HP laptop BIOS updates leave some premium devices unable to boot

Users say reverting to an earlier BIOS version has proved difficult

HP BIOS updates pushed through Microsoft's Windows Update service are reportedly leaving some premium business laptops unable to boot.

Owners of high-end devices including the HP ZBook Ultra G1a and HP EliteBook X G1a say recent BIOS updates classified as "critical" were installed automatically through Windows Update. But after installation, their systems began freezing during startup, displaying Blue Screens of Death, or producing unusually loud fan activity.

One user of the ZBook Ultra G1a, a mobile workstation that can cost more than £4,000, reported in April that a BIOS update caused the machine to "freeze completely during the boot process".

Complaints have since accumulated across HP's own support forums and Reddit, with users describing repeated boot failures and instability following firmware updates.

A Reddit user describing issues with a ZBook Ultra G1a said the laptop would frequently stall before Windows loaded, requiring a forced shutdown and a second boot attempt before functioning normally.

The problematic BIOS versions identified by users for the ZBook Ultra G1a are 01.04.03 and 01.04.05, while EliteBook X G1a owners have pointed to versions 01.03.11 and 01.05.001.03.11 and 01.05.00.

Beneath the operating system

Unlike conventional software patches, BIOS updates operate at firmware level beneath the operating system. If an installation fails or introduces instability, the consequences can be severe, potentially leaving a machine effectively unusable.

Users say reverting to an earlier BIOS version has proved difficult. Some reported limited success using HP's network BIOS downgrade feature, but only when paired with an HP-branded USB-C-to-Ethernet adapter.

The incident has renewed criticism of the practice of distributing firmware updates automatically through Windows Update. Because the updates were flagged as critical, affected customers had little or no opportunity to postpone installation while problems emerged.

Quality assurance

This isn't the first time HP has faced a BIOS-bricking issue. In 2024, another BIOS update reportedly left some ProBook laptops permanently inoperable, with customers facing repair costs tied to firmware supplied by the manufacturer itself.

Critics say the repeated incidents point to broader concerns about quality assurance in HP's firmware update process.

In a statement to The Register, HP said: "HP is aware of purported BIOS issues and is looking into the matter."

The company advised affected customers to contact technical support.

The timing may prove awkward for both HP and Microsoft.

Microsoft has been attempting to improve the reliability and security oversight of Windows Update, including greater scrutiny of third-party drivers and firmware distributed through the platform. BIOS updates from manufacturers such as HP are delivered through the same infrastructure intended to keep devices secure and up to date.

Rising hardware costs

The reports also come as HP faces rising hardware costs. The company recently disclosed that memory now accounts for around 35% of PC manufacturing costs, driven by increased DDR5 prices, with some of those costs already being passed on to customers through higher laptop prices.

Meanwhile, HP has recently expanded its involvement in the Linux firmware ecosystem. On 20 May, Richard Hughes, maintainer of the Linux Vendor Firmware Service (LVFS), announced that HP had become a premier sponsor of the open-source firmware distribution project.

The LVFS initiative, which already includes manufacturers such as Lenovo and Dell Technologies, aims to improve consistency and transparency in firmware delivery across hardware vendors.