.SIG Error, Can't Use Older Stable BIOS

[Yourdrunkendad]

Product Name: HP Pavilion 15-aw008ca
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 (64-bit)
Model:   15-aw008ca
Product #:  W7B77UA#ABL
System Board:  81FD 81.21

I'm trying to revert back to an older bios but it seems that HP locks their BIOS so you can't do that...?

It was originally running American Megatrends Inc. F.09 bios, (which I can't find anywhere now) which I updated to attempt to solve some issues with power and sleep settings not functioning properly. I used the HP Notebook System BIOS Update (AMD Processors)F.29 Rev.A

  https://support.hp.com/ca-en/drivers/selfservice/hp-pavilion-15-aw000-notebook-pc-series/10862162

 

Unfortunately, now everything is running unbelievably slowly taking 10-15 times longer than before, and anything borderline intensive just stops responding, and the audio is crackling, and cutting out.
 
Tried and failed to update bios through the UEFI options but it throws the error "unable to open signature file."  I redownloaded the file, tried it again, same error, tried a different flash drive and same error.

 
Also tried the bios recovery by holding windows key +b while and hitting power, and after about 30 seconds a window informed me the bios update failed, and it booted back into windows.

I Just tried it through freedos using the steps found in this article: https://www.bios-mods.com/forum/Thread-H...e-AMI-Bios
but I'm also getting an error related the .sig file.  I keep seeing that the driver should be a .rom file but I have a .bin is that ok? It's the bios from the HP site (which I'm not 100% is the right one because my exact laptop doesn't produce any results on their site.)
 

Any help would be extremely appreciated, thank you in advance.
 
Cheers,
Jim

[MiMo]

Hello!

1. Did you load optimized default settings after the flash?
2. Did you tried to fully reset CMOS? To do this:
- shut down PC (no hibernation, and deactivate fastboot in energy settings)
- take out the power cable
- take out notebook akku
- open notebook case -> take out BIOS 3V batterie (CR2032)
- push & hold powerbutton for 1 minute

Good luck!

[Yourdrunkendad]

Hello!

1. Did you load optimized default settings after the flash?
2. Did you tried to fully reset CMOS? To do this:
- shut down PC (no hibernation, and deactivate fastboot in energy settings)
- take out the power cable
- take out notebook akku
- open notebook case -> take out BIOS 3V batterie (CR2032)
- push & hold powerbutton for 1 minute

Good luck!

Good morning MiMo, thank you for the reply.

I did load the default settings in the new bios to no avail, but have not tried resetting the CMOS, as I thought it just wiped the user assigned settings and reset the clock.

I'll certainly give it a shot if you think it might help.

[MiMo]

Sometimes it will help to let the BIOS loose all old configuration data.

If that not helped, then post your BIOS configuration.
Locked BIOS by vendor is always a pity for advanced users

Do you flashed this original one?
https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp87501-8...p87548.exe

I think, you cannot flash it with an other tool like the original from HP.
This .exe is only for Windows, not for DOS like in your link.

Only if you have special Tools that work for these HP-files & could edit it.

Regards, MiMo

P.S.
Please don't forget to deactivate all antivirus tool like Windows Defender for the time you flash the BIOS !!!