#2. "RE: My HP laptop did an automatic BIOS update, And now it won't start" In response to allstondave (Reply # 1)
Go into BIOS settings and try disabling Secure Boot. If that doesn't work, check to see if it is Legacy or UEFI mode, and whatever mode it is in, change it to the other mode.
If these steps don't work, please try to provide a model number and approximate age of the laptop.
Behind every good computer... is a jumble of wires 'n stuff.