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BIOS via DOS

T60/T61 Series
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Ermak
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Location: Novosibirsk, Russia

BIOS via DOS

#1 Post by Ermak » Fri Jul 16, 2021 1:30 am

Why is everyone updating BIOS through Vidnovs? It is much more convenient and reliable, like through DOS. I did this. I made a USB bootable USB flash drive through Rufus. I transferred the firmware and phlash16.exe to it. Created command line and updated. I'll show you the video later.
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atagunov
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Re: BIOS via DOS

#2 Post by atagunov » Fri Jul 16, 2021 6:57 am

Ermak wrote:
Fri Jul 16, 2021 1:30 am
Why is everyone updating BIOS through Vidnovs?
Hey, bro! Welcome :) Why do you think everybody is upgrading through Windows? Some people just never upgrade like me %)
X220, 2 *T520

Ermak
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Re: BIOS via DOS

#3 Post by Ermak » Fri Jul 16, 2021 9:43 am

Previously, everything was updated through DOS

I had a situation that I could not enter Windows. And without updating the BIOS, it simply would not be installed.


Here's a video https://youtu.be/n8OcE7bHgL4

dr_st
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Re: BIOS via DOS

#4 Post by dr_st » Fri Jul 16, 2021 10:03 am

I think it is often the recommendation on these forums to update through DOS, not through Windows (or any other multi-process OS).

If the BIOS update process crashes / hangs, you may end up with a bad BIOS and a bricked system that is very difficult to recover (often requires an external hardware flasher).

Updating through DOS seems less prone to such failures.
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unixed
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Re: BIOS via DOS

#5 Post by unixed » Fri Jul 16, 2021 9:05 pm

When you flash the BIOS using the CD it runs DOS, which is why this is preferable to flashing from Windows. I flash from freedos though, it is safest and environmentally friendly, particularly if you mod your BIOS and so flash a bit more than the bare minimum. I can't view that video since it is set to private.

Ermak
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Re: BIOS via DOS

#6 Post by Ermak » Fri Jul 16, 2021 9:52 pm

unixed wrote:
Fri Jul 16, 2021 9:05 pm
I can't view that video since it is set to private.
opened

Does the lenovo T60 have a BIOS for SATA2?

RealBlackStuff
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Re: BIOS via DOS

#7 Post by RealBlackStuff » Sat Jul 17, 2021 12:42 am

No, that only came with the T61/X61/R61 thanks to Middleton.
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Re: BIOS via DOS

#8 Post by unixed » Sun Jul 18, 2021 7:23 am

Ermak wrote:
Fri Jul 16, 2021 9:52 pm
Does the lenovo T60 have a BIOS for SATA2?
No, that is not a BIOS limitation, iirc the mobile ICH7 chip limits the data throughput. However you can get some of the mods your compatriot Middleton rolled into his -- whitelist disabled so you can choose a better wifi card for that mPCIe slot (courtesy of zender) and with SLIC inserted to facilitate Windows installation from recovery media. A search of this forum or more widely should net you a copy. You may also be interested in researching coreboot/libreboot which plays well with the T60 and can make more RAM available for your programs.
Last edited by unixed on Sun Jul 18, 2021 8:26 am, edited 1 time in total.

dr_st
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Re: BIOS via DOS

#9 Post by dr_st » Sun Jul 18, 2021 8:21 am

unixed wrote:
Sun Jul 18, 2021 7:23 am
No, that is not a BIOS limitation, iirc the mobile ICH7 chip limits the data throughput.
Yes.

Fun fact - ICH7 supports SATA2, but ICH7M does not. However - ICH7M supports AHCI, whereas ICH7 does not.
Thinkpad 25 (20K7), T490 (20N3), Yoga 14 (20FY), T430s (IPS FHD + Classic Keyboard), X220 4291-4BG
X61 7673-V2V, T60 2007-QPG, T42 2373-F7G, X32 (IPS Screen), A31p w/ Ultrabay Numpad

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