Thinkpads Forum

Hello everyone,

I recently got a hold of a thinkpad 365x. It comes with 8MB of built-in RAM, and can be expanded up to 40MB with a 32MB sodimm.

However, Windows 98 will not install with less than 16MB of RAM, and the only RAM that I can find to purchase online (for cheap) is a 64MB EDO Sodimm.

Will the 365x be able to use 32MB of the 64MB module, or will it not work at all? Will it even be possible for the laptop to see all 64Mb of the RAM, maybe with a BIOS update (a long shot, I know)?

Any help is appreciated.

Thank you,

Jawadali

Will the 365x be able to use 32MB of the 64MB module, or will it not work at all? Will it even be possible for the laptop to see all 64Mb of the RAM, maybe with a BIOS update (a long shot, I know)?

The answer is yes, with the latest BIOS, TP365 can take a 64MB EDO memory and all of it will be recognized.

Thank you very much for the answer!

Any idea where to get the BIOS and accompanying flashing utility?

I'll be using Caldera Dr-Dos from bootdisk.com for flashing.

Thanks once again,

Jawadali

Any idea where to get the BIOS and accompanying flashing utility?

Check the Lenovo support web site.

I'll be using Caldera Dr-Dos from bootdisk.com for flashing.

Doesn't matter. The downloaded file will create a bootable bios update disk anyway.

shined wrote:

Any idea where to get the BIOS and accompanying flashing utility?

Check the Lenovo support web site.

Actually, given the age of the 365X, you might want to look at the sticky at the top of the Legacy forum. I don't see your model listed in the BIOS file matrix. There is a link to a greyghost website that might have a link to your BIOS. Be sure to look through the index file at the beginning, and search for "365x", so that you can find your model in the description of the files, then you will know what the file is called that you will need.

I have it. PM me your e-mail address and I will send it to you.

Jawadali, does your 365X have a rechargeable battery? I once had a 365X that didn't have a battery and the FlashBIOS program didn't allow me to update the BIOS. Then I tried the famous "batteryless method" and that also failed. If you don't have a rechargeable battery, the safest thing to do is get a 32MB EDO RAM. I am sure you can find one for cheap on eBay.

I managed to bypass the battery check when updating the BIOS on a Thinkpad 310ED, which is from around the same era of Thinkpads. The first time I tried the BIOS update, it stated that it required both a fully-charged battery and the AC adapter. I had a completely dead battery. Without both the charged battery and the AC adapter, the update blocked me from proceeding with no option to even take a chance. After some Internet searching, I found if I held down the Scroll-Lock key when making the initial selection to start the BIOS upgrade it would bypass the battery check and let me proceed. I updated the BIOS without any battery in the computer. Risky, but it works.

FWIW, I re-flashed mine with my battery dead and unable to hold a charge (although it was installed). I used my AC adapter and plugged it into my desktop UPS just to be sure. No problems. (I don't if you can flash it with no battery installed...?? )

Thank you everyone for your prompt and helpful feedback!

@leoblob: Sent you a PM w/ my e-mail address.

@pianowizard: I do have the battery for the laptop, but it only holds a 5-10 second charge. I usually leave it in the laptop, though, even though I run the laptop from the AC adaptor. I will be sure to be plugged in when I flash the BIOS (thanks for the additional info, toddyjoe).

I have already purchased a Samsung 64MB EDO Sodimm off of ebay, and it has been shipped today. It was listed as 32MB, but all online searches for that particular model # show that it is a 64MB Sodimm. It will probably get here within a week, so I will report back on the status.

The question about the battery brings up another interesting point, though. It is a 9.6v 2800mAh NiMH battery pack, and when I opened it, there were 8 4/3A cells inside, along with some other things for what seems to be overload/overheating protection.

I plan on getting 8 NiMH AAs, hopefully around 2300-2500mAh (I know Energizer sells 2500mAh AA's in retail packs), and hope to somehow rebuild the battery in the future. How do I hope to acheive this without solder tabs? I don't know yet.

But if it can stay on battery power for ~2-3 hours' I'd think it'd be worth the effort.


Thanks once again for all of your help everyone, and I'll be sure to keep everyone updated on the revitalization of this laptop (will probably be asking lots of questions on this forum too ).

Hi Jawadali, files sent.

FWIW, before I found this message board, I tried twice (unsuccessfully) to get a 64M memory 'card' to work (I had the older BIOS). My experience was that the 64M card did work OK, but only the first 40MB (total) was recognized. So, even with the older BIOS, it appears that people can use the 64M card without problems/damage/etc.

As far as I know, no one has tried a 128MB memory in this computer (if they are even available). Wonder what would happen... ??

leoblob wrote:Hi Jawadali, files sent.

FWIW, before I found this message board, I tried twice (unsuccessfully) to get a 64M memory 'card' to work (I had the older BIOS). My experience was that the 64M card did work OK, but only the first 40MB (total) was recognized. So, even with the older BIOS, it appears that people can use the 64M card without problems/damage/etc.

As far as I know, no one has tried a 128MB memory in this computer (if they are even available). Wonder what would happen... ??

I got the e-mail today; thanks.

I'll keep everyone updated on how it goes. As for 128MB, I think it'd be difficult to get ahold of an EDO sodimm that large, at least for a reasonable price.

Thanks once again!

toddyjoe wrote:I found if I held down the Scroll-Lock key when making the initial selection to start the BIOS upgrade it would bypass the battery check and let me proceed.

Thanks for the info! I will try it the next time.

Update:

RAM arrived today. I first updated the BIOS (thanks leobob!), and then proceeded with the actual install.

After powering on the laptop ofter the Sodimm was in, the boot screen read 0733xxKB of memory, which will most likely show up as 72MB in most OSes. At first I though that the laptop wasn't detecting the RAM properly because it used to say 078xxKB, but after a second I realized that the value had shifted over a decimal place

Thanks once again for the help everyone, now on my way to install Windows 98!

Another update:

After a couple formats and a little frustration, I was able to install Windows 98 SE by connecting the laptop hard drive to my main PC via an IDE-USB adapter (I also had to use a 2.5"-3.5" IDE converter that came with the USB adapter) and transferring over the CAB files as well as some essential programs.

The laptop is now a nice word-processing machine; AbiWord (freeware MS Word alternative) runs great. Windows detects 72MB of RAM, and most of the drivers were automatically detected. I also have Opera on the laptop, and I'm hoping to get a network card in the future.

Thanks once again everyone for your help!

Next project: Rebuilding the battery!

I'll probably make a new thread about that (or re-use somones old thread).

try k-meleon. on my 560x its noticeably faster and uses less memory.

gbm31 wrote:try k-meleon. on my 560x its noticeably faster and uses less memory.

I looked into it; I may give it a try.