How to update BIOS and ECP - correct sequence

[DM1]

I maintain, among others, some T40 laptops.

Current BIOS version = 1.05 (1RET34WW)
BIOS date = 2003-05-15
Current Embedded Controller Program version = 1.02

How can I update to the latest BIOS and ECP?

BIOS v. 3.23 requires ECP v. 3.04
ECP v. 3.04 requires BIOS v. 3.13
BIOS v. 3.13 requires ECP v. 3.04 or higher

The oldest BIOS I can download is 3.03

I see nothing about what ECP version it requires.

How do I go about doing this?

It looks like 3.03 is an executable file that runs from within the OS - on the desktop for example.

What if I update the BIOS and can't reboot because of out of date ECP?

TIA!

[zdriver]

Update the Bios first, then the ECP.
Search on Bios Update if you want additional info.

[RealBlackStuff]

Like zdriver said, always do the BIOS first.
If you do an update, go for the highest version you can find.
This normally matches up with the highest version ECP.
A BIOS will run good enough with an older ECP, so it should not stop you from booting up.
Just make sure you always update both (if available).

[DM1]

Thank you - it worked. The BIOS being as delicate as it is (could have to change mobo if you mess up), I just wanted to make sure.

[khayrov]

Since I have pretty much the same problem, I hope it's ok to wake up this thread...

I have ThinkPad T41 (2373-2GG). Although it works just fine both under Linux and Windows, I want to try upgrading EC firmware to get rid of "pulsing fan" problem.
Current BIOS version: 3.03, EC: 3.00a.
Any BIOS newer than 3.03 requires EC newer than 3.00 and vice versa, so I need to boot system with potentially incompatible BIOS and EC at least once.

Before touching such a delicate thing, I want to make sure, is this the correct sequence?
1) Run BIOS update program (the most recent one—3.23)
2) System is automatically rebooted.
3) Run EC update program.
4) We're done after reboot.

It's not clear for me from IBM documentation, is reflashing done from within Windows, or it is somehow postponed for the next boot sequence?

Can dual booting create any problems? I have kept factory MBR, so that grub is chainloaded by ntldr, and Access IBM button functions properly on startup.

[sktn77a]

Before touching such a delicate thing, I want to make sure, is this the correct sequence?
1) Run BIOS update program (the most recent one—3.23)
2) System is automatically rebooted.
3) Run EC update program.
4) We're done after reboot.

It's not clear for me from IBM documentation, is reflashing done from within Windows, or it is somehow postponed for the next boot sequence?

Can dual booting create any problems? I have kept factory MBR, so that grub is chainloaded by ntldr, and Access IBM button functions properly on startup.

Yes, this is the correct procedure sequence.

You can flash the BIOS and EC from a diskette (maybe a little safer) or from Windows (probably just as safe - this is what I do, as I no longer have a FDD). Just make sure you get the "non-diskette" version of the files if you do the latter.

Can't help with your dual boot question, I'm afraid.

[khayrov]

Thank you, great ThinkPad community, it went just fine And fan noise is much less annoying now.