Silently updates an HP BIOS using HP Image Assistant

Invoke-HPBIOSUpdate.ps1

#####################
## HP BIOS UPDATER ##
#####################

# Params
$HPIAWebUrl = "https://ftp.hp.com/pub/caps-softpaq/cmit/HPIA.html" # Static web page of the HP Image Assistant
$BIOSPassword = "MyPassword"
$script:ContainerURL = "https://mystorageaccount.blob.core.windows.net/mycontainer" # URL of your Azure blob storage container
$script:FolderPath = "HP_BIOS_Updates" # the subfolder to put logs into in the storage container
$script:SASToken = "mysastoken" # the SAS token string for the container (with write permission)
$ProgressPreference = 'SilentlyContinue' # to speed up web requests


################################
## Create Directory Structure ##
################################
$RootFolder = $env:ProgramData
$ParentFolderName = "Contoso"
$ChildFolderName = "HP_BIOS_Update"
$ChildFolderName2 = Get-Date -Format "yyyy-MMM-dd_HH.mm.ss"
$script:WorkingDirectory = "$RootFolder\$ParentFolderName\$ChildFolderName\$ChildFolderName2"
try 
{
    [void][System.IO.Directory]::CreateDirectory($WorkingDirectory)
}
catch 
{
    throw
}


# Function write to a log file in ccmtrace format
Function script:Write-Log {

    param (
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)]
        [string]$Message,
		
        [Parameter()]
        [ValidateSet(1, 2, 3)] # 1-Info, 2-Warning, 3-Error
        [int]$LogLevel = 1,

        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)]
        [string]$Component,

        [Parameter(Mandatory = $false)]
        [object]$Exception
    )

    $LogFile = "$WorkingDirectory\HP_BIOS_Update.log"
    
    If ($Exception)
    {
        [String]$Message = "$Message" + "$Exception"
    }

    $TimeGenerated = "$(Get-Date -Format HH:mm:ss).$((Get-Date).Millisecond)+000"
    $Line = '<![LOG[{0}]LOG]!><time="{1}" date="{2}" component="{3}" context="" type="{4}" thread="" file="">'
    $LineFormat = $Message, $TimeGenerated, (Get-Date -Format MM-dd-yyyy), $Component, $LogLevel
    $Line = $Line -f $LineFormat
    
    # Write to log
    Add-Content -Value $Line -Path $LogFile -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue

}


# Function to upload log file to Azure Blob storage
Function Upload-LogFilesToAzure {
    $Date = Get-date -Format "yyyy-MM-dd_HH.mm.ss"
    $HpFirmwareUpdRecLog = Get-ChildItem -Path $WorkingDirectory -Include HpFirmwareUpdRec.log -Recurse -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
    $HPBIOSUPDRECLog = Get-ChildItem -Path $WorkingDirectory -Include HPBIOSUPDREC64.log -Recurse -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
    If ($HpFirmwareUpdRecLog)
    {
        $File = $HpFirmwareUpdRecLog
    }
    ElseIf ($HPBIOSUPDRECLog)
    {
        $File = $HPBIOSUPDRECLog
    }
    Else{}
    If ($File)
    {
        $Body = Get-Content $($File.FullName) -Raw -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
        If ($Body)
        {
            $URI = "$ContainerURL/$FolderPath/$($Env:COMPUTERNAME)`_$Date`_$($File.Name)$SASToken"
            $Headers = @{
                'x-ms-content-length' = $($File.Length)
                'x-ms-blob-type' = 'BlockBlob'
            }
            Invoke-WebRequest -Uri $URI -Method PUT -Headers $Headers -Body $Body -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
        }
    }
    $File2 = Get-Item $WorkingDirectory\HP_BIOS_Update.log -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
    $Body2 = Get-Content $($File2.FullName) -Raw -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
    If ($Body2)
    {
        $URI2 = "$ContainerURL/$FolderPath/$($Env:COMPUTERNAME)`_$Date`_$($File2.Name)$SASToken"
        $Headers2 = @{
            'x-ms-content-length' = $($File2.Length)
            'x-ms-blob-type' = 'BlockBlob'
        }
        Invoke-WebRequest -Uri $URI2 -Method PUT -Headers $Headers2 -Body $Body2 -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
    }
}


Write-Log -Message "#######################" -Component "Preparation"
Write-Log -Message "## Starting BIOS update run ##" -Component "Preparation"
Write-Log -Message "#######################" -Component "Preparation"


#################################
## Disable IE First Run Wizard ##
#################################
# This prevents an error running Invoke-WebRequest when IE has not yet been run in the current context
Write-Log -Message "Disabling IE first run wizard" -Component "Preparation"
$null = New-Item -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft" -Name "Internet Explorer" -Force
$null = New-Item -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer" -Name "Main" -Force
$null = New-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main" -Name "DisableFirstRunCustomize" -PropertyType DWORD -Value 1 -Force


##########################
## Get latest HPIA Info ##
##########################
Write-Log -Message "Finding info for latest version of HP Image Assistant (HPIA)" -Component "DownloadHPIA"
try
{
    $HTML = Invoke-WebRequest -Uri $HPIAWebUrl -ErrorAction Stop
}
catch 
{
    Write-Log -Message "Failed to download the HPIA web page. $($_.Exception.Message)" -Component "DownloadHPIA" -LogLevel 3
    Upload-LogFilesToAzure
    throw
}
$HPIASoftPaqNumber = ($HTML.Links | Where {$_.href -match "hp-hpia-"}).outerText
$HPIADownloadURL = ($HTML.Links | Where {$_.href -match "hp-hpia-"}).href
$HPIAFileName = $HPIADownloadURL.Split('/')[-1]
Write-Log -Message "SoftPaq number is $HPIASoftPaqNumber" -Component "DownloadHPIA"
Write-Log -Message "Download URL is $HPIADownloadURL" -Component "DownloadHPIA"


###################
## Download HPIA ##
###################
Write-Log -Message "Downloading the HPIA" -Component "DownloadHPIA"
try 
{
    $ExistingBitsJob = Get-BitsTransfer -Name "$HPIAFileName" -AllUsers -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
    If ($ExistingBitsJob)
    {
        Write-Log -Message "An existing BITS tranfer was found. Cleaning it up." -Component "DownloadHPIA" -LogLevel 2
        Remove-BitsTransfer -BitsJob $ExistingBitsJob
    }
    $BitsJob = Start-BitsTransfer -Source $HPIADownloadURL -Destination $WorkingDirectory\$HPIAFileName -Asynchronous -DisplayName "$HPIAFileName" -Description "HPIA download" -RetryInterval 60 -ErrorAction Stop 
    do {
        Start-Sleep -Seconds 5
        $Progress = [Math]::Round((100 * ($BitsJob.BytesTransferred / $BitsJob.BytesTotal)),2)
        Write-Log -Message "Downloaded $Progress`%" -Component "DownloadHPIA"
    } until ($BitsJob.JobState -in ("Transferred","Error"))
    If ($BitsJob.JobState -eq "Error")
    {
        Write-Log -Message "BITS tranfer failed: $($BitsJob.ErrorDescription)" -Component "DownloadHPIA" -LogLevel 3
        Upload-LogFilesToAzure
        throw
    }
    Write-Log -Message "Download is finished" -Component "DownloadHPIA"
    Complete-BitsTransfer -BitsJob $BitsJob
    Write-Log -Message "BITS transfer is complete" -Component "DownloadHPIA"
}
catch 
{
    Write-Log -Message "Failed to start a BITS transfer for the HPIA: $($_.Exception.Message)" -Component "DownloadHPIA" -LogLevel 3
    Upload-LogFilesToAzure
    throw
}


##################
## Extract HPIA ##
##################
Write-Log -Message "Extracting the HPIA" -Component "Analyze"
try 
{
    $Process = Start-Process -FilePath $WorkingDirectory\$HPIAFileName -WorkingDirectory $WorkingDirectory -ArgumentList "/s /f .\HPIA\ /e" -NoNewWindow -PassThru -Wait -ErrorAction Stop
    Start-Sleep -Seconds 5
    If (Test-Path $WorkingDirectory\HPIA\HPImageAssistant.exe)
    {
        Write-Log -Message "Extraction complete" -Component "Analyze"
    }
    Else  
    {
        Write-Log -Message "HPImageAssistant not found!" -Component "Analyze" -LogLevel 3
        Upload-LogFilesToAzure
        throw
    }
}
catch 
{
    Write-Log -Message "Failed to extract the HPIA: $($_.Exception.Message)" -Component "Analyze" -LogLevel 3
    Upload-LogFilesToAzure
    throw
}


##############################################
## Analyze available BIOS updates with HPIA ##
##############################################
Write-Log -Message "Analyzing system for available BIOS updates" -Component "Analyze"
try 
{
    $Process = Start-Process -FilePath $WorkingDirectory\HPIA\HPImageAssistant.exe -WorkingDirectory $WorkingDirectory -ArgumentList "/Operation:Analyze /Category:BIOS /Selection:All /Action:List /Silent /ReportFolder:$WorkingDirectory\Report" -NoNewWindow -PassThru -Wait -ErrorAction Stop
    If ($Process.ExitCode -eq 0)
    {
        Write-Log -Message "Analysis complete" -Component "Analyze"
    }
    elseif ($Process.ExitCode -eq 256) 
    {
        Write-Log -Message "The analysis returned no recommendation. No BIOS update is available at this time" -Component "Analyze" -LogLevel 2
        Upload-LogFilesToAzure
        Exit 0
    }
    elseif ($Process.ExitCode -eq 4096) 
    {
        Write-Log -Message "This platform is not supported!" -Component "Analyze" -LogLevel 2
        Upload-LogFilesToAzure
        throw
    }
    Else
    {
        Write-Log -Message "Process exited with code $($Process.ExitCode). Expecting 0." -Component "Analyze" -LogLevel 3
        Upload-LogFilesToAzure
        throw
    }
}
catch 
{
    Write-Log -Message "Failed to start the HPImageAssistant.exe: $($_.Exception.Message)" -Component "Analyze" -LogLevel 3
    Upload-LogFilesToAzure
    throw
}
# Read the XML report
Write-Log -Message "Reading xml report" -Component "Analyze"
try 
{
    $XMLFile = Get-ChildItem -Path "$WorkingDirectory\Report" -Recurse -Include *.xml -ErrorAction Stop
    If ($XMLFile)
    {
        Write-Log -Message "Report located at $($XMLFile.FullName)" -Component "Analyze"
        try 
        {
            [xml]$XML = Get-Content -Path $XMLFile.FullName -ErrorAction Stop
            $Recommendation = $xml.HPIA.Recommendations.BIOS.Recommendation
            If ($Recommendation)
            {
                $CurrentBIOSVersion = $Recommendation.TargetVersion
                $ReferenceBIOSVersion = $Recommendation.ReferenceVersion
                $DownloadURL = "https://" + $Recommendation.Solution.Softpaq.Url
                $SoftpaqFileName = $DownloadURL.Split('/')[-1]
                Write-Log -Message "Current BIOS version is $CurrentBIOSVersion" -Component "Analyze" 
                Write-Log -Message "Recommended BIOS version is $ReferenceBIOSVersion" -Component "Analyze" 
                Write-Log -Message "Softpaq download URL is $DownloadURL" -Component "Analyze" 
            }
            Else  
            {
                Write-Log -Message "Failed to find a BIOS recommendation in the XML report" -Component "Analyze" -LogLevel 3
                Upload-LogFilesToAzure
                throw
            }
        }
        catch 
        {
            Write-Log -Message "Failed to parse the XML file: $($_.Exception.Message)" -Component "Analyze" -LogLevel 3
            Upload-LogFilesToAzure
            throw
        }
    }
    Else  
    {
        Write-Log -Message "Failed to find an XML report." -Component "Analyze" -LogLevel 3
        Upload-LogFilesToAzure
        throw
    }
}
catch 
{
    Write-Log -Message "Failed to find an XML report: $($_.Exception.Message)" -Component "Analyze" -LogLevel 3
    Upload-LogFilesToAzure
    throw
}


###############################
## Download the BIOS softpaq ##
###############################
Write-Log -Message "Downloading the Softpaq" -Component "DownloadBIOSUpdate"
try 
{
    $ExistingBitsJob = Get-BitsTransfer -Name "$SoftpaqFileName" -AllUsers -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
    If ($ExistingBitsJob)
    {
        Write-Log -Message "An existing BITS tranfer was found. Cleaning it up." -Component "DownloadBIOSUpdate" -LogLevel 2
        Remove-BitsTransfer -BitsJob $ExistingBitsJob
    }
    $BitsJob = Start-BitsTransfer -Source $DownloadURL -Destination $WorkingDirectory\$SoftpaqFileName -Asynchronous -DisplayName "$SoftpaqFileName" -Description "BIOS update download" -RetryInterval 60 -ErrorAction Stop 
    do {
        Start-Sleep -Seconds 5
        $Progress = [Math]::Round((100 * ($BitsJob.BytesTransferred / $BitsJob.BytesTotal)),2)
        Write-Log -Message "Downloaded $Progress`%" -Component "DownloadBIOSUpdate"
    } until ($BitsJob.JobState -in ("Transferred","Error"))
    If ($BitsJob.JobState -eq "Error")
    {
        Write-Log -Message "BITS tranfer failed: $($BitsJob.ErrorDescription)" -Component "DownloadBIOSUpdate" -LogLevel 3
        Upload-LogFilesToAzure
        throw
    }
    Write-Log -Message "Download is finished" -Component "DownloadBIOSUpdate"
    Complete-BitsTransfer -BitsJob $BitsJob
    Write-Log -Message "BITS transfer is complete" -Component "DownloadBIOSUpdate"
}
catch 
{
    Write-Log -Message "Failed to start a BITS transfer for the BIOS update: $($_.Exception.Message)" -Component "DownloadBIOSUpdate" -LogLevel 3
    Upload-LogFilesToAzure
    throw
}


#########################
## Extract BIOS Update ##
#########################
Write-Log -Message "Extracting the BIOS Update" -Component "ExtractBIOSUpdate"
$BIOSUpdateDirectoryName = $SoftpaqFileName.Split('.')[0]
try 
{
    $Process = Start-Process -FilePath $WorkingDirectory\$SoftpaqFileName -WorkingDirectory $WorkingDirectory -ArgumentList "/s /f .\$BIOSUpdateDirectoryName\ /e" -NoNewWindow -PassThru -Wait -ErrorAction Stop
    Start-Sleep -Seconds 5
    $HpFirmwareUpdRec = Get-ChildItem -Path $WorkingDirectory -Include HpFirmwareUpdRec.exe -Recurse -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
    $HPBIOSUPDREC = Get-ChildItem -Path $WorkingDirectory -Include HPBIOSUPDREC.exe -Recurse -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
    If ($HpFirmwareUpdRec)
    {      
        $BIOSExecutable = $HpFirmwareUpdRec
    }
    ElseIf ($HPBIOSUPDREC)
    {
        $BIOSExecutable = $HPBIOSUPDREC
    }
    Else  
    {
        Write-Log -Message "BIOS update executable not found!" -Component "ExtractBIOSUpdate" -LogLevel 3
        Upload-LogFilesToAzure
        throw
    }
    Write-Log -Message "Extraction complete" -Component "ExtractBIOSUpdate"
}
catch 
{
    Write-Log -Message "Failed to extract the softpaq: $($_.Exception.Message)" -Component "ExtractBIOSUpdate" -LogLevel 3
    Upload-LogFilesToAzure
    throw
}


#############################
## Check for BIOS password ##
#############################
try 
{
    $SetupPwd = (Get-CimInstance -Namespace ROOT\HP\InstrumentedBIOS -ClassName HP_BIOSPassword -Filter "Name='Setup Password'" -ErrorAction Stop).IsSet
    If ($SetupPwd -eq 1)
    {
        Write-Log -Message "The BIOS has a password set" -Component "BIOSPassword"
        $BIOSPasswordSet = $true
    }
    Else  
    {
        Write-Log -Message "No password has been set on the BIOS" -Component "BIOSPassword"
    }
}
catch 
{
    Write-Log -Message "Unable to determine if a BIOS password has been set: $($_.Exception.Message)" -Component "BIOSPassword" -LogLevel 3
    Upload-LogFilesToAzure
    throw
}


##########################
## Create password file ##
##########################
If ($BIOSPasswordSet)
{
    Write-Log -Message "Creating an encrypted password file" -Component "BIOSPassword"
    $HpqPswd = Get-ChildItem -Path $WorkingDirectory -Include HpqPswd.exe -Recurse -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
    If ($HpqPswd)
    {
        try 
        {    
            $Process = Start-Process -FilePath $HpqPswd.FullName -WorkingDirectory $WorkingDirectory -ArgumentList "-p""$BIOSPassword"" -f.\password.bin -s" -NoNewWindow -PassThru -Wait -ErrorAction Stop
            Start-Sleep -Seconds 5
            If (Test-Path $WorkingDirectory\password.bin)
            {
                Write-Log -Message "File successfully created" -Component "BIOSPassword"
            }
            Else  
            {
                Write-Log -Message "Encrypted password file could not be found!" -Component "BIOSPassword" -LogLevel 3
                Upload-LogFilesToAzure
                throw
            }
        }
        catch 
        {
            Write-Log -Message "Failed to create an encrypted password file: $($_.Exception.Message)" -Component "BIOSPassword" -LogLevel 3
            Upload-LogFilesToAzure
            throw
        }
    }
    else 
    {
        Write-Log -Message "Failed to locate HP password encryption utility!" -Component "BIOSPassword" -LogLevel 3
        Upload-LogFilesToAzure
        throw
    }
}


###########################
## Stage the BIOS update ##
###########################
Write-Log -Message "Staging BIOS firmware update" -Component "BIOSFlash"
try 
{
    If ($BIOSPasswordSet)
    {
        $Process = Start-Process -FilePath "$($BIOSExecutable.FullName)" -WorkingDirectory $WorkingDirectory -ArgumentList "-s -p.\password.bin -f.\$BIOSUpdateDirectoryName -r -b" -NoNewWindow -PassThru -Wait -ErrorAction Stop
    }
    Else  
    {
        $Process = Start-Process -FilePath "$($BIOSExecutable.FullName)" -WorkingDirectory $WorkingDirectory -ArgumentList "-s -f.\$BIOSUpdateDirectoryName -r -b" -NoNewWindow -PassThru -Wait -ErrorAction Stop
    }
    If ($Process.ExitCode -eq 3010)
    {
        Write-Log -Message "The update has been staged. The BIOS will be updated on restart" -Component "BIOSFlash"
    }
    Else  
    {
        Write-Log -Message "An unexpected exit code was returned: $($Process.ExitCode)" -Component "BIOSFlash" -LogLevel 3
        Upload-LogFilesToAzure
        throw
    }
}
catch 
{
    Write-Log -Message "Failed to stage BIOS update: $($_.Exception.Message)" -Component "BIOSFlash" -LogLevel 3
    Upload-LogFilesToAzure
    throw
}
Write-Log -Message "This BIOS update run is complete. Have a nice day!" -Component "Completion"
Upload-LogFilesToAzure

This is an excellent script. My org doesn't use Azure blob so I removed that and changed the logging. I've tested now on a few workstations with good success. Nice one!

👍

I have verified I entered the correct password. I have tested this script on about 10 laptops, all of which have the same BIOS password. It creates a 0kb password.bin file, which is a blank password - but SOMETIMES is creates it correctly which is even stranger. The problem is if it uses a blank password, the end user will be prompted for the password when the computer reboots to actually apply the update.

I have a potentially more secure workaround; the BIOS password would be in cleartext in this script which may not be everyone's cup of tea. So an alternative option is to:

1. remove Line 7: $BIOSPassword = "MyPassword"
2. remove the Create Password File section from the script
3. manually create a password.bin file using the HpqPswd.exe (it uses AES 256 if anyone cares to know)
4. store the password.bin on a suitably accessible file share
5. add the following somewhere after "Create Directory Structure" and before "Check for BIOS Password"

###############################
## Copy Encrypted BIOS Password #####
###############################
Copy-Item -Path \\server\share\password.bin -Destination $WorkingDirectory\password.bin
Write-Log -Message "Copied the encrypted BIOS password file (password.bin) to local computer" -Component "Preparation"

Of course, if the BIOS password changes and/or your organisation have multiple BIOS passwords floating about out there, then you'll need to consider having multiple scripts if not find a way to update all outdated devices to the newer password (https://www.danielengberg.com/hp-bios-configuration-utility-sccm/#Update_password_file_and_configuration).