Problem: Hard drive firmware update utility

[max2k]

Hi all,

I'm trying to update the firmware of the hard drive in my X200 (the hd is in the description of updated hds in the lenovo description).
(http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-63685)

So I burnt the fwsh33 iso image for the bootable cd on a blank cd-r.
in windows i can see with iso-buster that the cd actually has all the stuff inside as the iso-image.
The problem is now, that after selecting the ultra-bay cd drive as boot-device, the cd drive is starting to spin, but after a second a blinking cursor appears in the upper left border of the screen, and the cd drive stops, and nothing happens. I removed all passwords from the hard drive.
so now i don't know what to do, am i just unlucky with burning the cd (two tries, both same result), or do I miss something I should have done prior?

Thank you very much in advance,
Maximilian

[visionviper]

Have you perhaps burned the actual ISO file to the disc and not the contents of the image?

[frankausmtank]

This may be a pretty vague theory, but I remember some older posts on this board about the
stock burning software (sonic recordnow) not being able to burn bios update discs properly,
requiring an update from the lenovo website. But I don't know If you used recordnow or
even whether the x200 still has it preinstalled at all, so.. good luck

In general, using any of the firmware discs on my t60 has always been a pretty straight forward
experience.

[max2k]

i thought i burnt the iso correctly, but i will try again from my home pc, which burns correctly boot-cds for sure.
Thanks, i will keep you updated!

Best,
Max

[max2k]

Okay, now the cd is working and i get to the update menu.

But strange enough, even if the utility recognizes the hard drive, it says no update available.
but my hard drive is explicitely listed in the updated hard drives of the description of the firmware update.
the hard drive is Seagate Momentus 5400.6 ST9500325AS, the currently installed revision of the fw is 0001SDM1.
Isn't there a newer version?

Best,
Max

[visionviper]

Are your sure there is a firmware update for the drive and not just an update to the firmware updater?

I ask because there is something like this for the SSDs. They updated the update utility but the firmware was actually the same.

[max2k]

Well, pretty sure, my hard drive is part of the updated hard drives section of the release description...

Are your sure there is a firmware update for the drive and not just an update to the firmware updater?

I ask because there is something like this for the SSDs. They updated the update utility but the firmware was actually the same.

[visionviper]

Well, pretty sure, my hard drive is part of the updated hard drives section of the release description...

Like I said my SSD was listed in the update because it is, after all, the same firmware update. Just a newer version of the software to install the update.

Anyways, I decided to stop being lazy and read the release notes. The latest version seems to be 0008LVM1 for your drive. Try downloading the FWSH32 update and see if you can get it to update your drive.

[max2k]

Well, i have upgraded the hard drive to momentus 5400.6 (ST9500325AS), it currently has 1SDM1 firmware, and this is according to the update cd the current version, but i got it 1.5 years ago, and i doubt if they update this drive with the update cd, that this version is still the most current one.
But as you say, in the description of the fswh32 update, it says 5400.6 gets the 0008LVM1 version. but after looking at seagate's web page, 5400.6 is the name for actual 5 different hard drives, where ST9500325AS is only one of them. so i guess this 0008LVM1 firmware is for one of the others...

Anyway, i think i can't do anything about it, if the fswh33 update cd is not willing to update it...

[visionviper]

Anyway, i think i can't do anything about it, if the fswh33 update cd is not willing to update it...

I would try the FSWH32 firmware update CD, that might do it for you.

[JAJO]

I have similar problem with my T61 as max2k at the beginning. To burn a ISO umage I used CD burner XP Pro. When I was trying to update my HDD firmware, changed to boot a CD, the blank screen appeared and that was all, it stops. I did the same with same CD on my brothers T400 and everything goes fine without any problems, the firmware is now updated in his laptop.

What do You think about it?

[Bánh mì]

Why do you want to update the firmware when Lenovo did not ask you to do so? From what I understand of you inquiry, you saw a Seagate sanctioned update yet it was not provided by Lenovo. It could even be that the Seagate drive has special properties and modifications made for Lenovo and using a Seagate update could brick your hard drive.

[JAJO]

My HardDrive is HITACHI HTS541616J9SA00.

In this document: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-63685 under 'Supported hard drives' section is my drive HTS5416xxJ9SA00.

I don't understand why I couldn't update my firmware while my drive is supported to do that?

I bought my T61 about 2 years ago and I have never update my hard drive firmware.

[bill bolton]

I don't understand why I couldn't update my firmware while my drive is supported to do that?

The straightforward explanation is that your HDD may already have the most current firmware for that drive model.

Cheers,

Bill B.