Thinkpads Forum

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.

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 %)

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

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.

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.

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?

No, that only came with the T61/X61/R61 thanks to Middleton.

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.

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.