Need help with R60 BIOS upgrade! (Error using FreeDOS + phlash16.exe)

[juliaaa]

Hey guys,

I've been trying pretty much all the available methods for updating the BIOS on my trusty old R60 9461-DXG T5600...and failed miserably.

This is the ISO I'm using (7cuj26uc.iso):

https://support.lenovo.com/de/de/downloads/ds003774

In my latest attempt, I used the current Rufus version to create a bootable FreeDOS USB stick and copied over these three files from the ISO:

phlash16.exe (Phoenix flash utility)
$01A6000.FL1 (BIOS binary)
$01A6000.FL2 (ECP binary)

Then reboot into DOS. Depending on who you ask, one has to either flash the ECP before the BIOS or vice versa...not sure which is the right sequence? But when I tried first flashing the ECP doing

C:\phlash16.exe /s /c /x /Mode=3 $01A6000.FL2

I almost got a heart attack:



Luckily, everything seemed to be fine, so this time I decided to try flashing the BIOS...



Does anyone have experience with R60 BIOS updates and knows what's going wrong here? Could it be that the Phoenix flash utility does a hash check on the binaries and is complaining because I renamed the files? Or does it need those leading $'s in the filename? Also, it is correct to use "Mode=3" when flashing? I'm basically trying to follow this tutorial:

https://thinkwiki.de/BIOS-Update_ohne_o ... t_phlash16

The only method I haven't yet tried is burning the ISO onto a CD, but I don't have a CD at hand (haven't used one in 10 years or so)...


PS.: Are there any custom BIOS available for the R60? Also, is there anything else I can upgrade on these old machines besides CPU, RAM, SSD, and possibly the display? I've already installed an SSD (noticeable speed-up!), upgraded to 2x2 GB RAM (of which only 2x1,5 GB can be used due to chipset limitations) and ordered a T7400 (not sure if this will make any noticeable difference). A display upgrade is too expensive IMHO, although one of those BOE Hydis or even just an LED kit would be awesome.....

[davidgurvich]

You may have corruption in the file. Was there a checksum available? You could try downloading the file again, possibly from a different source.

I believe libreboot is compatible with R60 using intel gpu. That requires serious dismantling. I think there's a few different posts here about that.

[RealBlackStuff]

Slic added, whitelist removed, V2.23: https://mediafiretrend.com/f/3858358/le ... moved.html
I'd recommend using an internal or USB external CD/DVD drive.

[juliaaa]

Thanks, but the link is dead...

[RealBlackStuff]

Pity, maybe someone has that file?

[juliaaa]

Does it come with any advantages for the R60 (apart from free choice of WiFi cards), especially performance-wise? I'm about to replace the T5600 with a T7400 after switching to SSD, which brought about a noticeable improvement, and upgrading RAM to 4 GB. The main reason I'm trying to upgrade the BIOS is in case the old one doesn't support the new CPU, although from what I read this probably is a non-issue... Does the modded BIOS unlock any additional tweaks?

[ajkula66]

Does it come with any advantages for the R60 (apart from free choice of WiFi cards), especially performance-wise? I'm about to replace the T5600 with a T7400 after switching to SSD, which brought about a noticeable improvement, and upgrading RAM to 4 GB. The main reason I'm trying to upgrade the BIOS is in case the old one doesn't support the new CPU, although from what I read this probably is a non-issue... Does the modded BIOS unlock any additional tweaks?

The old BIOS will support the CPU since your already had C2D in there to begin with. To me personally, "unlocked" wireless cards are a big deal but YMMV.

[juliaaa]

The old BIOS will support the CPU since your already had C2D in there to begin with. To me personally, "unlocked" wireless cards are a big deal but YMMV.

Would this basically mean that I could swap in a better wireless card and have e.g. better reception? And would you recommend a specific model? We do have shockingly bad WiFi in our building...

[ajkula66]

Would this basically mean that I could swap in a better wireless card and have e.g. better reception? And would you recommend a specific model? We do have shockingly bad WiFi in our building...

I can't speak of your building but in general, an Atheros AR9380 will do wonders on systems from this era. For this, you would need the modded BIOS that removes the whitelist.

[juliaaa]

Okay, thanks! That's good to know...the list of possible upgrades is getting slowly, but steadily longer

[ajkula66]

Okay, thanks!

You're very welcome.

From reading your other posts, I'd say that you're pretty much done with upgrades apart from the wireless card. In case you can't find the modded BIOS, look for the card with FRU 42T0825 which is an Atheros-chipped original Lenovo abgn card native to this generation of laptops, and by far the best one amongst them.