ThinkPad T21 and BIOS upgrade

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Netdude21 · #1 Post by **Netdude21** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 2:53 pm

I have a T21 notebook and I was wondering if I should upgrade the BIOS.

I have heard that if the computer is working fine then you don't need to update the BIOS, is that true or is somebody blowing smoke?

How often should BIOS updates be done and when is the right time to do them?

Thanks,

betabill · #2 Post by **betabill** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 5:37 pm

I'd update it if the present bios is old. Theres a lot of changes implemented since then, particularly if you are using XP.

Website · #3 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 8:18 pm

Updating the BIOS would be up to you and your needs. If it is working fine and you aren't making any changes to the machine, then you'd be ok.

Alot of times the BIOS updates are done to increase Max Ram capacities, hard drive size, aleviate problems with certain OSs, etc.

There is an old saying..."if it ain't broke don't fix it", but others might disagree because they want the fastest and most cooperative things.

betabill · #4 Post by **betabill** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 8:42 pm

Just look at the number of bios revisions published for any particular systemboard, it's hard to believe the achitecture is that faulty.

Daryl Jones · #5 Post by **Daryl Jones** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 3:58 am

Keeping the BIOS up to date has it pros and cons. Once upon a time, I had a TP 360 and I kept my BIOS up to date. However, I discovered that some of my software I was using soon would not work on the computer with the current BIOS. I had to update my software which cost money. However, having the BIOS up to date can prevent some problems from occuring. My recommendation is to keep on eye on the BIOS updates and read why the updates were created. If the BIOS update has to do with your system configuration, you might want to do the update. When I do an OS change (98=>XP), I would do a BIOS update.

dsvochak · #6 Post by **dsvochak** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 10:13 am

How often should BIOS updates be done and when is the right time to do them?

As an earlier post indicated, if it isn't broke...

The easiest thing to do is periodically check to see if there's an update, and what "problems" are addressed by the update. If there's something relevant to your situation, then an update might be in order.

In the case of a T21, for example, IBM was strongly urging and update to the newest bios before installing Windows XP. If you want to do that, then you should probably update.

Netdude21 · #7 Post by **Netdude21** » Sun Jan 01, 2006 9:20 pm

I have done the BIOS upgrade and upgraded the firmware on my DVD-ROM drive and I am amazed at how quickly the laptop and Windows XP boots up.

That was the first time I upgraded the BIOS on a PC of any kind running Windows, I have an iMac with Mac OS X and I upgraded the Firmware on it twice and have had no problems since.

I was kind of afraid of doing anything with the BIOS on a desktop PC because I didn't want to turn it into a doorstop, I was amazed at how easy it was.

Thank you for the information