Some Notes on the Machines

HP Support Assistant is the oft-default tool, not suitable for automation. It does work, but often misses items, and sometimes just generally coughs. There is also the HP Image Assistant:

ftp.ext.hp.com/pub/caps-softpaq/cmit/HPIA.html

Its primary purpose is maintaining reference images, but it has a great command-line mode for full automatic downloads and updates. Download the installer, complete it, close the GUI tool, open Powershell or CMD, CD to the folder it created in command-line (it’s C:\SWSETUP\something), and run:

.\HPImageAssistant /Operation:Analyze /Category:All,Accessories /selection:All /action:Install /silent /reportFolder:c:\HPIA\Report /softpaqdownloadfolder:c:\HPIA\download

Then monitor its behavior in TASKMGR, and see the downloads piling up in C:\HPIA\download. If it needs a reboot, it will do it automatically. Even if it doesn’t, reboot is recommended, just to keep everything as smooth as possible.

Best I know is Dell Command Update. Can be installed using winget:

winget install Dell.CommandUpdate.Universal

This is a GUI tool, does a very good job.

Here it is:

support.lenovo.com/us/en/downloads/ds012808-lenovo-system-update-for-windows-10-7-32-bit-64-bit-desktop-notebook-workstation

It’s also available via Winget: winget install "Lenovo System Update"

Here’s the page:

www.lenovo.com/us/en/software/vantage

On some HP desktop hardware, this is the only way to get drivers and BIOS:

http://ftp.hp.com/pub/caps-softpaq/cmit/HP_SDM.html

If you see the above while trying to flash a replacement BIOS on a Dell, try:

1. Backup your registry.
2. Browse in REGEDIT to: HKLM\System\ControlSet001\Services
3. Delete the DellBIOS key
4. Reboot.

If the BIOS is UEFI-capable, one can install a current 64-bit Windows OS to a GPT partition, and this should increase overall reliability and stability of the hard drive by a good bit. But the procedure is interesting. Here’s the best example I’ve found so far:

http://blogs.technet.com/b/askcore/archive/2011/05/31/installing-windows-7-on-uefi-based-computer.aspx

If you see Windows 7 slow or less reliable than it should be, go deep into the BIOS and see if you can find an “HPET” item.  It may need to be enabled.  HPET is an option which permits certain operating systems (not XP, I believe) to multitask hardware into much smaller increments, which ends up permitting much higher overall responsiveness.

Had an HP laptop today which, when powered up, flashed by the BIOS keyboard prompt to blank screen, and gave an audible alarm. F2 does not bring up the BIOS setup on this laptop; however, not knowing this, I tried F2 (the prompt flashed very quickly), and it booted up fine. Conclusion: F2 is probably some sort of BIOS reset for current HP.

David Childers recently collected the following data specific to Dells, probably relevant to Dimension 2400 and later.

At startup, there are four LEDs on the back of the systems. These function very similarly to the old POST boards for diagnostics that were used in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s. They will flash amber and green as the system initializes the subsystems:

Light A – Represents the Video subsystem

Light B – Represents the RAM subsystem

Light C – Represents the Data Bus (CPU to System Board) subsystem

Light D – Represents the Storage subsystem

Once all of the lights are green, fundamental hardware failures can be ruled out.

To reset the BIOS to factory defaults:

1. Remove the power cable from the power supply. Leave the power switch on the power supply ON.
2. Press and hold down the power button on the front of the case for at least 20 seconds.
3. Replace power cord.
4. Start system.

To clear the parameter RAM (CMOS)

1. At startup, press F2 (or whatever) to enter the BIOS setup.
2. Once you’re at the main BIOS screen, press alt-f to clear the CMOS RAM

A most interesting BIOS option

You can disable BIOS control of the PCI bus, and set it to OS control.