Pavilion 4533 + Windows 2000 + BIOS upgrade (Help!)

[John]

Help!

I am attempting to upgrade the BIOS on my HP Pavilion 4533 to version
1005. I believe this may correct some USB-related issues I've been
experiencing when trying to connect my HP Pavilion 4533 to our HP
Officejet v40.

So far, all I get is: "ERROR! Can't Find System BIOS' Hook." When I
run the aflash.exe after DOS floppy boot-up. I've used several
different versions of aflash, and I also tried pflash. I even tried
awdflash, which seemed to work, but then just hanged every time.

I have already tried several trouble-shooting methods for correcting
this "hp officejet Disconnected!" error. I have tried:

- Unplugging/uninstalling Officejet connection/drivers/apps,
then replugging/installing according to the explicit
step-by-step instructions. (Oddly enough just after
install, I'm able to print, but then it seems to lose the
USB connection.)

- Swapping out USB cables, changing USB ports.

- Upgrading to the latest version of Officejet v40
drivers/software

- Loading a generic USB host controller driver instead of
the SiS 7100 driver.

The Officejet v40 worked fine on our exact same hardware setup running
Windows 98 SE. And I'm not going back to Windows 98. I really want to
stick with Win2k.

I'm determined to upgrade my BIOS. Can you help?

Thanks,
John

[Ben Myers]

John,

What indications do you have that the motherboard BIOS needs to be upgraded?
And that a BIOS upgrade will solve the problem you have encountered?

Frankly, you are lucky that repeated attempts at flashing of the BIOS did not
result in a very dead motherboard. Evidently the flash BIOS update programs
have enough safeguards built in to have protected you from flashing the wrong
BIOS onto the motherboard.

BTW, HP is one of the many companies who guarantee that their systems will work
with the operating system exactly as shipped, and no other. HP may well have
created its own monster here with a slightly crippled motherboard incapable of
running Windows 2000 100% correctly. Ultimately, your decision may boil down to
replacing the Pavilion motherboard.

You don't want a generic USB host controller driver instead of the SiS 7100
driver. Chipset-specific drivers are there for a good reason... Ben Myers

On 21 Dec 2003 15:58:33 -0800, spam7@sm.to (John) wrote:
Help!I am attempting to upgrade the BIOS on my HP Pavilion 4533 to version1005. I believe this may correct some USB-related issues I've beenexperiencing when trying to connect my HP Pavilion 4533 to our HPOfficejet v40.So far, all I get is: "ERROR! Can't Find System BIOS' Hook." When Irun the aflash.exe after DOS floppy boot-up. I've used severaldifferent versions of aflash, and I also tried pflash. I even triedawdflash, which seemed to work, but then just hanged every time.I have already tried several trouble-shooting methods for correctingthis "hp officejet Disconnected!" error. I have tried:- Unplugging/uninstalling Officejet connection/drivers/apps,then replugging/installing according to the explicitstep-by-step instructions. (Oddly enough just afterinstall, I'm able to print, but then it seems to lose theUSB connection.)- Swapping out USB cables, changing USB ports.- Upgrading to the latest version of Officejet v40drivers/software- Loading a generic USB host controller driver instead ofthe SiS 7100 driver.The Officejet v40 worked fine on our exact same hardware setup runningWindows 98 SE. And I'm not going back to Windows 98. I really want tostick with Win2k.I'm determined to upgrade my BIOS. Can you help?Thanks,John

[John]

Thanks for your reply.

There are two links to BIOS upgrades at the ASUS web site. Version
1004 includes a USB fix and I read a post somewhere saying the BIOS
upgrade will likely resolve the USB printer connection problems I'm
having. Have I been misled? The system was, in fact, built to
support Windows 98, but everything works on the system on Windows 2000
except this one USB printer connection. Do you perhaps know of a HP
printer/officejet message board like this one? Perhaps they know of a
patch or work-around that would help me out.

Regards,
John

ben_myers_spam_me_not @ charter.net (Ben Myers) wrote in message news:<3fe637d6.29859925@news.charter.net>... John, What indications do you have that the motherboard BIOS needs to be upgraded? And that a BIOS upgrade will solve the problem you have encountered? Frankly, you are lucky that repeated attempts at flashing of the BIOS did not result in a very dead motherboard. Evidently the flash BIOS update programs have enough safeguards built in to have protected you from flashing the wrong BIOS onto the motherboard. BTW, HP is one of the many companies who guarantee that their systems will work with the operating system exactly as shipped, and no other. HP may well have created its own monster here with a slightly crippled motherboard incapable of running Windows 2000 100% correctly. Ultimately, your decision may boil down to replacing the Pavilion motherboard. You don't want a generic USB host controller driver instead of the SiS 7100 driver. Chipset-specific drivers are there for a good reason... Ben Myers On 21 Dec 2003 15:58:33 -0800, spam7@sm.to (John) wrote:Help!I am attempting to upgrade the BIOS on my HP Pavilion 4533 to version1005. I believe this may correct some USB-related issues I've beenexperiencing when trying to connect my HP Pavilion 4533 to our HPOfficejet v40.So far, all I get is: "ERROR! Can't Find System BIOS' Hook." When Irun the aflash.exe after DOS floppy boot-up. I've used severaldifferent versions of aflash, and I also tried pflash. I even triedawdflash, which seemed to work, but then just hanged every time.I have already tried several trouble-shooting methods for correctingthis "hp officejet Disconnected!" error. I have tried:- Unplugging/uninstalling Officejet connection/drivers/apps,then replugging/installing according to the explicitstep-by-step instructions. (Oddly enough just afterinstall, I'm able to print, but then it seems to lose theUSB connection.)- Swapping out USB cables, changing USB ports.- Upgrading to the latest version of Officejet v40drivers/software- Loading a generic USB host controller driver instead ofthe SiS 7100 driver.The Officejet v40 worked fine on our exact same hardware setup runningWindows 98 SE. And I'm not going back to Windows 98. I really want tostick with Win2k.I'm determined to upgrade my BIOS. Can you help?Thanks,John

[Ben Myers]

John,

Altho Asus made the motherboard for HP, the BIOS image contains different
identification information than the BIOS on board the HP motherboard. Hence the
BIOS update fails an identity check. There are ways to defeat this identity
check, but they are extremely risky. I've done so with positive results for
older Intel-made motherboards and some DEC-brand Pentium class boards intended
for slightly different than original purpose. If you can find something in the
Asus documentation to defeat the identity check, proceed with caution. And have
as your backup plan a replacement motherboard in the event that you wind up with
a useless motherboard for your efforts.

AFAIK, there are no other HP newsgroups for any of its printers. This is it,
right here. HP's web site also has an on-line newsgroup type of forum where you
can post requests for help, too. Sometimes an HP employee answers, and
sometimes an HP customer has a solution. HP's official support for its printers
AND for its Pavilion series is especially weak... Ben Myers

On 22 Dec 2003 07:58:03 -0800, spam7@sm.to (John) wrote:
Thanks for your reply.There are two links to BIOS upgrades at the ASUS web site. Version1004 includes a USB fix and I read a post somewhere saying the BIOSupgrade will likely resolve the USB printer connection problems I'mhaving. Have I been misled? The system was, in fact, built tosupport Windows 98, but everything works on the system on Windows 2000except this one USB printer connection. Do you perhaps know of a HPprinter/officejet message board like this one? Perhaps they know of apatch or work-around that would help me out.Regards,Johnben_myers_spam_me_not @ charter.net (Ben Myers) wrote in message news:<3fe637d6.29859925@news.charter.net>... John, What indications do you have that the motherboard BIOS needs to be upgraded? And that a BIOS upgrade will solve the problem you have encountered? Frankly, you are lucky that repeated attempts at flashing of the BIOS did not result in a very dead motherboard. Evidently the flash BIOS update programs have enough safeguards built in to have protected you from flashing the wrong BIOS onto the motherboard. BTW, HP is one of the many companies who guarantee that their systems will work with the operating system exactly as shipped, and no other. HP may well have created its own monster here with a slightly crippled motherboard incapable of running Windows 2000 100% correctly. Ultimately, your decision may boil down to replacing the Pavilion motherboard. You don't want a generic USB host controller driver instead of the SiS 7100 driver. Chipset-specific drivers are there for a good reason... Ben Myers On 21 Dec 2003 15:58:33 -0800, spam7@sm.to (John) wrote:Help!I am attempting to upgrade the BIOS on my HP Pavilion 4533 to version1005. I believe this may correct some USB-related issues I've beenexperiencing when trying to connect my HP Pavilion 4533 to our HPOfficejet v40.So far, all I get is: "ERROR! Can't Find System BIOS' Hook." When Irun the aflash.exe after DOS floppy boot-up. I've used severaldifferent versions of aflash, and I also tried pflash. I even triedawdflash, which seemed to work, but then just hanged every time.I have already tried several trouble-shooting methods for correctingthis "hp officejet Disconnected!" error. I have tried:- Unplugging/uninstalling Officejet connection/drivers/apps,then replugging/installing according to the explicitstep-by-step instructions. (Oddly enough just afterinstall, I'm able to print, but then it seems to lose theUSB connection.)- Swapping out USB cables, changing USB ports.- Upgrading to the latest version of Officejet v40drivers/software- Loading a generic USB host controller driver instead ofthe SiS 7100 driver.The Officejet v40 worked fine on our exact same hardware setup runningWindows 98 SE. And I'm not going back to Windows 98. I really want tostick with Win2k.I'm determined to upgrade my BIOS. Can you help?Thanks,John