Thinkpads Forum

Hello Everyone!

As the title states, I have just acquired a beautiful 8741-A11 unit, which has had a motherboard replacement during its service life.
I was able to successfully flash the System BIOS to the last version (1.19 - 7IET38WW) using a similar procedure as described in https://forums.lenovo.com/t5/T61-and-pr ... rue#M62989; the thing is I didn't performed the second flash (the file mentioned as platform.bin or with file extension .FL2).

-Has anyone tried this method before? Is there a particular command/config to WinPhlash to perform the 'second part' of this BIOS Update? In fact, is that file required for an Update, or is it (part of) the Embedded Controller software (which I already have in its latest version)?

Another question is the UUID of the machine. As explained in the first paragraph, it seems that during the motherboard change, all the information pertaining to this machine was correctly entered (Machine Type, Model and Serial Number) but the UUID on this machine is zeroed or perhaps it was not generated at update time.

-Have you been able to generate a UUID for your machines? If so, do you perform this operation within the Update Model Number section of the BIOS Update software? Any suggestion on how to generate this will be appreciated.

Thanks in Advance.

Kind Regards,

If I recall correctly the UUID is updated as an option when using the hardware maintenance disc. I don't think it will cause any problems for you though.

As far as updating the bios, the lenovo bios has a utility included that does it all automatically. You can do it directly using WinPhlash, but I think unless you're trying to make some modifications there is no point to doing it that way.

TuuS, Thanks for your speedy reply!

Regarding the UUID, I was trying to figure out if I could generate it with any tool Lenovo provides on its webpage (or even a 3rd party tool), as my laptop was acquired through eBay and it came with a 65 W AC Adapter and no battery, no discs or manuals whatsoever.

And for the particular BIOS Update issue, I followed that procedure because I was flashing it with a 90W AC Adapter connected to it only (!), no battery (not even a charged one that was lying around) and I needed to avoid the Battery check the Lenovo tool performs (I was updating on a PE, driverless Windows XP environment) -shame on me -. After that, this time with my 2056's 6-Cell Battery and the AC adapter, I booted with the BIOS Flash CD and it didn't want to do it (... An update is not necessary). I was also asking for any side effects the procedure I performed might have.

Thanks Again,
[EDIT:] Corrected some terrible keystrokes, and the forum member's nickname.

Okay, time for an update.

I downloaded the V1.83 of the ThinkPad Hardware Maintenance Diskette, formatted a USB with a FreeDOS boot disk using Rufus, extracted the files to the USB root folder, booted my laptop from USB, and executed AUTOUUID.EXE to generate the UUID for my system, rebooted, entered BIOS Setup and... There it was! Great suggestion, Tuus! I appreciate your help!

As for the BIOS, I reflashed my BIOS with a no-whitelist mod for installing a WiFi Link 5100 from a 2055 T500, so no real solution of the previously mentioned issue there.

Thanks everyone! HTH.