Thinkpads Forum

BIOS 1.09 is out, the changes are:

# (New) Upgraded to latest microcode update for Intel Core processor.
# (Fix) Entering standby may fail in a certain case. USB host controller setting is changed to fix.
# (Fix) Fails to boot from a USB device while the global switch being off.
# (Fix) USB device enumeration fails at hot dock after undock without eject PC.
# (Fix) Stops checking battery voltage for a while after starting trickle charge.
# (Fix) The EC intermittently hangs. (ThinkLight does not light)
# (Fix) The cooling fan may go high speed rotation for a while after switching to the Maximum Battery Life mode.
# (Fix) Presentation Director can not switch to an external display when a system fails to detect it.

But this brings up another issue that warrants discussion. What things do you think get changed but dont show up in the list? What mistakes get fixed, what problems are caused? We know it happens because some of these problems showup in BIOS revisions where the changelog doesnt show anything that could have caused/fixed an issue.

What does everyone else think?

I saw this and installed it as well.

So far, so good. I hope the computer's performance is improved!

By the way, the software updater did NOT pick up this update.

Kamika007z wrote:I saw this and installed it as well.

So far, so good. I hope the computer's performance is improved!

By the way, the software updater did NOT pick up this update.

Well, BIOS updates tend to be more optional than others, because they often fix issues that not everyone has. Either that, or Lenovo is getting lazy.

What about 1.08, was there ever one? I must have blinked, I missed that one. I am still under 1.05, wasn't convinced by 1.06 and 1.07 after reading feedback from others here on the board.

By the way can I go from 1.05 to 1.09 without installing the ones in between?

What if I want to revert back to 1.05 ? I remember reading here that only 1.04 could be found on Lenovo.com (feedback from someone who went from 1.05 to 1.06 and wasn't happy with 1.06 and couldn't find 1.05 anywhere).

guYom wrote:What about 1.08, was there ever one? I must have blinked, I missed that one. I am still under 1.05, wasn't convinced by 1.06 and 1.07 after reading feedback from others here on the board.

By the way can I go from 1.05 to 1.09 without installing the ones in between?

What if I want to revert back to 1.05 ? I remember reading here that only 1.04 could be found on Lenovo.com (feedback from someone who went from 1.05 to 1.06 and wasn't happy with 1.06 and couldn't find 1.05 anywhere).

1.05 is definitely available, I just checked. It can be found at the bottom of the regular BIOS update page. You can go to 1.09 from any version. It isnt an "upgrade", it completely replaces the previous version. You can downgrade to any version also, with no problems, it simply warns you that you are downgrading.

I might guess that they skipped 1.08 either because that version failed testing, or they are trying to instill user confidence by making it look like it has been under heavy development. Maybe both. Notice its also upgrading us from embedded controller version 1.03 or 1.04 to 1.05b.

Also, to note, it's 1.09a not just plain old 1.09 and the ECV is 1.05b not 1.05, so something was changed in conjuction to one another during testing and the versioning schema stuck.

It would seem that the BIOS code has gone under different developmental cycles.

Kamika007z wrote:Also, to note, it's 1.09a not just plain old 1.09 and the ECV is 1.05b not 1.05, so something was changed in conjuction to one another during testing and the versioning schema stuck.

It would seem that the BIOS code has gone under different developmental cycles.

Good point. The numbering scheme would suggest there were two interim versions between this and 1.07 that didnt get released.

Just updated to 1.09a from the original bios 1.05a (2623-D6U). So far so good.

Improvement observed: Grainy display fixed ...

I found out a new bug
After some time of inactivity, the screen turns itself off, which is normal. But if you wait for some time and then try to turn on the monitor by, say, hitting a key, the screen does not turn on.

irfan wrote:I found out a new bug
After some time of inactivity, the screen turns itself off, which is normal. But if you wait for some time and then try to turn on the monitor by, say, hitting a key, the screen does not turn on.

mmm... that's happened to me once when I am still using 1.05a. Not sure what happens. Pressing power button couple of second will force my system turn off.

Another things: the network adapter Intel Pro/1000 will automatically gone when I disconnect/unplug the RJ45 (from cable modem). May be this is a deep 'smart' auto off power saving??

I've no idea why that happens or when exactly it started happening (I experienced it way before 1.09), but what I do to turn the screen back on is to use the screen magnifier (Fn+Spacebar). Hitting that combo once turns the screen back on, hitting it again sets it back to SXGA+.

ramian wrote:I've no idea why that happens or when exactly it started happening (I experienced it way before 1.09), but what I do to turn the screen back on is to use the screen magnifier (Fn+Spacebar). Hitting that combo once turns the screen back on, hitting it again sets it back to SXGA+.

My T60p has been doing that for awhile too. I was using Fn F4 (suspend) and then Fn to bring it out of suspend... but the Fn Spacebar sounds much better.

It's still disappointing that after this much time they still haven't addressed the screen resume issues.

Fn+Spcbr is a nice alternative in some cases, but when running some applications that don't support magnification (ie - ProE, UG, etc) it downsizes all of the windows which then have to be manually pulled back to their original size. It's still better then having to Suspend/Resume which is a dangerous game if your models aren't recently saved.

I've also had instances where Fn+Spcbr doesn't work either.

This can't be that difficult a problem to fix and I've never experienced it on any other ThinkPad. There hasn't been a video update for some time so I just keep my fingers crossed that this will make it onto somebody's priority list.

irfan wrote:I found out a new bug
After some time of inactivity, the screen turns itself off, which is normal. But if you wait for some time and then try to turn on the monitor by, say, hitting a key, the screen does not turn on.

I just close the lid -- not completely, just past the point where the screen would normally turn off. Then swing it back open and it comes back to life.

My trick is to hit fn-F7, push the up arrow once, and then hit enter. That selects "Normal Display Settings" in the Presentation Manager and restores the screen to its regular state.

astro wrote:

irfan wrote:I found out a new bug
After some time of inactivity, the screen turns itself off, which is normal. But if you wait for some time and then try to turn on the monitor by, say, hitting a key, the screen does not turn on.

I just close the lid -- not completely, just past the point where the screen would normally turn off. Then swing it back open and it comes back to life.

thnx astro. that works

dgho wrote:Just updated to 1.09a from the original bios 1.05a (2623-D6U). So far so good.

Improvement observed: Grainy display fixed ...

I just upgraded to 1.09a and found that I now have the grainy screen. I upgraded from the original BIOS version. I am going to down grade back as my UXGA screen does not look so UXGA anymore

I have a non-Thinkpad windows installed on my T60p, but the BIOS updater doesnt want to install it, it says you have to install the Thinkpad config before I can upgrade the BIOS.

Has anyone managed to install the BIOS upgrade through a non-Thinkpad windows? I know there are people using win2000, they should have the same problem right?

FlexOink wrote:I have a non-Thinkpad windows installed on my T60p, but the BIOS updater doesnt want to install it, it says you have to install the Thinkpad config before I can upgrade the BIOS.

Has anyone managed to install the BIOS upgrade through a non-Thinkpad windows? I know there are people using win2000, they should have the same problem right?

As the error message, you'll need install "Thinkpad Config" application first. You can download it from IBM website.

I was running 1.05 before this morning and the fan never came on (since I got it yesterday). Since installing 1.09 it has been on constantly (although quitely).

Turbo Audi wrote:I was running 1.05 before this morning and the fan never came on (since I got it yesterday). Since installing 1.09 it has been on constantly (although quitely).

I just reverted to 1.05 - in fact, on boot up fan spins much higher and it's around 3300 rpm once in windows. It certainly isn't as quiet as with 1.09 bios.

hugo wrote:

FlexOink wrote:I have a non-Thinkpad windows installed on my T60p, but the BIOS updater doesnt want to install it, it says you have to install the Thinkpad config before I can upgrade the BIOS.

Has anyone managed to install the BIOS upgrade through a non-Thinkpad windows? I know there are people using win2000, they should have the same problem right?

As the error message, you'll need install "Thinkpad Config" application first. You can download it from IBM website.

Haha, thnx, yeah really stupid of me. I didnt realize that the Thinkpad configuration is application. What a silly program by the way. Why does the BIOS updater need this program to flash the BIOS?

1.9 installed, personally I havent noticed any differences, but my fan doesnt bother me at all. I have a sound issue though, that hasnt been solved with the update, there's 5 clicky sounds coming out of my speakers every 15 mins or so. I guess I'll have to call Lenovo for that.

Updated to 1.09 from 1.05.
1) Loud sound
I rebooted the TP a few times since the install and once it just hang with the hour glass and a very loud & constant machine gun like sound, the only thing I was able to do is remove the battery to turn off the TP. Not sure if it is at all related to 1.09 or not, it only did that once, it has not done it since. I'll stick to 1.09 for now, although I do not see any differences

2) TP Configuration
I am running 1.51 and the latest available on Lenovo's site is 1.53. Should I upgrade?

Well ... be careful if you use the bios update tool that runs under the productive windows environment (- instead e.g. the one that is executed in a type of pre-desktop environment).

Yesterday I tried to update my the bios of my T60p (with the windows upgrader) only to encounter a blue screen during the upgrade process ... some windows process must have gone wild !

Well now I have to wait for a new mainboard which really sucks, because I just received the machine yesterday

Why not just swap the machine out completely if you just got it.?

Well I bought the machine from a private seller, so no swap!

Well hopefully Lenovo won't blame me for Windows going wrong

Is it just me or are the speakers louder after upgrading? I was about to send my T60 back because unless I was in a quite room I could not here the speakers.

Now that I have upgraded they are plenty loug. Is it all in my head?