how to update the BIOS without a battery (TP365X)

[pianowizard]

I was trying to update the BIOS of my Thinkpad 365X to version 1.10 so that it could recognize the 64MB EDO RAM. Unfortunately, it doesn't have a battery and the BIOS program said it couldn't continue because of that. Is there a way to flash the BIOS without a battery? For example, can I somehow fool the computer into thinking there is a battery?

[quinncx]

pianowizard,
I got some helpful replies for the same issue- check out
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=14393 if you are still interested. It seems the battery is only necessary in the event of a power failure, so if you can guarantee power, you can go forward with the upgrade without a battery.

[pianowizard]

Quinncx, thanks for that link. So the info is on http://thinkpads.com/batteryless.htm . I have three questions:

1) Has anyone tried this method?
2) Where do I get the phlash.exe file?
3) For TP365X, the BIOS update disc has only the $*******.fl1 file but not the $*******.fl3 one. So would this trick still work for me?

Any comments/suggestions would be appreciated. I understand how risky this method is, but it's okay because I paid only $30 for this dinosaur!

[leoblob]

I was trying to update the BIOS of my Thinkpad 365X to version 1.10 so that it could recognize the 64MB EDO RAM. Unfortunately, it doesn't have a battery and the BIOS program said it couldn't continue because of that. Is there a way to flash the BIOS without a battery? For example, can I somehow fool the computer into thinking there is a battery?

Did the BIOS program say you should not update, or did it say that it cannot update? I ask because a have a 365X with a dead battery, and I upgraded my BIOS just fine... I plugged the computer into a UPS in the unlikely event the power were to fail (which it did not).

[pianowizard]

leoblob,

It said it **cannot** update. I was trying to update it to version 1.10 -- is that your version? Perhaps your battery wasn't completely dead? Mine doesn't have a battery at all. Maybe the program would work as long as there is a battery, even if it's dead?

Kwoon

[leoblob]

Yes, I updated to v1.10. I think that's the last one available.

I think your analysis is correct... that the program will not allow an update unless a battery is installed... even if the battery is dead.

I'll think about this a little, and see if I can come up with some sort of solution...

[pianowizard]

leoblob, thanks for your help.

BTW, yesterday I tried to flash the BIOS using Uniflash and Phlash and neither worked. Uniflash reported errors and indeed I found a web site stating that Uniflash didn't work for this particular motherboard, and Phlash reported that the ROM file I was trying to flash with ($001f000.fl1) wasn't designed for my motherboard. Of course that's not true because I downloaded the file directly from IBM's 365X page.

[quinncx]

pianowizard,
I was able to upgrade mine despite having no charged battery. I downloaded the BIOS onto a floppy, rebooted the machine with the floppy inside, and it worked its way through (while I prayed for no power failure!) until I had a successful upgrade. Can you try that method vs. Uniflash or Phlash? good luck...

[leoblob]

The difference is that pianowizard has NO battery whasoever.

There are multiple contacts on the battery and I suspect some of them serve a logic function which is used by the motherboard. No battery = disrupted logic function = refusal to update BIOS... but this is all conjecture on my part... I hope to look into it further when I have some time.