HP Pavilion stuck in BIOS update loop
Yes unplug the USB devices for now. The system will automatically search USB devices for BIOS updates and diagnostics, so I would recommend unplugging so nothing can interfere with the regular process.
You might be able to get it to go into Windows by pressing F9 when turning it on. If you get a menu when doing this, choose Windows Boot Manager and it should start up. Not sure if this will work, but it’s worth a shot.
Failing that... it might be better to just load the update manually. Seems like it may not have downloaded properly and is now stuck.
What is your model number or product number? You can find both on the bottom of the computer. Model looks like Pavilion 15-0000xx (may vary), and product number looks like ABC12DE#ABA (7 characters + sometimes # and 3 letters). Do not post serial number (which is 10 characters long).
You can look up any of those three on HP.con (model or product in search, serial on the support page) and probably find the BIOS update, but if you’re not absolutely certain, then post the model or product number so I can double check. I mention this because the wrong BIOS can permanently damage the system.
Depending on whether you were able to get into Windows, you can do the update from there, or if not, you can use a USB stick to do it (you’ll need a blank one, size doesnt matter)
More on reddit.comHP 14q - cs0023tu - stuck in "Bios Update" loop
Update -
Yesterday was a nightmare - I disassembled the Laptop, removed the battery, and after a while inserted it in again...to find the Laptop would then turn on, but with NO DISPLAY...
Left the battery out for over 12 hours (just to see if that would help) - and using "Windows + V" (not "B") managed to get the display back - but still the original BIOS update loop issue.
Using another computer, downloaded the “Recovery” tool on the HP website / and the latest BIOS update on a FAT32 USB stick.
Used “Windows” + “B” to follow instructions - and newest BIOS flashed, and booted into Windows 10 !!!!
All files and folders intact.
Note - ran AVAST anti-virus, which in its FULL (not SMART) scan found a piece of malware called “Evil Cursor” -
https://www.zdnet.com/article/google-fixes-chrome-evil-cursor-bug-abused-by-tech-support-scam-sites/
TLDR - Laptop now running fine
More on reddit.comHP bios update keeps looping
Help keep getting this message in an infinite loop on my hp laptop model number 15-dw0083wm
Videos
Before I start describing my problem, I'm not exactly the most tech savvy person so I might ask a lot of questions. Also I'm on mobile, so apologies for formatting.
Basically, tonight I hit update on the Pavilion and it said it was running through an important system update on the HP logo screen, after which it flashed the whole HP BIOS update screen, and then failed with a message of 'bios image file specified did not pass validation'. Then the screen turned black, and opened up to the screen with the HP logo, saying that it was installing an important system update again. It then went to the BIOS update screen, failed, and went back to the HP loading screen. This process happened one more time before I started panicking, and the next time it came to the BIOS update screen, I hit 'postpone update'.
When I hit postpone, the screen turned black. Then it went back to the HP logo screen. Then it went back to the BIOS screen and failed. The next time, I chose cancel update. It looped again. Even choosing to apply the update loops it. It's been looping like this for god knows how many times. Now, whenever it reaches the HP screen with the system update message, it turns black and makes a noise like screeching metal, then a groaning sound, then it opens up this black screen with a blinking white dash and goes back to the BIOS screen.
If it helps, it always makes that groaning noise whenever I have to force shut it down with the power button. Also, my laptop's done this whole BIOS update fail before, only previously it looped twice before resolving itself and just shutting off. It's also been faulty since the beginning- everytime I updated it, it would always be really slow and now this. I rely on this laptop for everything, especially for school, so any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much in advance.
EDIT: More details if it helps but I have a USB cable splitter and another moniter plugged in to it at the moment, should I unplug those?
UPDATE: Left it for the night and woke up to the HP screen, interrupted periodically by the laptop shutting itself off and turning on again to the same screen. Is it at least safe to shut off?
Yes unplug the USB devices for now. The system will automatically search USB devices for BIOS updates and diagnostics, so I would recommend unplugging so nothing can interfere with the regular process.
You might be able to get it to go into Windows by pressing F9 when turning it on. If you get a menu when doing this, choose Windows Boot Manager and it should start up. Not sure if this will work, but it’s worth a shot.
Failing that... it might be better to just load the update manually. Seems like it may not have downloaded properly and is now stuck.
What is your model number or product number? You can find both on the bottom of the computer. Model looks like Pavilion 15-0000xx (may vary), and product number looks like ABC12DE#ABA (7 characters + sometimes # and 3 letters). Do not post serial number (which is 10 characters long).
You can look up any of those three on HP.con (model or product in search, serial on the support page) and probably find the BIOS update, but if you’re not absolutely certain, then post the model or product number so I can double check. I mention this because the wrong BIOS can permanently damage the system.
Depending on whether you were able to get into Windows, you can do the update from there, or if not, you can use a USB stick to do it (you’ll need a blank one, size doesnt matter)
Im having this same problem right now. My laptop showed a windows update was available so i ipdated my laptop as anyone would. Suddenly instead of a normal update a bios update begam. Aftrler the process was overy my laptop auyomatically shutdown so i tried to boot it up but a sharpened grey screen appeared( like the one that used to appear in old televisions) then i just held the power button for a few seconds and my laptop turned off. After that this loop began. Pls help
Hi, need help
As per the subject this Laptop keeps rebooting after apparently updating (or reverting?) its BIOS.
I've tried the most common suggestion of holding down Windows + B (or Windows + V) while powering on - but no luck.
Any clues? E.g. do I need to reset CMOS by opening up the laptop, and removing the battery?
Many thanks
Fixed it in the end using wincrisis.
If you can find a copy (apparently versions prior to 10.0.0.4 do not support USB drives), then download the BIOS from HP, run it and note the folder you save the files to.
Ignore the warning about the flash failing on an unsupported system and go to the folder the files were saved in. In there there should be one or two files with a WPH extension.
Copy either of these to the folder wincrisis.exe is in, and rename it to BIOS.WPH (may be case sensitive) then run wincrisis.exe and let it format the drive and copy relevant files.
Then plug this into the laptop and hold Windows+b and turn it on. When you see the USB drive activity LED start blinking you can let go off the keyboard. The LED should solidly blink away for a few minutes. Then it stopped and the fans started running loudly for a few minutes, then it powered itself off.
If it doesn't work, try another USB drive. Apparently 512Mb is optimal but I used a 4Gb. Also wincrisis.exe doesn't seem to work on my 7x64 pc but ran fine on an XPx86 box.
Turned it on and job done.
HP says to unplug everything. What does "everything" mean to you? To me, it means the battery, hard drive, optical drive, mini pci cards, any USB devices... even Ram the first time. Why? Without Ram it should produce a no-ram POST beep error code. If you get that, then insert one stick of Ram and try again.
The point here is to remove everything possible to eliminate and isolate the components from the issue. Due to the age of the unit, it could be coincidence that the problem happened after the BIOS update. No way of knowing until you are reduced to a working display, a motherboard with processor, working Ram, and power.