I would like to share with all of you what happened to me so you may avoid the pitfall. In a very short summary, the problem I am having here is that HP falsely advertise its BIOS fix to be available for Windows XP, but it is not.
Let's begin with my needed for a laptop to develop some application and so I decided to go shopping. Laptop shopping is a bit difficult today, it is like going to the fish market, depending on the day you may find different things and you may have to "adapt" to what you find. What I mean is that I had my nice list of "Linux" compatible laptops but when you arrive to the dealer you got to chose what there is.
Normally I buy from Italian CDC (around February 2008) and I did ask for a Linux laptop. It is funny to see the fake look of "we never heard of it" (they are one of the biggest reseller in Italy) and that look just means that they are either incompetent or simply being paid to "pretend Linux does not exist".
In any case I ended up buying a dv9710el since it was reasonably cheap and apparently Linux/Ubuntu supported (meaning that generally speaking the video/Ethernet/disks/usb where "supported". As you all probably know we are in Microsoft Vista time and therefore my laptop was Vista pre loaded.
I started Vista, it was a chance to see it, first BIG disappointment is that even if it provides the "English" language choice it does not actually have it and therefore it reverts to Italian. Then the other BIG disappointment was that I had to agree to the Vista licence even to make the recovery disks. Kind of like having to sign a licence for looking at the shelf of a supermarket ! I was not interested on Vista (even thought I paid for it) and I still think that if I have to "agree" on a separate "licence" to use Vista, then I is not sold at the point of sale (otherwise I would not have to agree on anything, I already did at the point of sale), therefore, by not agreeing on the "licence" I did not buy Vista and I should not pay for it.
I just zapped everything and went to Ubuntu, of course Microsoft counts my licence as another Vista on the world and I have ended up paying for something I did not want or use. No matter how much you pretend to say this is "fair", this is NOT fair. Of all the laptops in CDC NONE had Linux.
Let me tell you something, the current state of things is that big companies just make it "difficult" to have what you want and so they can get away with a Judge saying "see, if the customer wants he can get Linux, it is not impossible !". This will continue until the "cost" and "reward" for a complain is not on equal measure, this means that the cost for a company to abuse a single customer is small (the worse cost is for the company to refund the "faulty" product) and the reward is enormous (immagine something like 50dollars multiplied millions of copies. For a customer the cost of litigation is enormous (time and lawyer) compared with the tiny reward (the refund of the faulty product). Balancing the costs and reward, means that if a company gains XXXXX millions on illegal practices then the reward of the suing customer should be of millions, not just a product refund !
One day I decided to see if there is a BIOS upgrade for my laptop, I went to HP website and found my laptop, and there really is a BIOS upgrade. Of course a BIOS upgrade is to fix DEFECTS in the BIOS, this meaning that the machine is faulty and there is a way to fix it. It may be something important like the NVIdia chipset burning out or faulty USB handling of faulty fan handling, anyway it is a fault.
Once upon a time, BIOS upgrade was done using a floppy or CD, this was of course safe and vendor independent. Not anymore. The website mention no possibility of such CD and allows for either Windows XP or Vista as a BIOS flashing program. No other possibility was available, so I fired up a temporary copy of XP to try to upgrade the bios. I think it is mad to have an entire OS installed just to upgrade the BIOS
I did download the file and tried to run it. The program starts, ask me to agree on some sort of licence and then says
So I asked to support and this is what I got
Dear Damiano,
Thank you for contacting HP Total Care.
I understand from your email that when you try to update the BIOS from HP driver download page you get an error message that the software is not for your notebook.
I greatly appreciate that you have forwarded your concerns and have given me a chance to assist you with this matter. I will do my best to assist you.
Damiano, after checking the product specification of the notebook I found that Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium 32-bit is preinstall with the notebook. However, as you inform in your email that Windows XP is install in your notebook I want to share that HP does not recommend downgrading the operating system from Windows Vista to Windows XP as the notebook is specially designed and bundled for Windows Vista Operating System.
HP has not tested this notebook model with Windows XP operating system. And I would like to share that if you wish to downgrade the Operating System from Vista to XP, then you have to use the Retail version of Windows XP Operating System CD. As there are no recovery disc for Windows XP for your notebook.
However, if you install a retail version of Windows XP, then you may not get the pre installed applications like Quick Play, CD/DVD burning software etc.
Also, as the notebook is specially designed and bundled for Windows Vista Operating System, you may find it difficult to get all the drivers for the devices installed in the notebook which supports Windows XP Operating System.
However, Windows Vista is installed in your notebook the issue might be due to corrupted system files at this I recommend you to use the System File Checker tool (SFC.exe) to determine which file is causing the issue, and then replace the file by following the steps provided in the below weblink:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929833
NOTE: The URL above will take you to a non HP Web site. HP does not control and is not responsible for information outside of the HP Web site.
Now check for the issue id the issue still persists the issue you are experiencing might be with the corrupted files in the operating system. However, you can resolve it by restoring the notebook to factory settings using the Recovery Manager installed bundled with the notebook.
**** Restoring the notebook to factory settings using Recovery Manager***
I would like to share that your notebook is bundled with Recovery Partition (D: drive). You can use Recovery Manager to restore the notebook to factory settings. Please follow the steps given below to restore the notebook to factory settings:
NOTE: This process will erase all the data from your hard drive. Hence, I recommend you to take backup of all the important data from your hard drive before proceeding with this step.
1. Press F11 on the keyboard immediately while the computer is starting up. The HP Backup and Recovery Manager window will appear.
2. If the Recovery Manager can access the hard drive it displays a prompt to backup up your user files before continuing the recovery. If it cannot access the hard drive to fix the system errors, the Recovery Manager starts recovering the hard drive to its original condition.
For more information about Using HP Recovery Manager, please refer the below link :
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?cc=us&docname=c00809678
NOTE: Clicking the link may give an error indicating it is invalid. Copy and paste the entire link in a new browser window.
After reinstalling OS, you need to perform the below steps to make the notebook ready for use.
*Complete the initial setup screens
*Setting up a firewall
*Setup Windows Firewall
*Setup Norton Internet Security 2007
*Connecting to the Internet
*Download updates for Windows
*Update security software
*Update software and drivers from HP
*Connect devices and installing extra software
Please refer the below Web site for more information:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/genericDocument?docname=c01058431&cc=us&dlc=en&lc=en&jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN#N288
NOTE: Clicking the link may give an error indicating it is invalid. Copy and paste the entire link in a new browser window.
I hope the above information is helpful to you and address your concern. If you need any further assistance or clarifications, please do not hesitate to reply to this mail. We would be delighted to assist you.
Have a nice day!
Sincerely,
Mckenzie
HP Total Care
***Do Not Delete Service Ticket Number***
{ticketno:[8011328831]}
***Do Not Delete Service Ticket Number***
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As you may see they completely missed the point, I just want a BIOS FIX, NOT Vista reinstall (HP does not provide recovery DVD on the sales package and I have none since I did not agree on the vista licence..)
Hello Damiano, Thank you for writing back to us with the results and observations. It seems to be good working with a well informed customer like you. I apologize for the inconvenience caused, do give us another chance to serve you in a better manner. I assure you that this time you shall not be disappointed by our efforts. Damiano, as the BIOS that you were trying to update was giving an error message, I request you to download the softpaq for performing the BIOS Update by following the below given URL or from the FTP link given: http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareDownloadIndex?softwareitem=ob-59456-1&lc=en&cc=us&lang=en&os=2093&dlc=en&product=3668079 NOTE: Clicking the link may give an error indicating it is invalid. Copy and paste the entire link in a new browser window. or ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp38501-39000/sp38951.exe Installation Instructions 1. Download the SoftPaq .EXE file to a directory on your hard drive. 2. Execute the downloaded file and follow the on-screen instructions. Please get back to me with observations and results because it is important that I resolve your issue in a timely manner. I would like to add that we value your precious time and would be here round the clock to serve you. Looking forward to assist you !!! For information on keeping your HP and Compaq products up and running, please visit our Web site at: http://www.hp.com/go/totalcare Sincerely, Jessie HP Total Care
At this stage it seems that they understand it is a BIOS issue, a pity the suggestion does not work
Hello Damiano, I regret the inconvenience. I have confirmed the issue from our technical department. The BIOS update is specially designed for Vista based computers and it may not work with the PCs downgrade to Windows XP. I apologize for not being much helpful in this situation. If you need further assistance, please reply to this message and we will be happy to assist you further. For information on keeping your HP and Compaq products up and running, please visit our Web site at: http://www.hp.com/go/totalcare Sincerely, Tom HP Total Care
At this stage I made really clear that in HP website there is a BIOS fix for XP
Hello Damiano, Thank you for writing back and updating us on the issue. I understand how trying the situation is and apologize for the inconvenience caused to you. Damiano, I have reviewed your message, and it is apparent that this issue requires the attention of our research and development team. Please get back to me with the following information: Information regarding the issue: 1. Current BIOS version installed: 2. Installed Operating System: 3.Did the unit ever function correctly? (If yes, when did the problem start?) 4.Did you add or change anything around that time? 5. Additional information: (EG. Added Software or Hardware, or other pertinent information) 6.Has the unit been serviced? (If yes, when was the unit returned?) 7.Has recovery been run? 8.If yes, what type (Recovery Partition/F11, Customer Created CD/DVD, HP CD/DVD) ............... etc. etc.
I did reply with all the info and after a few more Email the final answer is
Damiano, This is the email follow up to our recent email supporting. This is Allan from HP Total Care, I am personally following up on your email that I have verified with the technical after the case was escalated and they informed that the to check out the issue the notebook must be pre installed with the Operating system that is bundled with the notebook. Hence, I request you to revert back to Windows Vista and check whether the issue persists. Hope the information provided was helpful with regard to your concern. Sincerely Allan HP Total Care
My biggest complaint is that they advertise that there is a BIOS fix for Windows XP but there is NONE, it does NOT work !
What I see is Microsoft bully a vendor to bully customers into using Vista ! I already have my customers hassling me, but at least
they pay me, I do not need to be bullied by someone I pay !
We are being treated like stupid persons, like someone that does not understand a thing and just believe whatever is said by the "big company". I do not like to be treated like stupid, HP is providing a Fix for their faulty product and binds this fix to something that I neither want or use, HP treat me as stupid when they insist that to fix their BIOS I need to install Vista and that is a mandatory technical requirement, it is NOT. HP willingly submitted to Microsoft empire and a political decision was made NOT to provide a software vendor independent BIOS FIX.
All of you smarty panty that now say, "but you didn't have to buy THAT laptop !", oh yes sure, let me make an example. I can be chained up to my foots and a big iron ball but I can still walk !, what am I complaining about ! Having the possibility to walk is not the same as being able to walk freely. In my case, having at least equal share of laptop using Linux (similarly priced) was a fair play field
Information technology is being chained up by information providers and hardware providers that then use this to grab even more money from you. You may be happy with this, I am not.
You can write to me just adding a message and sending it
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