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HP Systems BIOS Updates Will Use Windows Updates
HP Commercial Notebook PCs, Commercial Desktops, Mobile and Desktop Workstations - Systems BIOS Updates Will Use Windows Updates
DESCRIPTION
This bulletin is intended to (re)notify and remind our customer base and HP employees of HP's intent to begin releasing system firmware through the Microsoft Windows Update process.
A previously released Whitepaper was circulated by HP (in July 2020) to inform HP Support Teams and end-users about the detailed strategy, roll-out, platforms and attributes of this new update methodology.
Benefits of Firmware/BIOS Updates through Windows
Many personal computers rely on Microsoft Windows Updates to receive OS updates, performance enhancements, security updates and bug fixes. Previously, the updates for the operating system and BIOS/Firmware were not a shared update process, they required separate update events, creating additional downtime. By adopting the Automatic BIOS Update through Windows, users can leverage a single event to update a Microsoft operating system, BIOS, and firmware, creating a simple, single motion to update the endpoint PC.
How does it work?
To update system firmware and or BIOS, Microsoft Windows will leverage a tool called UEFI Capsule. The UEFI Capsule can pass data during runtime (in the OS) to the UEFI BIOS. The UEFI capsules are provided to Microsoft by HP, HP-partners, and hardware vendors. The result is firmware updates are received the same way OS and driver updates are delivered and received on endpoint PCs. HP will target WU with Windows 10, Version v1809(RS5) and later OS versions.
Who would not want to use Automatic BIOS Update through Windows?
If your environment requires a BIOS update to be qualified before rolling out to a fleet of PCs or, the fleet requires the BIOS to be locked to a specific version, HP offers a BIOS setting (Lock BIOS Version) to prevent automatic BIOS updates. These BIOS settings can be remotely managed, using HP Client Management Script Library (leveraging PowerShell modules).
When will the Automatic Updates begin?
HP plans Windows Automatic updates to begin on select HP platforms in February of 2021. Automatic updates will roll out on additional supported platforms end-of-March 2021.
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