Thinkpads Forum

My system is IBM ThinkPad 600X 2645-8EU, BIOS version, date of 1999. Last night, I saw new BIOS at the IBM support site,

Version: 1.11 (ITET55WW) for 600X
Release Date: 2001/10/12 , spsuit55.exe 725,733

After upgraded to this BIOS version, turned system back on, pressed F1, selected config, initialize, exit, turned off the system as in the instruction.

Turned the system back on to start with new BIOS. I pressed and held F1 to verify the new BIOS. But it did not load up the BIOS. I rebooted again, memory size came up, ThinkPad logo displayed, but it stayed there forever, did not go any where.

Rebooted the system again, pressed and hold F12, the boot menu came up okay, selected boot from Harddrive, but still did not help.

Well, I think the BIOS is corrupted. Is there a possible fix or I should replace a new BIOS. Any suggestion? Any information how to replace new BIOS, part#, etc ...? Thanks.

I don't have a suggestion for fixing your issue, but I do have an observation. Did you use the correct BIOS update? The file name and file size in the details you list do not match those provided on the IBM 600X BIOS Update page. Just checking.

[Added Later: Ignore this post. It looks like you used the "Non-Diskette" version of the BIOS upgrade, and that file has a different name and size (I didn't realize there were different verisons).]

Phil.

A corrupt BIOS will give you an error code.

I would start by removing all your devices: floppy, hard disk, CD or DVD, all extra RAM, battery, PC cards and anything connected to USB, serial or parallel. If you don't get the floppy/F1 icon, something is wacky.

If you do, the you know it's a hardware issue.

If your BIOS really is corrupt, it's very expensive to re-program. It's often cheaper to replace the system board.

I followed your suggestion, removed all devices including CMOS battery. Put them back, restarted the 600X with error code 161 & 163. This time, it let me in the BIOS to adjust time & date. The BIOS still has the old version Nov 1999. It did fix the problem. Thanks all.

Upgrading the BIOS is very risky and should only be done if you are experiencing problems that the new BIOS's documentation mentions. Otherwise, it's best to keep the old BIOS just to avoid taking the risk of killing your computer.

In other words, if it aint broke, don't fix it.