An additional reason to dislike OEMs is their lack of transparency and accountability.
An additional reason to dislike OEMs is their lack of transparency and accountability.
I was collecting a CPU from someone on offerup. I usually check if they have other items for sale. He had an HP Pavilion TG01-2170m. Just the basic components—no CPU or RAM, only the motherboard, case, and 400W power supply. He thought he could fix it himself, so I offered $40. I believed it was a B550 motherboard, capable of handling an R5 3600. Wrong. HP seems to have restricted it to just three CPUs—5300G, 5600G, and 5700G. Why? Even Dell doesn’t do that. With the 3600 installed, it does nothing useful. HP clearly wants this item discarded. I own a GTX 1070 mini for $50 that would fit perfectly there. Now I’m either searching for a more expensive 5000G CPU or giving in and throwing away the thing.
Several options exist to access your system, with HP Unlocker being one of the most effective tools found across various platforms.
IIRC HP unlocker is a method to bypass a PC's password-protected BIOS. It won't work on CPUs that aren't supported.
searching online shows the board is a custom form factor featuring two dimming slots and a white socket. That matches your setup? A BIOS mod could work—possibly involving microcode adjustments since those are Cessna APUs. You might need to install the microcode for other RYZEN models using tools like mmtool to update the UEFI firmware on modern boards. Otherwise, you can keep crossflashing BIOSes of other systems until a compatible one appears. From the images, it looks like the board uses a socketed SOPS chip, which simplifies repairs because you don’t have to re-solder every time (though you’ll still need an SOPS socket adapter for your programmer). The SPI debug header isn’t necessary since I haven’t handled this before. I’ve only worked with a few of these in my classified 4-way setup, but the current board is out of service for repairs unless the original BIOS is faulty. Back up your BIOS first so you have a functional copy if other options fail.
and the SPI debug header remains empty, meaning you’ll need to connect specific pins to make it functional. The pin layout varies significantly between models, so a detailed photo of the motherboard would be helpful. The main challenge isn’t moving or soldering the BIOS chip—it’s more about the setup and software. You’d likely need a programmer such as the Ch341A, along with standard soldering tools. High-quality flux and solder are recommended for smoother work. You can also use an SOP8 socket to avoid repeated soldering. While it’s possible to solder the chip directly onto the board, using a socket adapter makes the process easier. Optionally, you can use a different BIOS socket so the chip stays in place after installation, eliminating further soldering. For programming, you’ll still need to connect the chip to the programmer—either by soldering or via an adapter—and use a compatible program (like AsProgrammer or a modified fork). The process involves reading the chip, flashing it, and confirming the update. You’ll need to remove write protection, save the file, and verify the changes. Once done, the BIOS should be reprogrammed automatically through one of the available menus.