOS updates are delivered to customers through downloadable softpaqs.
Softpaqs are self-executable programs which contain the BIOS image files and
utilities to allow the BIOS to be updated in various manners. Regardless of the
upgrade manner chosen by the user or administrator, HP business PC BIOS
provides flash recovery in the event of a BIOS flash failure. The softpaq is executed
by selecting the file SPXXXXX.exe where XXXXX is a unique identification number
assigned to each softpaq. The softpaq will present the user with information about
the softpaq contents, how to use the softpaq, and a brief explanation as to the PC
enhancements offered.

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 be 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

 How to Use.txt – Text document describing the softpaq contents and BIOS

upgrade methods

 DOS Flash (directory):

 XXX_MMmm.bin – Binary BIOS image file required by Flashbin.exe
 Assignpw.exe – DOS utility to assign administrative/setup password to

flsh.cpu

 Flashbin.exe – DOS utility to update and/or restore BIOS
 Flsh.cpu – Hardware specific driver required by Flashbin.exe to

update/restore the BIOS

 BIOS CD (directory):

 XXX_MMmm.iso – CD image containing the binary BIOS file for F10 and

flash recovery

 Readme.txt – Text document describing the iso file image

 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

 ME Flash (directory):

 Local-DOS (directory)

o FWUpdLcl.exe – DOS-based application to update the ME firmware
o Readme.txt – Text document describing FWUpdLcl DOS-based utility

use and syntax

 Local-Win (directory)

o FWUpdLcl.exe – Windows-based application to update the ME

firmware

o Readme.txt – Text document describing FWUpdLcl use and syntax
o Xerces-c_2_7.dll – Library support file required for some versions of the

Windows update application.

 XXX_bbbb.bin - Binary Management Engine image update file required by

the DOS or Windows update utility where "XXX" is the abbreviated ME
firmware version and "bbbb" is the build version number.

The softpaq contents will depend on the target system; therefore, not all softpaq
products will require all the files and directories previously mentioned. For
example, HP Business PC products, which do not integrate the Management
Engine, will not require the contents of the ME Flash directory. HP Business Blade
PC products do not support the Windows BIOS updates and will not require the
HPQFlash directory contents.

In what operating systems can I update the PC BIOS?

The BIOS can be updated or restored in Windows 7, Vista, or Windows XP using
the HPQFlash application. DOS environments can use the Flashbin.exe utility. In
situations with other Windows versions (2000, NT, 98, 95, ME), Linux, or other

operating systems, the BIOS can be updated using F10 setup “Flash System ROM”

feature.

Will I lose my setup configurations when updating the
BIOS?

F10 setup configuration options, passwords, and settings are not lost during BIOS
update or restore.

How do I update my PC BIOS in Windows 7, Vista, or
Windows XP?

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.

How do I update the BIOS in a DOS environment?

The Flash Bin Firmware Upgrade Utility (Flashbin.exe) can be executed in a DOS
environment to upgrade or restore a PC BIOS image. The utility uses a driver
(flsh.cpu) for specific hardware flash operations. The BIOS binary image should be
included in the same directory as the utility and driver with the name format

XXX_MMmm.bin. The user can execute the utility by simply typing “flashbin”. The

current PC BIOS will be examined for compatibility with the binary image. If the
BIOS image file is an older BIOS version than the current PC BIOS, the user will be
warned. After the user confirms that the BIOS upgrade/restore should proceed, the
utility will begin the flashing process. The user will be warned not to reboot or
power cycle the PC during the flash process. However, if the process is interrupted
or does not complete successfully, the business PC flash recovery process will
automatically activate upon reboot. After the BIOS upgrade process has
successfully completed, the user must reboot or power cycle the PC for the new
BIOS image to take affect.

The Flashbin utility must be executed in a DOS environment. If the user does not
have DOS bootable media available, a DOS bootable floppy, USB flash media
(Disk On Key – DOK), or CD can be created to deliver the Flashbin utility, driver,
and BIOS image.

If the BIOS adminstrator/setup password has been established on the business PC,
the Flashbin utility driver must be assigned the password. Assign Password
(Assignpw.exe) can be used with DOS Flash if an administrative/setup password
has been previously set on the target PC. To assign a password to DOS Flash,
change directories to the directory that contains Flashbin.exe and type "assignpw
flsh.cpu". You will be prompted to type in the password. Press RETURN after you
have typed in the password. You may use the BACKSPACE key to correct mistakes.
You will then be prompted to confirm the password that you just entered. Pressing
ENTER before any password keys have been typed in will unassign the previously
assigned password. You may need to do this if the administrative/setup password
is deleted from the client machines. To assign a new password, just run the Assign
Password utility again.

How do I update the BIOS when not running Windows 7,
Vista, Windows XP, 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 (7H1_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. Please note that some systems may contain a BIOS image
that is too large for floppy media. Some models may not support a legacy floppy
drive with the exception of a USB floppy device. On those systems, Diskette will not
be listed as a media source choice. The BIOS CD Image file (XXX_MMmm.iso),
included in the softpaq, should be used to create a BIOS image CD. When
flashing with F10 ROM based flash, the CD media must be El-Torito compatible.

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.

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.