HP Image Assistant (HPIA) is a powerful tool for keeping HP commercial systems Drivers, BIOS, Firmware and HP Software up to date. HPIA and its intelligent analysis engine provides daily updates to ensure the latest HP SoftPaqs are always available. Starting with HPIA version 5.2.0, via HPIA’s command line, you can force the installation of SoftPaqs that otherwise may be skipped during analysis.
HPIA recommends and supports the installation of all HP SoftPaqs (BIOS, drivers, HP Software, etc.), as determined by the /Category option (when used), matching a particular platform and a supported Operating System.
However, when the application considers the configuration of a device, some Softpaqs may be missed. For example, HPIA’s analyze function may miss a SoftPaq when dealing with extension drivers if previous versions of the extension and base driver are not already installed (It may take a double pass to install starting with prerequisite installation), or peripheral drivers if said peripheral is not connected to the system while the analysis is running.
As a response to these types of design limitations, the /Force option was developed. The /Force function addresses specific needs during scenarios such as device imaging (say, to preinstall drivers when the accessory the driver supports is not attached during a scan), or perhaps for specific update requirements, like needing to install (or reinstall) a set of SoftPaqs due to security or bug fixes.
Notes on Usage:
- HPIA will NOT analyze the configuration of the device. Therefore, it will not check hardware IDs. It will assume the user wants to install ALL the SoftPaqs in the repository regardless of the installed or available version.
- Use of the argument /OfflineMode:<Repo_path> is required.
- The /Action parameter is ignored. /Force will install all SoftPaqs that match
- The /Category command line option is ignored. You will not be able to use the /Category option to filter out SoftPaqs from your offline repository.
- A custom reference file can be used with the /ReferenceFile:<file.xml> argument. With this option, HPIA will use this file instead of the one sync’d and available in the repository.
- HPIA will install EVERY SoftPaq in the offline repository so long as it is compatible with the system and supports a silent installation option.
- HPIA generated log files describe which Softpaqs from the repository have been installed, bypassed, and other important information.
- BIOS SoftPaqs will always (re)install if in the repository, so curate the contents as needed.
About the Repository
- The offline repository must be properly created and maintained and must include the appropriate reference file as managed by the HP CMSL Invoke-RepositorySync command.
- If Softpaqs are manually added to the repository, the associated SoftPaq CVA file must also be added. These Softpaqs will be installed if they are referenced in the reference file
- A repository can be curated to contain ONLY the SoftPaqs required for installation – this is useful when in need to force install a limited set of SoftPaqs on a specific device
Example run:
# Install ALL SoftPaqs in the offline repository that match the platform and OS # … SoftPaqs in the repository that do not match are not used # ... /Category and /Action arguments are bypassed HPImageAssistant.exe /Force /OfflineMode:\\myServer\HPIARepo