Thinkpads Forum

Hello folks
I do not know if this question has been posted before, please excuse me if this is a frequently asked question.
I own a Lenovo W500 4063 A88, and lately I have updated my computer using the latest LENOVO SYSTEM UPDATES. Now I have the latest BIOS.
I have 2 partitions in my computer, the first partition is Windows 7, and the second partition is Windows Server 2008 R2 (a 64 bit OS)
Both operating systems booted correctly. After I updated the BIOS, Windows Server 2008 R2 that is running Hyper-V dumps and gives a blue screen. The first message in the BSOD goes very fast, and after almost 15 dump attempts I could read the first BSOD message: Hardware Error. The dump files are useless as each time the debugger indicates a different cause.

The Lenovo website does NOT have the version the computer came with. The original version before i updated the BIOS was 2.07, which is stable and does not dump the computer.

Does anybody have this BIOS version that can share it with me please?

This is the BIOS information I get using WMI: P.S. i know that version 3.09 is available, but this one also dumps the server

Hope that the link below will help you:

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-70353

Please check the bottom of the page for the list of BIOS.

arthurcorell wrote:Hope that the link below will help you:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-70353
Please check the bottom of the page for the list of BIOS.

Thanks arthurcorell for your help. I am aware of this link, and I have downloaded and installed ALL of them but with no luck! The original version that I had on my ThinkPad is not included among the links, which drives me crazy! I really do not know what to do!

So I guess nobody can dump his Lenovo Bios setting for me here If by chance someone could do that for me, even in the far future, please let me know. Thanks

You don't really need the exactly same one 2.17. Just download one before 2.17. It should work for you.

Let us know.

Try switching from AHCI to Compatibility in the BIOS. See if that lets it boot. If it does, maybe you need new AHCI drivers. I may be way off here but your symptoms sound like mine.

Hello guys,
Thank you for your kind support
I actually have tried all versions of BIOS listed in this page:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-70353

BIOS ID: 6FETnnWW
Package version BIOS version Previous release Embedded Controller version
3.09-1.03 6FET79WW Current release 1.03 (7VHT14WW)
3.06-1.03 6FET76WW Not released to the Web 1.03 (7VHT14WW)
3.01-1.03 6FET71WW
3.00-1.03 6FET70WW
2.16-1.01 6FET66WW Not released to the Web 1.01 (7VHT12WW)
2.12-1.01 6FET64WW
1.20-1.01 6FET50WW
1.19-1.01 6FET49WW
1.18-1.01 6FET48WW Not released to the Web 1.01 (7VHT12WW)
1.11-1.01 6FET41WW Not released to the Web 1.01 (7VHT12WW)

This makes it 6 distinct versions of the BIOS and none of them worked!
Frankly speaking, I haven't tried changing the AHCI to compatible on all the the versions! What I have done is changing it to compatible using the latest version 3.09-1.03, but the crash happened very early. I have nothing else to loose, so I will sure try the compatibility setting on all versions and let you know.

Of course, I shutdown my computer each and every time I update the BIOS and load the setup defaults, turn off the computer again, then switch it on.

I have tested ( working nicely) the following comb(s):
w500 > win7 ultimate PLUS win2008 SERVER - enterprise -> MYSQL..OFFICE2008
w700 >win7 Ult Plus Win2008 -> MYSQL PLUS CS4 MasterSuite

ALL of them running well (no blue screen yet) on latest Bios PLUS CUSTOM BIOS on another W500 to cater for 16GB (5-5-5-20 mem speed)

I have couple of suggestions:: ( sorry these might NOT help you current issue)

1) Contact your 'country' Thinkpad Support, send them a DUMP (win 7 ony) and with Highest Bios from website above. >

2) Ask tech support to create a CASE NUMBER , and refer that case to LEVELII support , and .....

3) dont hold your breath for quick solution....

As a personal suggestions.......and for everyones else to note::( i know the THIS FORUM is WELL MANAGED>>>) be that as maybe a good sugestions NOT TO PUBLISH YOUR LAPTOP SERIAL NUMBER.....or MAC ADDRESS details etc

Thanks mike for your suggestion, especially the "Privacy" one. I have removed my serial number from the original post.
My Windows Server 2008 R2 works fine, if and only if, I do not activate Hyper-V. I can install SQL, ISA, TMG, SCOM, SCCM, and any 3-letter or 4-letter product . The only thing that does not work here is Hyper-V as the virtualization component in the BIOS is not compatible with Hyper-V. My colleagues who did not upgrade their BIOS have no problem with Hyper-V, and they have the same model as mine, Lenovo W500 4063A88.

I have already contacted the support, and got a phone call as well, but as soon as I said it is Hyper-V on Windows Server 2008 R2, they told me: "We are sorry, if it works on Win7, then there is no problem!"

Also, I cannot send them a dump file as Windows 7 works fine, it doesn't dump! If i send the dump from Windows 2008 R2, it will take them 3 seconds to figure out what OS is that, and again, "we are sorry bla bla bla". I'm just stuck!

Where can I get a custom BIOS from? I have nothing to lose! So I can simply smack it against the wall (my company should replace it )

Giday Jim;
Yips > my bad > sorry didnt realise I DID HAVE HyperV and it tested ok > and yes I do have Intel VT compliance W500. Humnnn ,,, am sure those Thinpads without Intel Vt processors might be accident prone or have some water spliage - accidently! ( )....however as a suggestion > you might want to see Lenovo might UPGRADE the Mother/System BRD and Processor - might be cheaper
Re 'custom' Bios - am no major programmer, but just a hobby geeky guys who learned to tinker around with some Bios tools - google search will give lots to pick from. Pity I didnt save contents of my Factory HD before FORMAT> sorry <

As a suggestion > you could try this ::
1) please download the T500 and OR X61 Bios from lenovo website and try to use that (READ TXT file and INFO re t500 BEFORE INSTALL - at your OWN risk).... and use in VGA mode ONLY when it boots ,,,, then see if things work....

2) Search for W500 Bios - for drivers + Bios form other people....

here is one search result I got.....
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=th ... f&oq=&aqi=

and maybe try this site ...
http://www.notebook-driver.com/thinkpad ... w500/#bios


3) TRY OTHER NON LENOVO USA sites -there are often IBM & Lenovo country-sites usually in NON ENGLISH Language that might have that version you are after!

Yips ; know that feelings re support calls for R2 , etc etc ,,,,,seems none really bothers these days with REAL SUPPORT of products in beta stages - they all do what they want to do and never mind the Customers!


sorry mate cant be of much help

I solved the problem! I contacted Microsoft and they gave me a solution regarding my Lenovo hardware that the Lenovo support themselves did not know, or refused to give me. This is shockingly irritating! If I buy an Intel motherboard, why on earth would an AMD technitian tell me a solution of a bug/trick/configuration/secret to apply to my Intel HW that an Intel technitian would refuse to tell me?!! (I do not care about the supportability of the OS, I know that Windows Server 2008 R2 is not supported on a Thinkpad Lenovo computer, but still I expect a Lenovo technitian to give me an answer rather than Microsoft, and of course underline the fact that the solution is not supported by Lenovo and I CHOSE WHAT TO DO!). The solution had NOTHING to do with the operating system itself rather than disabling a hardware component from the BIOS that was invented by Intel to help CLIENT computers protect "or at least try to protect as they claim" against malware.

jimsy wrote:I solved the problem! ..............The solution had NOTHING to do with the operating system itself rather than disabling a hardware component from the BIOS that was invented by Intel to help CLIENT computers protect "or at least try to protect as they claim" against malware.

Yes JIM , know that feeling <frustation> when pple @ LENOVO- dont nor want to NOR WILLING to even 'listern' to the problems , let along want to help you with a HARDWARE ISSUE !!!! < and eveyone knows the BIOS is one thing that LENOVO> has changed specially to STOP/BAR/FORCE to call them for their help !!! and yet nothing gets done about it...............<shame really>

I have had similiar experiance with THINKVANTAGE FINGUREPRINT READER <software &hardware> on Lenovo T4x & T6X....... and i got so frustrated that we were forced to change those machine to NON FINGUREPRINT..... then lucky i met THE GUY who writes 'thinkvantage software @IBM japan on a flight; and he told me what to do!! ..... the ANSWER = contact UPEC who actually make the hardware for Lenovo. When I called the UPEC , the tech support person KNEW EXECTLY WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT!!!!! and fix was a SMALL file ,less than 3line changes in code> ....
.............. and to my suprise i was told LENOVO had chosen NOT TO IMPLEMENT THAT CHANGE!!!!


There is a similair kind of issue happen re RECUSE AND RECOVERY in lenovo laptops .....


SO ,, II am still hopefull that LENOVO would one day , catch up to these things ....soooon !!!

Hi Mike...
Well, this is really unexplainable and frankly speaking a very stupid behavior from Lenovo. The least thing I would think about is treating my customers in this way... they will not buy my product anymore. I would say that I do not support that configuration because i haven't tested it, but I won't tell anybody a bull$hit or let them live in frustration... this is really unexplainable!

There is no motivation I can think of behind such a stupid policy. Why can't Lenovo tell people to download the fingerprint software from UPEC instead of leaving them frustrated and desperate? They won't lose anything, on the contrary they would gain customer satisfaction. And if I am satisfied, I recommend the product to others, if i am not satisfied, I will tel others not to buy it. Simple marketing is not a discussable opinion!

jimsy wrote:Hi Mike...
Well, this is really unexplainable and frankly speaking a very stupid behavior from Lenovo..........leaving them frustrated and desperate? They won't lose anything, on the contrary they would gain customer satisfaction. And if I am satisfied, I recommend the product to others, if i am not satisfied, I will tel others not to buy it. Simple marketing is not a discussable opinion!

Jim .....I fully agree with you , and most frustrating when ....
I think a Mfger take something and changes it. MOST laptops of Lenovo use "standard" video cards, FP reader, HD controllers and WiFi/LAN cards that are really same things used in other mfgs laptops. However the often 'software/driver combination' is changed to (in my view - mostly for NO BENEFIT) but simply for users HAVE TO USE Lenovo repalement parts , and NOT able to use the standard parts - due change in drivers/bios/software interactions.
(( the reason often given for these changes ..... to me seems very very weak!!)

Classic examples of this action (BIOS/Driver/Software) are FP reader , Display driver/software , DVD writer , battery power etc etc ....MOST OF THESE are in my view simply to stop people from buying 'generic' parts after warranty runs out or a customer buy lower configured LAPTOP and buy cheaper (eg dvd writer) elsewhere and add it to the laptop.....

However....having said this , I have not seen other mfgs - Dell , Sony etc moved to do less of this either ,,,,,but Lenovo has added complexicity with very suspect Tech Support- eg I had to tell this one TSA - what/where to get the Win7 driver matrix ! - and he didnt know what "MIGR" number was !!!!

She/He continued to tell me there was 'recover DVD for my laptop that I had bought !!! His reasoning was it was a 'cto - configured to order" thus no recovery dvd was avaible !!!

At least we have this forum to vent !!!!!- as I know lots of managers from lenovo look at things here ! So good luck mate !

Hello Everyone .....


Hiya Jim....
Not sure if you still need the older Bios ,,,, but this might be usefull to you.....

But this is also to help people who have PMed and or Asked me about "BIOS CHANGES"
Since I dont have time to do 'custom Bios changes" for everyone - and YES there seems to be a need to CUSTOM BIOS for each person!

So I compiled few referance links for anyone who wants:
1) How to -
http://forums.mydigitallife.info/showthread.php?t=6921

2)Thinkpad Bios - pretty comprehensive list
http://forums.mydigitallife.info/showthread.php?t=5866

3)Mod requests :
http://forums.mydigitallife.info/forumdisplay.php?f=33


sorry if these links dont work , but am travelling and writing this while dashing to catch a reviously delayed flight!!
HAPPY Holidays Everyone....

Hello Mike! First of all, happy new year to all of you.
Well, thank you for your efforts, but I no longer need a modified BIOS as the original BIOS (any of the BIOS versions available from Lenovo) works fine IF AND ONLY IF you disable the INTEL TXT technology that is not present and is not compatible with any SERVER version of Windows OS. Thanks to Microsoft I got a sharp and resolving answer!