BIOS upgrade: how to?

Message

pudu1951 · #1 Post by **pudu1951** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 11:18 am

Dear Experts

I'd like to replace the 750 MHz CPU of my T21 (2647-67G) with a 1 Ghz one (SL53S). As I've learned here it's necessary to upgrade the BIOS before replacement.

O.k., of course I've found the latest BIOS on the LENOVO website:

<http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... IGR-4Q2KM5>

But how can I find out my T21's BIOS version? 'System control' -> 'System information' displayed "PhoenixBIOS 4.0 Release 6.0". Maybe that's already the latest BIOS ...

Then what about the version of the "Embedded controller program"? Does the BIOS already contain this program? I haven't been able to find it on LENOVO's website.

Then there seems to be a problem with a certain type of combo card (same URL as above):

"Attention: for users with the Intel/Xircom Mini PCI combo cards: BIOS version 1.04 - KZET22WW and newer will only work with Intel Boot Agent(IBA) 4.0 or later for Wake On Lan (WOL) based remote installations. If you plan to do remote installations with IBA versions prior to 4.0, then you must use a BIOS version prior to version 1.04. Failure to do so may cause the ThinkPad system to hang."

Which card is in my T21? Again, via 'System control' -> 'System information' I found out it's an "Intel(R) PRO/100+ MiniPCI" card (Ethernet 802.3). Is this card that Intel/Xircom card? Is it therefore necessary to search for, download, and install that Intel Boot Agent 4.0?

Many thanks in advance for your help.

Best regards

pudu1951

#2 Post by **jdhurst** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 11:28 am

Here is what the latest (then) EC notes said about my T23 (gone):

IBM ThinkPad T23
Embedded Controller Program Service Diskette

Embedded Controller Program : 1.06a (1AHT23WW)
Diskette Version : 1.06
============================================

Notice:
-------
- This version of Embedded Controller Program will only work with BIOS
Version 1.18 (or higher). Obtain the additional package, BIOS
Version 1.18 (or higher), and update the BIOS in the system with it.
- If you need to update the BIOS as well as the Embedded Controller
Program, update the BIOS first.
- This program is language independent and can be used with any
language system.

-------------------------------------

I always use a Floppy Disk (then and now) to update BIOS and EC.
... JDH

#3 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 2:42 pm

Sorry jdhurst, you posted for a T23.
OP has a T21.
Here are the latest BIOS and Controller for a T21

At bootup, when the IBM logo appears, press the F1 button, this brings you in your BIOS. That's where you find out what versions you have.

To update them, you need a full battery inserted and AC-adapter connected.
Then use either the floppy or the CD version.
The warning about the Bootagent does only apply if you want to do a remote update (you don't want that).

If you install a 1.0GHz CPU, you will also need to install the CPU cooler from a T22!!!

pudu1951 · #4 Post by **pudu1951** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 4:30 pm

[quote="RealBlackStuff"]Sorry jdhurst, you posted for a T23.
OP has a T21.
Here are the latest [url=http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... idate=true] BIOS and Controller[/url] for a T21

If you install a 1.0GHz CPU, you will also need to install the CPU cooler from a T22!!![/quote]

Hi RealBlackStuff,

Thank you very much for the link.

Unfortunately it isn't of much help

. If you click "Drivers and software - Thinkpad T20, T21" you'll be directed to a table with links to a lot of drivers and software - but the BIOS Embedded Controller Program is not applicable. Is it realistic to assume that it is really embedded within the BIOS so that it's not available separately?

BTW: Of course I bought a T22 cooler, too!

Best regards

pudu1951

nikki605 · #5 Post by **nikki605** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 4:49 pm

Here is the link to the latest T21 BIOS (diskette version):

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... IGR-4PJN8Y

This is the one I have installed in my T21 (KZET34WW 1.16) and I have upgraded my CPU to a 1GHz, SL53S and added a T22 fan/heatsink assy. See my sig. Works great!

My imbedded controller version is 1.06 and except for updating the BIOS a couple years ago while preparing to do the CPU upgrade, that's all I did to prepare for the new CPU.

EDIT: The embedded controller is included with the BIOS update. When you get to the IBM BIOS download page, there is a readme text file called spsdkz34.txt. If you open it and scroll to the bottom of that file, you will find this:

BIOS Information
----------------
Each version of the System Program Service Diskette contains the
following system program (BIOS). The BIOS Version and the date as well
as the Embedded controller version number can be viewed by running
ThinkPad Configurator from your operating system and selecting the
System Information button or by invoking IBM BIOS Setup Utility.

1. Make sure there is no diskette in the diskette drive, then turn off
the computer.
2. Turn on the computer.
3. While the Press F1 for IBM BIOS Setup Utility message is displayed
at the lower-left area of the screen, press F1 key. The IBM BIOS
Setup Utility menu will be displayed. If a password prompt appears,
type the correct password.
4. The BIOS version, date and Embedded controller version are
displayed on the first screen of the IBM BIOS Setup Utility.

Diskette BIOS BIOS Embedded controller
Version Version Date Version
-------- ------- ---------- -------------------
1.01 KZET16WW 2000-09-13 1.01
1.02 KZET18WW 2000-10-17 1.01
1.03 KZET20WW 2000-12-19 1.01
1.04 KZET22WW 2001-01-19 1.01
1.05 KZET23WW 2001-03-06 1.01
1.06 KZET25WW 2001-04-17 1.01
1.07 KZET26WW 2001-05-15 1.01
1.08 KZET27WW 2001-06-28 1.03
1.10 KZET29WW 2001-08-01 1.03
1.11 KZET30WW 2001-09-04 1.04
1.12 KZET30WW 2001-09-04 1.05
1.13 KZET31WW 2002-04-19 1.05
1.14 KZET32WW 2002-10-02 1.05
1.15 KZET33WW 2003-03-28 1.05
1.16 KZET34WW 2004-04-28 1.06

#6 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 8:21 pm

the link I gave you leads directly to the BIOS update!
Me being used to T23s, I assumed there to be an embedded controller also. Guess not!

nikki605 · #7 Post by **nikki605** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 9:15 pm

RealBlackStuff - you were right in the link you gave to pudu1951. Maybe I mis-understood, but I thought his reply to you was saying that the BIOS update didn't include the embedded controller, but it does.

When I updated my T21 to that BIOS version, it included the imbedded controller. That's what I was trying to explain to him by pointing out that section of the readme text file. The version 1.16 BIOS file you pointed him to includes the embedded controller version 1.06.

Sorry, if I caused any confusion.

pudu1951 · #8 Post by **pudu1951** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 1:08 pm

Hi Nikki605,

Thank you very much for the clarification!

It has been mentioned here that you have to update the BIOS together with the embedded controller program. So I was searching for both program files and just found the BIOS. Here I found a link to the BIOS:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... IGR-4JSQHB

But where's the embedded controller program? Obviously it's not applicable

.

Unfortunately, even after RealBlackStuff's answer I wasn't sure if the embedded controller program is included in the BIOS. But thanks to the patience of you all I'm convinced now that it is included! So I'll do the update ...

Be assured all your help is really appreciated

!

Best regards

pudu1951

BIOS upgrade: how to?

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