Dumping BIOS into ROM file

[BakedandPacked]

I've got a T23 running 98SE.

I tried a couple of DOS apps that were suppose to dump the
contents of the pheonix bios in this ThinkPad into a rom file.
They create files like BIOSDUMP.ROM. Looked good to me!

(The bios and embedded controller have been updated.)

The latest version of the Pheonix Bios Editor Pro keeps telling
me these rom files are not the correct length.

Identifying the mobo in this ThinkPad using applets like BIOS
Agent is not possible. The chipset is listed, but nothing about
the mobo itself.


BIOS Date: 10/18/06
BIOS Type: PhoenixBIOS 4.0 Release 6.0 for IBM ThinkPad
BIOS ID: Unknown
OEM Sign-On: None
Chipset: Intel 3575 rev 4
Superio: Unknown
OS: Win98
CPU: Pentium® III (0.13 µm) With 256 Or 512 KB On-Die L2 Cache 1195 MHz
BIOS ROM In Socket: Unknown
BIOS ROM Size: Unknown
Memory Installed: 766 MB
Memory Maximum: Unknown
ACPI Revision: 2.0


A friend suggested if I had the info about the mobo I might find a bios
backup utility at the Intel site. Is there a reliable tool that will create
a readable rom file from a bios dump?

Just to be clear, I am trying to resolve a problem with this T23. I need
to view a rom bios dump in the Pheonix Editor. I've got the BIOS and
Embedded Controller updates on floppies, USB sticks, and a CD with
BartPE. I can flash the updates again if anything goes wrong.

Thanks guys!

[RealBlackStuff]

Have a look at winphlash in this thread: http://forum.notebookreview.com/windows ... sb-cd.html
AFAIK it can also let you make a BIOS backup.

If you want that BIOS dump to find an IBM password, you're barking up the wrong tree.
That's all I am allowed to say.

[BakedandPacked]

Thank you RealBlackStuff.

I purchased this ThinkPad from someone I've known for 20 years.
He sells new and refurbed computers.

The condition of this T23 is very good. My friend wiped the drive
for me and if there were any passwords, he deleted them. I wish
this problem was password related. It would be easier to resolve.

Winphlash sounds like a winner. The Pheonix Editor can read rom
and wph files. I probably came across Winphlash during all my
googling about this problem. After reviewing and downloading a
small collection of bios apps, they all began to blur into a single
blob, if you know what I mean!

[sncdrvr]

Look at the "My Digital Life" forums. Not sure what exactly your looking for but many bios resources and tools there, hundreds of pages of postings, all recent. If your problem is the 1802 error on startup due to a "unauthorized" wireless card, search "no-1802 hack", or better yet, get a cheap IBM branded card. To correct a incorrect model# as stored in bios. search "hardware maintenance diskette", readily available but cant give you any additional info per forum stance.