Setting boot mode (USB/Firewire/CF) in BIOS ?

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GpsPasSion · #1 Post by **GpsPasSion** » Sun Nov 28, 2004 4:52 pm

I'm looking at getting a used X31 and went into the BIOS today and it was version 2.04 I believe (I see 2.14 on the IBM site) and couldn't see any refernce to booting in USB, only "removable devices" but nothing listed underneath. I didn't have a USB drive plugged in, but I did have a CF MicroDrive plugged in so that's maybe why I couldn't see any choices or maybe I need version 2.14...

If someone has thoughts on this as well as whether booting from firewire is a possibility ?

GpsPasSion · #2 Post by **GpsPasSion** » Wed Dec 01, 2004 6:18 pm

Anyone?
Still debating between getting USB2 or Firwire external DVD burner

#3 Post by **aamsel** » Wed Dec 01, 2004 6:35 pm

I just received a new X31 and had the same questions.

I just called IBM, and they told me that:

1.) You can NOT boot firewire because firewire requires drivers which Windows provides. Until Windows has loaded, you do not have firewire available, so...again, according to IBM, no boot to a firewire device.
If anyone does not agree with this, PLEASE POST.

2.) Again, according to IBM support, USB support is provided by BIOS, so USB boot is available in the later BIOS versions.

Hope this helps, and again, please post if you feel that IBM support was incorrect about #1 above.

Thanks,
Andrew
Austin, TX

GpsPasSion · #4 Post by **GpsPasSion** » Wed Dec 01, 2004 6:42 pm

Great info, thanks!

Do you see anything listed under boot/removable devices in the BIOS? The one I tried was 2.04, yours might be 2.14 if it's a more recent model? I should have mine tomorrow night if everything goes will (touch wood!)

You didn't ask them about booting from CF or PCMCIA did you ?

#5 Post by **aamsel** » Wed Dec 01, 2004 6:57 pm

Mine is brand new, and it is version 2.11. Not sure why it is not the latest?

Anyhow, my "Alternate Startup Devices" in CMOS are listed as:

1.) Removeable Media
2.) Hard Disk Drive (not sure why that would be an "alternate" ???
3.) ATAPI CD-ROM
4.) Network

Note that it says "ATAPI-CD-ROM" and doesn't say anything about USB CD-ROM. (would that be in 2.14 ???)

Anyhow, what is throwing me for a loop is that, I could swear that I have read here that people CAN boot firewire on an X31.

Now, I can't even see an option to boot USB2.

I see nothing about PCMCIA.

FWIW, IBM's support team in Atlanta is "spotty" at best. The guy I spoke with was not 100 percent on his info, he told me he "thought" this and that.
I called a few weeks ago about wireless cards. I made 3 calls that went to Atlanta, and did not get the correct info once. I finally found what I needed on the website. The website is great, support....well ????

Andrew
Austin, TX

GpsPasSion · #6 Post by **GpsPasSion** » Wed Dec 01, 2004 7:08 pm

Thanks for listing your BIOS options, yes, that's what I saw too. I was also surprised to see nothing listed under "removable devices" (did you try hitting "enter" on that entry?), that's where I would expect to see USB devices, CF/PCMCIA/Firewire. I was somehow hoping that they would show up when plugging in a device but plugging my MicrodDrive (CF type II) didn't make it appear.

#7 Post by **aamsel** » Wed Dec 01, 2004 7:17 pm

Not for me they don't.
Also F12 brings up the boot list before you boot Windows.

Maybe someone who has booted USB2 (or possibly firewire if it can be done) will read this thread and reply????

Andrew
Austin, TX

ychandrani · #8 Post by **ychandrani** » Wed Dec 01, 2004 7:57 pm

I have an x31; bios ver is now at 2.14 and have booted from USB 2.0 CD ROM drives ever since the machine arrived into my hands. Then, the BIOS version was 2.11 and I did it using either the F12 option or by changing the Boot device priority in the BIOS (F1/Startup/Boot and then moving CD rom drive to the top of the list).

Under BIOS 2.11 the only option listed was ATAPI CD ROM drive; while under 2.14 its simply listed as CD Rom. In short, I have not seen the BIOS ever list a USB CD ROM drive even though I have booted from two different USB drives--a Plextor USB 2.0 CD Burner and now my Lacie USB 2.0 external DVD burner without any problems ever.

#9 Post by **aamsel** » Wed Dec 01, 2004 8:02 pm

Great!

I think you have clarified it.

So, the problem is that I have only tried a firewire CD-ROM to this point, and that is not going to boot. (it can read from a firewire CD-ROM while in Windows, but it won't boot firewire, just USB.)

Correct??

Andrew
Austin, TX

ychandrani wrote:I have an x31; bios ver is now at 2.14 and have booted from USB 2.0 CD ROM drives ever since the machine arrived into my hands. Then, the BIOS version was 2.11 and I did it using either the F12 option or by changing the Boot device priority in the BIOS (F1/Startup/Boot and then moving CD rom drive to the top of the list).

Under BIOS 2.11 the only option listed was ATAPI CD ROM drive; while under 2.14 its simply listed as CD Rom. In short, I have not seen the BIOS ever list a USB CD ROM drive even though I have booted from two different USB drives--a Plextor USB 2.0 CD Burner and now my Lacie USB 2.0 external DVD burner without any problems ever.

GpsPasSion · #10 Post by **GpsPasSion** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 9:01 pm

I now have my X31, very nice device

Unfortunatly, I can't get it to boot from my PCMCIA CD ROM player, looks like USB2 is going to be answer...

Setting boot mode (USB/Firewire/CF) in BIOS ?

Setting boot mode (USB/Firewire/CF) in BIOS ?

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