Bios update. Which file ?

[Herby Pepper]

Hi All
I am trying to update bios in notebook hp 2133.
After study different forums and solution I get here:

1. I have: BIOS version: F.02 , newest is F.06;
2. I download F.06 file which is sp41847.exe;
3. I install FreeDOS 1.0 on USB(256mb) with UNetbootin;
4. I copy sp41847.exe into USB.
5. I boot FreeDOS from USB on the notebook
the options where:
1. Install to harddisk using FreeDOS setup
2. FreeDOS Safe Mode (don't load any drivers)
3. FreeDOS Live CD with HIMEM + EMM386
4. FreeDOS Live CD with HIMEM only
5. FreeDOS Live CD only

I tried booting from option 2(safe mode) and 5(Live CD only). In bouth cases I get same resolts:

A:\> b:
B:\>
B:\>dir
(here information about my USB and content)
B:\>sp41847.exe
This program cannot be run in DOS mode


File sp41847.exe after unpacking :
- folder FreeDOS (KERNEL.SYS)
- folder ISO (ROM.iso)
- folder Rompaq (68VGU.BIN, AFUDOS.exe, config.sys, gpl2.txt, KERNEL.SYS)
- cd.html
- FirmwareUpdate.exe
- fluppy.exe
- HPUSBFW.exe
- KERNELS.ZIP
- WSSP41847.rtf


My question is:
Should I try to install just FirmwareUpdate.exe or ROM.iso or any othere file from sp41847.exe ?
Don't want to do it without asking you first because I am doing it first time and I know it could make my notebook unusable.
Or You have any other ideas how to flashing bios in my case, please answer.

Thank you.

[Mark Phelps]

My suggestion is that, once you get FreeDOS working and the BIOS update program running, confirm BOTH of the following are true before proceeding with a BIOS update:
1) You have a way to save off the current working BIOS to a media that can be used to restore the BIOS
2) You have a way to restore the BIOS from the version you saved.

If either of these is not true, any attempt to update the BIOS risks "bricking" the machine!

[fantab]

BIOS update should be done ONLY if there are any issues with the hardware/software compatibility or if you want to add any newer hardware to system which needs BIOS update. If everthing is working good then don't update your BIOS.