upgrade BIOS without a charged battery?

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quinncx · #1 Post by **quinncx** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 9:17 pm

i want to update the BIOS on my 380Z and downloaded the newer version from IBM. I started booting from the disk as instructed, but stopped the process when it asked if I had a charged battery connected to the computer. On this old monster, the battery no longer holds a charge; does this mean I cannot update my BIOS? Any advice from people who've done this before? I would like the updated BIOS, but don't want to wreck the machine in the process.
Thanks!

richarddd · #2 Post by **richarddd** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 6:56 am

If you start the BIOS upgrade but don't finish, the motherboard may no longer work. If the power goes out mid-upgrade, the upgrade will fail, wrecking the machine. Therefore, IBM wants you to have both a battery and ac power, to make sure the power doesn't fail.

#3 Post by **GomJabbar** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 7:42 am

richarddd wrote:If you start the BIOS upgrade but don't finish, the motherboard may no longer work. If the power goes out mid-upgrade, the upgrade will fail, wrecking the machine. Therefore, IBM wants you to have both a battery and ac power, to make sure the power doesn't fail.

That's true. Yet I have read of some that have upgraded (flashed) their BIOS without a battery. There is a hack or patch somewhere that one can use to bypass the battery requirement. Apparently, the BIOS upgrade software can detect if a battery is in place or not. It will not continue the upgrade without the battery.

slagmi · #4 Post by **slagmi** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 9:49 am

There's some info on the main site thinkpads.com you may find useful
I believe you have to scroll down a ways to find it

quinncx · #5 Post by **quinncx** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 1:47 pm

thanks for the tip slagmi. has anyone out there tried this method? Is the possible power failure the only reason I would need a fully charged battery (so if I can guarantee there won't be a power failure, I can go ahead with the upgrade?) or is the battery somehow integral to the process? I really do want to make the upgrade, but I can't see hunting down a 380z battery in order to do it!

JHEM · #6 Post by **JHEM** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 3:47 pm

The only necessity for having the battery is as a preventive measure in case of a power outage.

Got a UPS to plug into? Have at it.

Regards,

James

quinncx · #7 Post by **quinncx** » Wed Aug 17, 2005 10:42 pm

thanks everyone- i got the upgrade done a few minutes ago. of course, the "new" BIOS is still from 1999 but it is a start...

upgrade BIOS without a charged battery?

upgrade BIOS without a charged battery?

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