New hard drive firmware update available

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whizkid · #1 Post by **whizkid** » Thu Oct 27, 2005 10:04 am

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-41008

Covers old to new machines and hard disks. The release notes don't say what the firmware update does, but I plan to run it anyway.

I remember one update stated that the firmware changed the head motion algorithm to help avoid "migration" of the bearing grease, making the drive last longer.[/u]

#2 Post by **GomJabbar** » Thu Oct 27, 2005 12:22 pm

New BIOS update as well.

October 17, 2005
ThinkPad R50, R50p, R51 (M/T 1829, 1830, 1831 and 1836)
ThinkPad T40, T40p, T41, T41p, T42, T42p
ThinkPad BIOS Update Utility

BIOS Version 1RETDNWW (3.19)
=================================================
For ThinkPad R51 users:
- This package is for Machine Type 1829, 1830, 1831 and 1836 of
ThinkPad R51. For the other machine types of ThinkPad R51, please
get the package for them.
=================================================
- (Fix) The cardbus controller register setting.

#3 Post by **jdhurst** » Thu Oct 27, 2005 5:23 pm

I have done all the updates (no problems) and today tested the firmware update with the newest update files. None needed.

IIRC, my current drive is the replacement from Hitachi for my first 60Gb drive that failed in January, 2004. It has been in service since August, 2004, and I had it sitting on the shelf for some months before that (I have another 60Gb drive that I purchased in February, 2004 when the first drive failed).

So these firmware updates don't seem to be finding anything even in a drive manufactured many, many months ago. ... JD Hurst

zaku · #4 Post by **zaku** » Tue Dec 27, 2005 5:50 pm

anyone has done this hard drive update and actually noticed a difference?

#5 Post by **GomJabbar** » Tue Dec 27, 2005 6:01 pm

zaku wrote:anyone has done this hard drive update and actually noticed a difference?

I did the update, but can't say I noticed a difference. I didn't perform any timings before or after though. It's hard to say exactly what these firmware updates do. FWIW, I have updated to Version 8471 for MHT2xxxAH (Fujitsu) drive.

More info: Symptoms corrected by the hard disk drive firmware update utility diskettes - ThinkPad General

ricerocket · #6 Post by **ricerocket** » Wed Dec 28, 2005 12:23 am

So when are they gonna let me update my drive w/ the Hitachi firmware?

It detects that my drive has tha A53A firmware, and the part number is exactly the same. The newest one is A5HA and it still says "No new firmware found."

ricerocket · #7 Post by **ricerocket** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 2:28 am

I sent Hitachi an email:

I have a HT548080M9AT00 that was
purchased through a reseller. However,
it currently has compatibility issues
with my IBM/Lenovo Thinkpad T43 because
the drive wasn't shipped with IBM's
firmware. From what I'm told, the IBM
version of the drive is identical to the
retail Hitachi version, except the
difference in firmware. Is it possible
for you to provide me with a firmware
update identical to that of the drives
shipped to IBM/Lenovo so that I can
effectively use it in my Thinkpad? Thanks

Their reply was:

Thank you for contacting Hitachi Global Storage Technologies.

We will not be able to provide you with IBM firmware for your drive. Your
drive is coming up as an OEM drive. These drives already have specific
firmware on them. Putting either a generic or different OEM firmware on a
drive could cause the drive to no longer function.

Because the drive you have was not purchased from IBM or within an IBM
system, the firmware level the system is looking for will not be found.

Error message aside, the Hitachi GST drives should still work in the system
without problems. Simply bypass the firmware update message when the
system is started.

The only other option would be to return the distribution drive and
purchase the drive directly from IBM. Please keep in mind that drives
purchased directly from IBM typically do not have any warranty through
Hitachi GST.

Please let us know if we can be of further assistance.

Regards,

Jeremiah

davidspalding · #8 Post by **davidspalding** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 1:40 pm

I can't for the life of me find anything on the firmware announcement pages that details what these firmware releases are for, what they fix, yada yada yada. I suspect that this is a routine release of firmware update utilities.

FWIW, the CD ISO readme states that the bootable CD will detect the hard drive installed, check the firmware level, and update it IF there is a newer version. Clearly, if you have the current firmware, and the diskette/disc does nothing,... guess what. (All the firmware updates that I've done on eServers would momentarily display the current level and the update level, and some just rebooted if they matched.)

New hard drive firmware update available

New hard drive firmware update available

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