Thinkpads Forum

I've noticed on the driver matrices for X61 that Lenovo has reverted BIOS from v2.11 back to v2.07. For my understanding, the v2.11 has several fix for v2.07 that has caused some system not be able to boot up. But in my case, I have use version 2.11 for a month now without any problem.

Does this mean v2.11 has serious problem? Should I revert back to v2.07 as well?

Another thing, I have also notice that on the driver matrices there is an update for audio driver which suppose to fix microphone problem under XP. But when I use system update to check it, I couldn't find this update. My question is that should I wait for it to show up in the system update. Should I believe driver matrices on Lenovo site or system update?

Thank you.

less than 1% of users were having problems with the latest BIOS installations, not the BIOSes themselves, so lenovo has pulled them for all models until the installers can be fixed.   if 2.11 works for you then leave it installed as the BIOS is fine.

Hi, new x61 owner here. I would also like to know more about the below sound card driver update kookatt mentioned. By any chance does what it fixes ("No sound recorded on internal microphone") have anything to do with re-enabling of the ability to record streaming sound? Despite how much so many would love that, no one seems to be talking about this driver update, so I take it no such luck? (If not, can anyone describe the symptom this driver is supposed to fix in more detail, when it occurs, etc.? Have only had the machine a few days.)

Sound card driver update, v5.10.1.5520, 4/25/08:

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-67816

About BIOS versions... My x61 arrived with v2.12 of 7NETB2WW. It wasn't posted at Lenovo's site, still isn't and doesn't look like it will be: at that time (couple days ago) I did see that "critical" BIOS updates were on the way for several models including x61, and since there wasn't one out for it yet then, I figured my 2.12 would be posted soon as the latest. But nope, the new BIOS is now there but skips from 2.11 to 2.13.

It sounds like 2.13 is only needed for Vista tho, and I have XP, so I assume I may as well just stick with this mysterious 2.12 that doesn't really exist..? Another odd thing is that on the BIOS download page (1st below), they make it sound routine and geared to Vista, but at the 2nd link they were calling this crop of BIOS updates "critical" and describing them as addressing what sounds to me like a completely different thing....

New BIOS:

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... 67982.html

"Critical" classification:

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... 69703.html

semiclue wrote:have anything to do with re-enabling of the ability to record streaming sound?

According to Lenovo this is a hardware limitation in the audio chip set, so no it is unlikely to address the issue.

semiclue wrote:It sounds like 2.13 is only needed for Vista tho, and I have XP, so I assume I may as well just stick with this mysterious 2.12 that doesn't really exist..?

There is nothing mysterious going on. For all software there are often interim releases of products which address a particular issue for some sub-set of users, but for a variety of reasons, including simple timing, do not get into "download distribution" per se... being incoprorated in a later general public release.

semiclue wrote:but at the 2nd link they were calling this crop of BIOS updates "critical"

The "critical" updates occured at the v2.11 release point which was later withdrawn as the installer (not the BIOS itself) caused a problem for a small number of users. v2.13 is the current downloadable BIOS release that incorporates the critical updates that occured in v2.11, so that is why it is linked from the MIGR-69703 document.

Cheers,

Bill B.

bill bolton wrote:v2.13 is the current downloadable BIOS release that incorporates the critical updates that occured in v2.11, so that is why it is linked from the MIGR-69703 document.

Yeah, I just downloaded and installed the new BIOS from lenovo.com. Bad idea - the first thing that happened afterwards was that the machine overheated and Windows Vista automatically shut down to save the hardware...

I've just restarted the computer again after letting it cool down, but it is already after only a minute quite hot. I'm expecting another shut down pretty soon. I don't know, but it seems Lenovo is releasing new versions of very important software without testing them too much. What's up with that?

Updated my X61 with 2.13 from 2.11 and let it run (wirelessly) Windows Media Player all night with an internet radio station. No problems whatsoever heat or other-wise.

bill bolton wrote:

semiclue wrote:have anything to do with re-enabling of the ability to record streaming sound?

According to Lenovo this is a hardware limitation in the audio chip set, so no it is unlikely to address the issue.

Realistically, their response would also be the simplest way to stop the 'debate,' and any expectations. And could presumably be rationalized as truly the 'best' answer all things considered -- completely accurate or insurmountable or not. Also just haven't seen anything about whatever the original problem was/is that this update actually does address.

bill bolton wrote:

semiclue wrote:It sounds like 2.13 is only needed for Vista tho, and I have XP, so I assume I may as well just stick with this mysterious 2.12 that doesn't really exist..?

There is nothing mysterious going on. For all software there are often interim releases of products which address a particular issue for some sub-set of users, but for a variety of reasons, including simple timing, do not get into "download distribution" per se... being incoprorated in a later general public release.

semiclue wrote:but at the 2nd link they were calling this crop of BIOS updates "critical"

The "critical" updates occured at the v2.11 release point which was later withdrawn as the installer (not the BIOS itself) caused a problem for a small number of users. v2.13 is the current downloadable BIOS release that incorporates the critical updates that occured in v2.11, so that is why it is linked from the MIGR-69703 document.

Well, it was a mystery to Thinkpad tech support itself. There had been no v2.11, nor mention of its previous existence, on Lenovo's site from the time I received my x61 last Friday, until yesterday or so. So a jump from the then-posted v2.07 (which was also the highest one known to tech support), to the 2.12 mine was showing (also a then-unheard of "B" version for the x61), did seem odd. To wit, tech support sent me a depot box when I mentioned the version mine had, and their own research turned up no clues as to why that might be. I called them back later after putting it together myself (from the then-impending "critical" BIOS update notice I found on Lenovo's site), to try to stop shipment of the box.

semiclue wrote:There had been no v2.11, nor mention of its previous existence, on Lenovo's site from the time I received my x61 last Friday, until yesterday or so.

i currently have 2.11 on my X61 and have had it for about a month.   it was definitely available on the website as that's exactly where i downloaded it.

erik wrote:

semiclue wrote:There had been no v2.11, nor mention of its previous existence, on Lenovo's site from the time I received my x61 last Friday, until yesterday or so.

i currently have 2.11 on my X61 and have had it for about a month.   it was definitely available on the website as that's exactly where i downloaded it.

Didn't say it was never there -- as was clarified by this thread, it was pulled, there and then gone. And it was during that window that I received my new x61 (with the unique v2.12), and the previous existence of v2.11 wasn't posted on Lenovo's site nor known to tech support.

adrianaitken wrote:Updated my X61 with 2.13 from 2.11 and let it run (wirelessly) Windows Media Player all night with an internet radio station. No problems whatsoever heat or other-wise.

It seems it was only a temporary issue - I haven't had the same problem since I let my computer cool down. Doesn't make sense to me that it overheated after installing but not being a problem now. It does, however, get quite hot so I prefer not resting my hands on it when typing...

bylund wrote:It does, however, get quite hot so I prefer not resting my hands on it when typing...

I was a bit worried about that before ordering, since it was a common comment. But I guess it's a matter of personal preference and on this count I lucked out -- my hands are frequently cold, so I find I actually like putting one of them on that warm spot intentionally lol. (Sometimes I fall asleep with a laptop on my stomach -- hope I don't ever roll over and try to cuddle up with it! )