HP / Microsoft seems to have removed the bugged BIOS download now.

On May 26, a user on HP’s support forums reported that a forced, automatic BIOS update had bricked their HP ProBook 455 G7 into an unusable state. Subsequently, other users have joined the thread to sound off about experiencing the same issue.

This common knowledge regarding BIOS software would, then, seem to make automatic, forced BIOS updates a real issue, even if it weren’t breaking anything. Allowing the user to manually install and prepare their systems for a BIOS update is key to preventing issues like this.

At the time of writing, HP has made no official comment on the matter — and since this battery update was forced on laptops originally released in 2020, this issue has also bricked hardware outside of the warranty window, when previously users could simply send in the laptop for a free repair.

Overall, this isn’t a very good look for HP, particularly its BIOS update practices. The fragility of BIOS software should have tipped off the powers at be at HP about the lack of foresight in this release model, and now we’re seeing it in full force with forced, bugged BIOS updates that kill laptops.

    • nifty@lemmy.worldEnglish
      0·
      5 months ago

      At one point they didn’t suck so much, but everything has been infected with enshittification

      • solsangraal@lemmy.zipEnglish
        0·
        5 months ago

        Most people are more likely just looking for any sort of laptop to buy and aren’t caring about the make of laptop

        absolutely. there are also people who believe “a car is a car” and then are shocked that a hole has rusted through the floor of their brand new dodge

        i gave up trying to advise people on researching brands and quality before larger purchases–they don’t care