Service Reference Guide

3–4 Service Reference Guide
Desktop Management
3.3.6 Remote ROM Flash
Your computer comes with a reprogrammable flash ROM (read only memory). By establishing a
setup password in Computer Setup, you can protect the ROM from being unintentionally updated
or overwritten. This is important to ensure the operating integrity of the computer. Should you
need or want to upgrade your ROM, you may:
■ Order an upgraded ROMPaq diskette from HP.
■ Download the latest ROMPaq images from the HP web site (www.hp.com).
Ä
CAUTION: For maximum ROM protection, be sure to establish a setup password. The setup password
prevents unauthorized ROM upgrades. HP Insight Manager LC allows the system administrator to set the
setup password on one or more PCs simultaneously. For more information, visit the HP web site at
www.hp.com.
Using Remote ROM Flash
Remote ROM Flash allows the system administrator to safely upgrade the ROM on remote HP
computers directly from the centralized network management console. Enabling the system
administrator to perform this task remotely on multiple computers results in a consistent
deployment of and greater control over ROM images over the network.
All ROMPaq ROM images from HP are digitally signed to ensure authenticity and minimize
potential corruption. Your system ROM may include a Boot Block that is protected during the
flash process and allows the computer to be restarted, in the unlikely event of an unsuccessful
ROM flash.
✎
Your computer must be powered on, or turned on through Remote Wakeup, to take advantage of
Remote ROM Flash. Use of Remote ROM Flash also requires an established setup password.
For more information on enabling Remote ROM Flash, refer to the online Remote Management
Administrators Guide. The Remote Management Administrators Guide is included with the
Remote Management Setup Utilities, and is available on the HP web site at www.hp.com.
FailSafe Boot Block ROM
The FailSafe Boot Block ROM allows for system recovery in the unlikely event of a ROM flash
failure, for example, if a power failure were to occur during a ROM upgrade. The Boot Block is a
flash-protected section of the ROM that checks for a valid system ROM flash when power to the
system is turned on.
■ If the system ROM is valid, the system starts normally.
■ If the system ROM fails the validation check, the FailSafe Boot Block ROM provides
enough support to start the system from a ROMPaq diskette, which will program the system
ROM with a valid image.
When the Boot Block detects an invalid system ROM, the system sounds a series of beeps (one
long and three short) and flashes the three keyboard lights (on and off two times). A Boot Block
recovery mode message is displayed on the screen.