#1 2020-08-10 20:16:52

RuudKuin

Member

Registered: 2019-03-03

Posts: 8

[SOLVED!] BIOS update without the use of any Window$

Hi all...

Been Googling for a few hours to find a solution for a BIOS upgrade without the use of any form of Windows.

I have a HP Compaq DC7800 with 0AA8h motherboard, and a default E6700 Intel Core 2 Duo, but I ordered a Q6700 Intel Quad Core to speed up processing a little, the BIOS version is still (786F1) 01.04, so it really needs updating before I put in the faster processor...

But all I can find are updates with Windows 7 or less, so I could really use some hints on the Linux way to workaround!

Thanks for any helpful suggestion!

Last edited by RuudKuin (2020-08-12 08:30:23)

damo

....moderator....

Registered: 2015-08-20

Posts: 6,575

Re: [SOLVED!] BIOS update without the use of any Window$

Start here maybe?: Arch wiki - Flashing BIOS from Linux

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rbh

Member

From: Sweden/Vasterbotten/Rusfors

Registered: 2016-08-11

Posts: 1,002

Re: [SOLVED!] BIOS update without the use of any Window$

Often at least bios can be installed under Dos (FreeDOS).

I often make a smal partition of 1 Gb, to be able to boot in dos and run dos utilities.
You did not provided an link to the downloads, så I can not check. You wrote "Windows 7 or less", that less, might implay dos...

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beaker

Unverified Muppet

Registered: 2016-03-06

Posts: 164

Re: [SOLVED!] BIOS update without the use of any Window$

You should be able to load the bios onto a usb and update via that. Read the docs that come with the bios package. I'm pretty sure I did my dc7800s like that when I had them. Incidentally I totally bricked a hp probook 650 laptop upgrading bios (via windows10) recently but had never had issues when using the 'usb' method mentioned earlier.

RuudKuin

Member

Registered: 2019-03-03

Posts: 8

Re: [SOLVED!] BIOS update without the use of any Window$

Often at least bios can be installed under Dos (FreeDOS).

I often make a smal partition of 1 Gb, to be able to boot in dos and run dos utilities.
You did not provided an link to the downloads, så I can not check. You wrote "Windows 7 or less", that less, might implay dos...

Thanks RBH, I'll look into it tomorrow...

RuudKuin

Member

Registered: 2019-03-03

Posts: 8

Re: [SOLVED!] BIOS update without the use of any Window$

You should be able to load the bios onto a usb and update via that. Read the docs that come with the bios package. I'm pretty sure I did my dc7800s like that when I had them. Incidentally I totally bricked a hp probook 650 laptop upgrading bios (via windows10) recently but had never had issues when using the 'usb' method mentioned earlier.

That's what I'm trying to avoid, bricking that system,..

beaker

Unverified Muppet

Registered: 2016-03-06

Posts: 164

Re: [SOLVED!] BIOS update without the use of any Window$

Well you load the bios update files onto a USB stick. Boot into the pcs bios and run the update via the bios. Never had issues doing it that way. Read the docs that come with the downloaded bios package.

eight.bit.al

Member

From: Prison

Registered: 2015-10-01

Posts: 904

Re: [SOLVED!] BIOS update without the use of any Window$

See Page 6 of:
http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c01132920
BIOS can be updated using the F10 setup Flash System ROM feature.

I got to that page from:
https://support.hp.com/us-en/product/hp … 72/manuals
So I would think your BIOS has this option. Good luck.

8bit

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beaker

Unverified Muppet

Registered: 2016-03-06

Posts: 164

Re: [SOLVED!] BIOS update without the use of any Window$

^ yup! That's the process I'm bleating on about and I'm 90% certain I've done it on a dc7800

Last edited by beaker (2020-08-10 22:13:31)

rbh

Member

From: Sweden/Vasterbotten/Rusfors

Registered: 2016-08-11

Posts: 1,002

Re: [SOLVED!] BIOS update without the use of any Window$

It is allways good to read the manual!

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eight.bit.al

Member

From: Prison

Registered: 2015-10-01

Posts: 904

Re: [SOLVED!] BIOS update without the use of any Window$

Now, if you can get the .bin file out of the .exe. PM me if you need someone to extract it on a windows machine and email it to you..

8bit.

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RuudKuin

Member

Registered: 2019-03-03

Posts: 8

Re: [SOLVED!] BIOS update without the use of any Window$

See Page 6 of:
http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c01132920
BIOS can be updated using the F10 setup Flash System ROM feature.

I got to that page from:
https://support.hp.com/us-en/product/hp … 72/manuals
So I would think your BIOS has this option. Good luck.

8bit

Thanks 8bit! I'll look into that tonight... Very helpful indeed

RuudKuin

Member

Registered: 2019-03-03

Posts: 8

Re: [SOLVED!] BIOS update without the use of any Window$

It is allways good to read the manual!

Once you found one it's good to do so... ;-)

RuudKuin

Member

Registered: 2019-03-03

Posts: 8

Re: [SOLVED!] BIOS update without the use of any Window$

Yippie, finally worked...
8bit helped me great by making a .BIN file from his Windows PC, sent it to me and I was able (after fiddling about with several CD's and USB's) to upgrade the BIOS! He was also able to provide me with a workaround:

The .exe was a self expanding archive. I was able to open it on a Linux machine with Archive Manager.

Wish I found this info earlier, it's nearly impossible info to find.

eight.bit.al

Member

From: Prison

Registered: 2015-10-01

Posts: 904

Re: [SOLVED!] BIOS update without the use of any Window$

^ Glad to hear it. In the end, Windows was not needed, archive opened on my Linux box.

8bit

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DeepDayze

Like sands through an hourglass...

From: In Linux Land

Registered: 2017-05-28

Posts: 1,205

Re: [SOLVED!] BIOS update without the use of any Window$

^ Glad to hear it. In the end, Windows was not needed, archive opened on my Linux box.

8bit

I was also able to open the Asus BIOS .exe in the archiver too, so this way I can update my Asus mobo's BIOS via the updater in the BIOS.

Last edited by DeepDayze (2020-08-12 14:28:16)

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ohnonot

...again

Registered: 2015-09-29

Posts: 5,394

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Re: [SOLVED!] BIOS update without the use of any Window$

Glad you made it!
The [SOLVED!] with added exclamation marks reflects your happiness

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twoion

ほやほや

Registered: 2015-08-10

Posts: 3,140

Re: [SOLVED!] BIOS update without the use of any Window$

Perfect. FTR, the OP has a business computer, and for business anything the Dells, HP/Compaqs, Lenovos of the world are pretty much guaranteed to include a no-OS BIOS update mechanism. Pretty sure the computer would also have supported some way to update off the network via PXE.

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eight.bit.al

Member

From: Prison

Registered: 2015-10-01

Posts: 904

Re: [SOLVED!] BIOS update without the use of any Window$

^ It does.

8bit

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beaker

Unverified Muppet

Registered: 2016-03-06

Posts: 164

Re: [SOLVED!] BIOS update without the use of any Window$

Great news. I was going to mention that the *.exe was in fact just a self extracting archive which could easily be packed in Linux.