GNet Solutions » Hardware Hacking

I recently updated my HP dv6700 laptop to Windows 7, and some time later I noticed a problem with the laptops performance that could be solved with a BIOS update. However, the BIOS update utility I downloaded from the HP support site was designed for Windows Vista, so running the update utility on my new Windows 7 drive rendered my laptop useless; screen backlight not coming on, no hard drive light activity, no display on the screen, etc. These are some notes on how I recovered my laptop.

THE BIOS CANNOT BE UPDATED WITH WINDOWS 7, IT MUST BE UPDATED USING WINDOWS VISTA.

Make a Recovery USB Disk¶

• Download and install 7zip

• First locate the BIOS for the specific laptop. This can be found at the HP support site.
  • NOTE: I needed to use an older version of the BIOS firmware to get it working right.

• Right click on the spXXXXX.exe and use 7zip to extract it into a folder.

• Download a copy of Crisdisk. I have a copy available for posterity.

• Extract Crisdisk and open the folder Crisdisk was extracted to.

• Copy the YYYYYYYY.WPH file into the directory where Crisdisk was extracted to.

• Rename the YYYYYYYY.WPH file to BIOS.WPH

• Right click on the WINCRIS.EXE application and go to Properties -> Compatibility, and set the Compatibility Mode to Windows XP Service Pack 3.

• Insert a USB drive that can be formatted.

• Run the WINCRIS.EXE application

• Once the WINCRIS applicaiton is open select the USB drive to use and click Start

• When the USB drive is finished formatting and setup, it can be removed without needing to eject it.

Reflash the BIOS¶

• Unplug all cords, accessories, and the battery from the laptop.

• Plug the laptop into AC power.

• Take the USB drive and plug it into the laptop

• Press and hold the Windows and B Keys

• While holding the Windows and B Keys, press the Power button.

• The laptop will boot up and the USB drive should begin blinking and the laptop should beep.

• Wait for the laptop to power off by itself. This process should take around 10 minutes.

Resources¶

• http://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/selfservice/HP-Pavilion-dv6800-Entertainment-Notebook-PC-series/3672909/model/3708188#Z7_3054ICK0KGTE30AQO5O3KA30R1
• http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Operating-Systems-and-Software/HP-Pavilion-laptop-dv7-bios-update-failed-Black-screen/td-p/341896/page/3
• http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c02693833
• http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Operating-Systems-and-Software/How-to-flash-BIOS-without-having-HP-Tools-Partition/td-p/533561
• https://www.bios-mods.com/bios-recovery/phoenix-bios-recovery/
• https://gammarco.wordpress.com/2013/02/25/dead-hp-pavillion-dv6635el-after-last-bios-update-black-screen/