HP released a crucial BIOS update via Windows Update, which ended up disabling its most high-end laptops.
TL;DR: An auto-installed BIOS update from HP is causing ZBook Ultra and EliteBook X laptops to become non-operational. Reverting the update necessitates a specific HP USB-C dongle.
HP customers are experiencing issues where BIOS updates delivered via Windows Update are making their premium laptops unbootable. The devices impacted include the ZBook Ultra G1a, which costs over £4,000, and the EliteBook X G1a. These updates were classified as critical, leading to their automatic installation without user consent.
Reports of issues have been accumulating on HP forums and Reddit for several months. Users are facing problems such as freezing during startup, increased fan noise, and Blue Screens of Death. The defective BIOS versions for the ZBook Ultra G1a are 01.04.03 and 01.04.05, while the problematic versions for the EliteBook X G1a are 01.03.11 and 01.05.00.
Once the update is applied, reverting it is challenging. Some users have had limited success using the network BIOS downgrade feature, but only with an HP USB-C to Ethernet dongle. Although the BIOS does offer an option to prevent the operating system from starting updates, this setting is only beneficial before the update takes place.
This isn't the first time HP has faced issues with BIOS updates. In 2024, a similar situation left some ProBook laptops permanently non-functional. Customers incurred hardware repair costs due to problems caused by HP’s own firmware. This trend highlights a potential systemic quality assurance issue within HP's firmware update process.
HP stated to The Register: “HP is aware of reported BIOS issues and is investigating the situation.” The use of the term “reported” is significant, considering the number of complaints that have been documented.
The timing is noteworthy as Microsoft is concurrently working on enhancing Windows Update reliability and is scrutinizing third-party drivers distributed via the service. Windows Update also serves as a channel for BIOS and firmware updates from manufacturers like HP, which ironically has led to the bricking of devices instead of securing them.
HP recently revealed that the share of memory costs in PCs has escalated to 35%. As a result, the company is raising laptop prices to offset rising DDR5 costs. Customers paying high prices for workstation-quality hardware are now also facing the risk of manufacturer-enforced firmware updates that may render their devices useless.
On May 20, Richard Hughes of the Linux Vendor Firmware Service project announced that HP would be joining Lenovo and Dell as a premier sponsor of the LVFS, which is an open-source firmware updating solution aimed at enhancing the reliability and security of firmware distribution. The contradiction between supporting an open-source firmware quality initiative while simultaneously delivering BIOS updates that disable premium hardware is striking.
The central issue lies in the automatic installation of critical firmware via Windows Update, leaving users without the chance to assess or postpone the update. A BIOS update isn't a simple browser security fix; it alters the foundational software of the device. If it fails, the device won't start. Treating it with the same urgency as a Windows security patch is a decision that both HP and Microsoft need to reevaluate.
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HP released a crucial BIOS update via Windows Update, which ended up disabling its most high-end laptops.
Owners of ZBook Ultra and EliteBook X devices are experiencing issues with their devices being unbootable following the automatic installation of a critical BIOS patch. HP has stated that they are "investigating the matter."