Owners of certain HP laptops are currently facing an annoying problem. Due to a faulty BIOS update, they are no longer able to update their devices or use them in any other way.
According to The Register, the update was automatically delivered to all affected users via Windows Update. The first problems arose around four months ago and are reminiscent of a similar issue where Windows users have not received any patches since January.
In this particular case, however, it is mainly expensive premium HP notebooks that are said to be affected, such as the ZBook Ultra G1a or the EliteBook X G1a. Users of certain ProBook models, such as the 455 G7, are also reporting similar problems.
It is particularly frustrating that the devices freeze during the boot process and often end up with a BSOD. Numerous Reddit posts, such as this one, document the problem. In some cases, these were brand-new devices with a fresh Windows installation.
What you can do
The error has already been reported to HP, so the manufacturer is currently working on a solution that can be delivered with an upcoming BIOS update. Until then, however, there are unfortunately few practical ways to work around the error.
The best course of action would be to avoid the BIOS upgrade altogether by disabling automatic updates in Windows Update and/or in your device settings. At least until the bug is fixed.
Once the BIOS update has been installed, reverting to an earlier version is often difficult. Although some users on Reddit have taken this route, they apparently needed special equipment to do so.
In any case, you should contact HP Support to discuss possible solutions and avoid having to replace the expensive devices entirely.
