Several owners of older ProBook models are no longer able to use their devices after they were irreparably damaged by an automatic BIOS update.

Since May 26, owners of several HP ProBook laptops have been complaining about a BIOS update that HP automatically rolled out to their devices. The update corrupts the BIOS itself in software, rendering the devices unusable.

The issue seems to be affecting the ProBook 455 G7. This device was launched in 2020 and in many cases is no longer under warranty. The ProBook 455 G7 is an AMD-based laptop that is popular with smaller businesses. Although it has been a while since its initial launch, the ProBook 455 G7 remains a relevant device. It is an entry-level business model that is suitable as a workhorse for many profiles of office workers. The hardware is also compatible with Windows 11. That said, the malicious defect affects laptops that do not need to be replaced.

There are numerous complaints on the HP forum. We see that users all over the world are affected. They are often responsible for multiple machines. Many complaints come from Europe. Victims report that HP support is initially unhelpful and suggests an expensive motherboard replacement.

HP’s guilt

However, the fault seems to be HP’s only fault. The cause of the error is the faulty BIOS update that was automatically rolled out via Windows Update and HP’s own support assistant. HP laptops have traditionally been very enthusiastic about BIOS updates and started rolling them out on their own without a user being able to do much about it.

After installing the BIOS update, users report that they can no longer repair their ProBook 455 G7 themselves. The BIOS cannot be restored to a usable state using the available tools.

The incident is quite painful, not least because it has been going on for some time without any clear response from HP. The suggestion that a victim pays around 400 euros to repair something that HP has broken itself and without asking is unlikely to be met with much understanding by the complainants.

Do you have a ProBook 455 G7 that no longer works? Now you know why. Unfortunately, there is no solution yet. According to reports, HP has since removed the malicious update from its website. HP stated in a short response that it is aware of the problem and is investigating it.