Executive summary

For decades, HP has provided unique customer value through an internally developed Read Only Memory Basic Input/Output System (ROM BIOS), a set of routines that enable a PC to load the operating system and communicate with various devices such as storage drives, keyboard, display, slots, and ports. The BIOS ensures that there is a high degree of integration between firmware and HP professional innovations such as HP ProtectTools, HP Power Assistant, and HP Client Management Solutions.

HP F10 Setup, the BIOS configuration user interface provided with HP PCs, provides easy access to an impressive set of features.

Supported models

The F10 Setup described in this white paper is available on select models introduced in 2012 and 2013.

•HP EliteBook 800 G1 series

•HP ProBook 600 G1 series

•HP ProBook 400 G0 and G1 series

•HP ElitePad 900 G1

•HP EliteDesk 800 G1 series

•HP EliteOne 800 G1 series

•HP ProDesk 600 G1series

•HP ProOne 600 G1 series

•HP ZBook 17 Mobile Workstation

•HP ZBook 15 Mobile Workstation

•HP ZBook 14 Mobile Workstation

Enhancements

HP has added several options to the new version of F10 Setup, including those outlined below.

Updating BIOS over the network

BIOS Update from a Network is a new BIOS option that allows BIOS updates to be downloaded over the network from hp.com or a customer-created repository.

This feature is available on select 2013 HP notebooks, desktops, and workstations.1 For more information on setting up a custom repository, refer to Appendix B.

HP Sure Start

Select Intel-based 2013 HP Business Notebook PCs2 offer HP Sure Start, which provides hardware-based assurance of the following:

•HP-approved firmware is running on the HP Embedded Controller (EC)3 – EC Options in BIOS found under “BIOS Integrity Checking” and in some systems as “HP Sure Start”.

•An HP-approved BIOS is running on the host processor

HP Sure Start verifies the integrity of HP BIOS code and critical, non-executable platform data residing in the main flash and provides self-healing mechanisms to restore any code or critical platform data that has been lost or is corrupted within the flash.

1Only supported on 2013 600/800 notebooks/desktops

2Only supported on 2013 EliteBook and ZBook notebooks

3The EC is responsible for power control/power cycle, thermal monitor/fan control, many LEDs, and PS2 keyboard and mouse. For more information on using HP Sure Start, refer to the Embedded Controller option under Embedded Security in Table 1.

2