To use v8.8.0.0 without any internal storage, create a bootable USB:
HP regularly updates its onboard diagnostic tool to help users identify hardware failures without booting into Windows. The latest version, v8.8.0.0 , includes improved SSD health checks and memory test accuracy. Here is how to get it. hp pc hardware diagnostics uefi - v8.8.0.0 download
HP_UEFI_Diagnostics_x64_v8.8.0.0.exe /s /v"/qn REBOOT=ReallySuppress" To use v8