Need help with Bios update

[PDX28]

I'm having some issues installing a new release of the bios (1.19). I downloaded everything I need (including the embedded controller files - all for non-diskette). have power-on password removed as it says in the instructions. The installation is running, but nothing really happened after the reboot. I currently have bios 1.14. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[GomJabbar]

The same thing happened to me with the latest BIOS update for my T42. I tried several times, to no avail. However, I happen to have a spare hard drive that I recently used the Product Recovery Discs on (so the OS and software was pretty much as it came from the factory from IBM). I copied the BIOS update to that hard drive, then it worked. So one of my programs or updates is preventing the BIOS update from working. The only other method that will work rather than the method described above is to use the diskette version of the BIOS update.

[hcalsos]

I use System Update to handle this sort of thing, and have never had any problems with updating my bios. It is also a good idea to backup your current bios, and fortunately ibm has a tool for that.
This tool can also be used to update bios with all the passwords enabeled. You should check out : http://www-3.ibm.com/pc/support/site.ws ... MIGR-41472

[Andrew2T]

I have the same problem.
BIOS is not being updated via thinkpad's system update, in fact it doesnt even show 1.19 update. And I do have 2 hard drives as well, it doesnt matter whether I ran it from the main drive or the second one, windows restarts and nothing happens.

[GomJabbar]

I have the same problem.... And I do have 2 hard drives as well, it doesnt matter whether I ran it from the main drive or the second one, windows restarts and nothing happens.

The question is, what is on those two hard drives? Is one a cloned drive of the other? If that is the case, then of course you get the same behavior. In my case, I had one hard drive with all the Windows updates, all the IBM updates, software firewall, up-to-date antivirus, up-to-date antispyware, and many installed programs. My other hard drive had the original factory install, that was not updated at all. Windows wasn't updated either. I never enrolled the antivirus software. On this hard drive, the BIOS update worked.

The point of it all is that there is some software on the up-to-date hard drive, that is preventing the BIOS update from completeing. The problem is that there are too many possibilities to track down the offending software to make it worth my time.

[PDX28]

I have the same problem. Software Installer / System Update doesn't show anything. Looks like another Lenovo issue. The Z series seems to be too new for the their software. I will try the above link and see what happens. Thanks so far.

[sco1984]

It's most probably happening because you don't have .NET
framework 2.0 installed on your ThinkPad or Windows updated
security update's. When your updating your BIOS, make sure
your battery pack is fully charged and laptop running on AC
power and secondly exit maximum background services from
Task Manager before you begin the process. It would be a
good idea to disable internet connection and Antivirus, Oh yes
specially if your Norton Antivirus user. If you follow above
steps i dont think you'll face any problem ....

[Andrew2T]

Well, i do have .NET 2.0 installed, I have all the windows updates, I dont have norton and the antivirus etc disabled. I tried everything! My second hard drive contains only data no OS, its not a clone.
This is driving me nuts. Although, its not that important, just annoying that it doesnt work

[GomJabbar]

My second hard drive contains only data no OS, its not a clone.

AFAIK, your hard drive has to boot Windows, then you run the BIOS update from within Windows. This is of course, unless you are using the diskette version.

[Andrew2T]

GomJabbar, Thanks I will try.

Are there any alternatives, say update from a memory stick, or using a Linux LiveCD?

[PDX28]

I finally found a solution. After a lot of unsucessful tries with the non-diskette version 1.19 I did the following:

- downloaded diskette version
- ran setup and extracted files to disk (on my desktop)
- created a bootable CD ROM with Nero
- copied the files from the disk to the CD
- burned CD ROM
- ran BIOS update (was perfect)

I did the same for the embedded controller chip. So it looks I'm ready for the new CSS 7.0 version now since Lenovo recommends the latest BIOS version.

[Torque]

I finally found a solution. After a lot of unsucessful tries with the non-diskette version 1.19 I did the following:

- downloaded diskette version
- ran setup and extracted files to disk (on my desktop)
- created a bootable CD ROM with Nero
- copied the files from the disk to the CD
- burned CD ROM
- ran BIOS update (was perfect)

I did the same for the embedded controller chip. So it looks I'm ready for the new CSS 7.0 version now since Lenovo recommends the latest BIOS version.

So did you extract to a disk? If not, how did you manage to extract the files to your desktop?

I have the same problem, and no disk drive.

[PDX28]

yes, I extractes the setup files to a floppy disk and then copied the files to the boot disk (CD ROM). Lenovo should offer image files of for CD ROMs as well as diskette versions especially when they now the laptops don't have a floppy disk drive.

[bill bolton]

Lenovo should offer image files of for CD ROMs as well as diskette versions

So, have you communicated that request directly to Lenovo? Voicing it here wont get the message through!

Cheers,

Bill

[PDX28]

I know, but actually a good idea. Maybe I should try it. At least it's working now. The only problem I have with the software installs is that it causes a lot of headaches. We should be reimbursed for that somehow.

[epeli]

The installation is running, but nothing really happened after the reboot.

I had exactly same problem when upgrading my R40e BIOS to 1.38.

Solution if you want to use non-diskette version!
I had to boot my WinXP Pro MSDN with unmodified kernel (ntoskrnl.exe - version 5.1.2600)
I found this out accidentally - I usually run heavily modified kernel and I always keep backups available.



This can be done by directly editing a hidden system file in C:\ root, boot.ini
It'll look like this if you're running typical WinXP install:

Code: Select all

[boot loader]
timeout=3
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS

[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect 

The multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS part might be different on your system, for example multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(2)partition(2)\WINNT.
DO NOT CHANGE IT. Keep the original path or your Windows won't start up! Do the other changes mentioned here.

Get a copy of original ntoskrnl.exe from Windows CD (or somewhere else) and copy it to your \windows\system32\ directory as kernel2.exe.
Then, add the following line to boot.ini:

Code: Select all

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Windows original kernel" /fastdetect /KERNEL=kernel2.exe

Then boot using "Windows original kernel" and run the bios/ec upgrade installer. Should work.