Thinkpads Forum

I'm trying to intstall the Middleton BIOS.

I've burned the iso to a CD with ImgBurn.

Set it to boot to CD, and it gives me this:

https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=E ... oto%2c.jpg

After a minute, it will state Done after the "Start Flashing", give a long beep, and then restart and continue in this loop.

I'm already nervous about bricking the T61, so I'm a bit on edge.

Thoughts anyone?

I've done the Googling, but am not finding much.

You're describing a typical Middleton BIOS flash.
Gives the message in your picture, then one long beep and reboots.
Take out the disc - that's what's causing the loop.

Have you hit F1 when booting & checked the current BIOS version?
Has it changed? Is it the Middleton version 2.29-1.08.

If you're not sure, download the SLIC Toolkit (first hit in a Google search) and see if the SLIC is now in your BIOS.

91011 wrote:You're describing a typical Middleton BIOS flash.
Gives the message in your picture, then one long beep and reboots.
Take out the disc - that's what's causing the loop.

Have you hit F1 when booting & checked the current BIOS version?
Has it changed? Is it the Middleton version 2.29-1.08.

If you're not sure, download the SLIC Toolkit (first hit in a Google search) and see if the SLIC is now in your BIOS.

Yes, it is the 2.29 (7LETC9WW) control version 1.08.

That is the installed Middleton then?

dogbarber wrote:

91011 wrote:You're describing a typical Middleton BIOS flash.
Gives the message in your picture, then one long beep and reboots.
Take out the disc - that's what's causing the loop.

Have you hit F1 when booting & checked the current BIOS version?
Has it changed? Is it the Middleton version 2.29-1.08.

If you're not sure, download the SLIC Toolkit (first hit in a Google search) and see if the SLIC is now in your BIOS.

Downloaded the SLIC Toolkit as well. What and where should I be looking? Not sure.

Yep you did it right. Middleton's BIOS will run in a continuous loop until you stop. How do you stop it? At the next restart, when the BIOS screen first comes up, hit F1 to enter BIOS. At that time eject the CD then carry on with normal computer operation. It's that simple and that complicated. SLIC 2.1 will be loaded with flashing of Middleton's BIOS.

Cigarguy wrote:Yep you did it right. Middleton's BIOS will run in a continuous loop until you stop. How do you stop it? At the next restart, when the BIOS screen first comes up, hit F1 to enter BIOS. At that time eject the CD then carry on with normal computer operation. It's that simple and that complicated. SLIC 2.1 will be loaded with flashing of Middleton's BIOS.

Whew! Then it's good to know I finally got it right.

Now that it's installed, what do I need to turn on or off in the BIOS to take advantage of the ssd speeds and also now that it's on, I will get an N wifi card. Any suggestions on a good card?

dogbarber wrote:
Now that it's installed, what do I need to turn on or off in the BIOS to take advantage of the ssd speeds and also now that it's on,

Absolutely nothing.

I will get an N wifi card. Any suggestions on a good card?

It really depends on whether you - as well as your router - prefer Intel or Atheros-chipped cards.

Intel 6200/6300 - depending on the number of antennae that you have (2 vs. 3) available - is one of the most suggested options around here, although I personally prefer Atheros cards.

Happy upgrading.

ajkula66 wrote:

dogbarber wrote:
Now that it's installed, what do I need to turn on or off in the BIOS to take advantage of the ssd speeds and also now that it's on,

Absolutely nothing.

I will get an N wifi card. Any suggestions on a good card?

It really depends on whether you - as well as your router - prefer Intel or Atheros-chipped cards.

Intel 6200/6300 - depending on the number of antennae that you have (2 vs. 3) available - is one of the most suggested options around here, although I personally prefer Atheros cards.

Happy upgrading.

I'm sporting this Asus at the moment if that helps...
http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2 ... ter-review

I haven't used the router in question but you should honestly be OK with either Intel or Atheros...it's an ASUS...

Happy upgrading.

ajkula66 wrote:I haven't used the router in question but you should honestly be OK with either Intel or Atheros...it's an ASUS...

Happy upgrading.

Thanks! I went ahead and ordered the 6200 along with the adapter bracket to make it fit.

sorry for hijacking this thread but i was trying to flash my one and i think i discarded cd to soon :/ its powers on cd spins a bit and stops but screen is blank and hdd spins ... any ideas ?

Does it boot to bios without the cd?
I remember it taking awhile... I want to say the Middleton bios is unresponsive for like 5 minutes, or ten.
Kinda scary, it seems forever, but when it flashed the bios the second time it is when I removed the CD when it was done.

The only complaint I have about Middleton's BIOS is the infinite installation loop. Just need to pay attention when it reboot. At post hit F1 to go into BIOS, at that time I'll eject the CD and carry on. Once I was asleep and missed going into BIOS, no biggy, just waited until it reflash again then caught it the second time.

nothing is happening, i disconected bios battery and still nothing , Fn keys does not work either .

EvoT61 wrote:nothing is happening, i disconected bios battery and still nothing , Fn keys does not work either .

If the machine won't post, it sounds like the flash failed. This can happen if it's interrupted, or if the disc isn't burned 100% perfect, or if the optical drive is defective or the computer unstable.

Short of manually burning the bios chip which would require special equipment, you may need a new motherboard.


I prefer to flash the bios from within windows. I have a harddrive with 32bit windows that I use for testing and flashing all my T61 boards. You also don't have to worry about the machine rebooting and reflashing the bios over again... each time introducing more risk into the equation.

If you do want to update from a boot disc, I'd verify the burn multiple times to be sure there are no errors. It's also important to note that a burn isn't always "good vs bad", there are also "sloppy" burns that can pass verification but still have read errors. Anyone who's burned a lot of video discs will know that a disc burned at fast speed may pass verification, but can have playback issues compared to one burned at a slow speed.

What do u mean "within windows" ? ...no need to boot trough cd just go to my comp. disk and then flash it ? I want to make it right coz i dont want to trash another mobo


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