Thinkpads Forum

Hi Guys!
I recently upgraded my Thinkpad T61 with an SSD drive, later I read that standard BIOS allows only SATA1 speed. I decided to update it to Middleton BIOS, which I downloaded from here: http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Middleton%27s_BIOS
I have Windows 10 64bit so I had to burn CD with .iso file. ReadMe.txt says BIOS update will start automatically when I boot from CD. I did that, something was going on, because I had black screen for couple of seconds and then Windows has loaded. I did not see any progress bar or anything connected to BIOS updateting.
I've done benchmarks before and after flashing new BIOS, but there is no diffrence, it still looks like I was having only a SATA1 speed.
Should I try once again booting this CD and updating BIOS?
I hope you'll help me find solution to this

It should say either bios 2.27 or 2.29 which is the latest Middleton bios. I can't remember which one it is. Restart your thinkpad and hit F1 on boot and check your bios screen.

It's 2.26, the Date is 2009-05-11.
I'll try burning another CD later on, maybe there's the problem.

There is no doubt that the BIOS did not update. Do you have the optical drive set to boot before the HDD in the BIOS? Or press F12 at the Lenovo splash to choose boot device, and try again.

I found trying to update my X61 BIOS from the bootable disc did not work for me either, so I was forced to use the other method from within Windows. Prior to this I have actually successfully used the bootable disc method on a X61s, but that was to update the firmware on a Intel SSD drive.

Haven't any issues with bootable CD BIOS update method. But i have only tried it on native CD/DVD drives (in ultrabay or in dock for X-series). Not tried it with external USB CD drives.

Some footnotes:
Before updating to patched BIOS - read ReadMe carefully and current BIOS version from F1 screen.
Most times ReadMe states that first of all BIOS should be updated to certain version of original (Lenovo's) BIOS..
Check boot order in BIOS that CD can start prior HDD/SDD, or use F12 key.
Check BIOS->Config->Network options especially - flash over LAN. It MUST be enabled for Middleton's BIOS.
Check BIOS->Security->....->Flash BIOS by end user setting. I don't remember is it needed to be enabled or not, but i have turned it on everytime i update BIOS.

Mine was also with native Ultrabay type Thinkpad optical drives and sometimes in docks.

Everything seems fine in my BIOS setup, but nothing happens when booting from CD. I mean, there is a black screen for a while and some noises from my DVDRom, but after that Windows launches and that's all. I tried booting from another CD, still the same. I'll download and update BIOS from Lenovo first, after that Middleton's. (there was nothing about needed BIOS version before updating Middleton's in readme, though...)

Middleton bios is 3-18-2011 date and bios version 2.29. I use the .iso image, (Middleton) you don't need an OS on your x61 series using it. I have used Middleton at least 3 or 4 times on different T61 series thinkpads without any issues.

Battis wrote:...some noises from my DVDRom, but after that Windows launches and that's all...

Did you just burn a data disc with the BIOS update or as an ISO image? Must be in ISO mode or it won't boot.