Exact steps to flash the 701 bios

[Usuario Desconocido]

Hello People!

(Spanish text at bottom
Texto en español al final)

I have a problem with my 701: the screen and the backlight only lights up when I'm in bios; if I'm anywhere else (like Diagnostics, DOS or Windows) the screen and backlight goes off. It's quite annoying because the computer works completely fine (even windows starts and sounds but NO SCREEN!!) and this behavior shows that it is not a hardware problem.

The thing is that I took out all the three batteries it has (main, suspend and lithium) and it still has the problem. It is somehow a misconfiguration that got saved in the bios' flash memory. I want to reflash it but I need the exact steps because (obviously) I can't see the instructions on screen.

So, please, anybody can help me?

Thanks in advance,
UD.

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Saludos!

Tengo un problema con mi 701: la pantalla y la luz de fondo sólo encienden cuando estoy en el bios; si estoy en otra cosa (como windows, dos o diagnostics) simplemente se apagan. Es una situación bastante molesta porque todo funciona bien (hasta entra en windows sin problemas, con sonido y todo, PERO SIN PANTALLA!!). Esto demuestra que no es un problema físico.

Le quité todas las baterías (la principal, la de suspensión y la de litio) y sigue con el mismo problema. Definitivamente es una configuración errónea que está grabada en la memoria flash del bios. Por eso quiero regrabarla y necesito las instrucciones exactas con los pasos a seguir puesto que no veo absolutamente nada en pantalla.

Entonces, puede alguien ayudarme?

Muchas gracias de antemano,
UD.

[Severian]

The thing is that I took out all the three batteries it has (main, suspend and lithium) and it still has the problem. .... I want to reflash it but I need the exact steps because (obviously) I can't see the instructions on screen.

Howdy,
I can't help you with the whole process because I could not get it to run on my 701 for a reason that I'll explain in a moment. But, I can get you started.

1. Go to IBM's support pages and download the 701 flash utility. This is an executable that will make you agree to their license and then create a boot floppy with the latest BIOS.

2. Put your batteries back in. You must have good batteries. The update floppy, when it boots up, will check and if it does not get a good reading form your batteries, including a status from your main battery indicating that it is fully charged, will not procede. My 701 main battery is not good and so I cannot flash my BIOS. If your battery is not good, plan on buying a new battery if you really need to flash the BIOS.

The other thought I had was to ask if you had the port replicator. If you do, you may be able to plug a VGA monitor in and look at that during the upgrade.
Good luck,

[Usuario Desconocido]

I don't have the port replicator nor know anybody who has it.

I had everything else ready: batteries fully charged and set up, bios update diskette downloaded from IBM... I know that when it boots form this diskette it shows a list with different languages for the bios to flash. I select english because the actual bios is in english and I know it is option #1. Then it asks for a fully charged battery pack and to press enter when it's ready. But that's all I know. I know also that I have to push the power switch to begin flashing, but don't know when: if I do it after inserting the battery pack and pressing enter, it shuts off.


Any ideas?

[Klaus]

is it possible that you are allready on the latest BIOS level?

[Usuario Desconocido]

is it possible that you are allready on the latest BIOS level?

Yes, it is.