Thinkpads Forum

Hi,

I have bought a Broadcom BCM70015 card for my X61s and now it's time to make use of it. As far as I know, going for Middleton or Zender BIOS should get the job done. BUT. I have once bricked my X60s when tried to flash with geniue BIOS from Lenovo/IBM (my mistake: I didn't use the ThinkVantage software). I ended up on replacing the motherboard. I would also like to replace my screen with that 1400x1050 SXGA+, BUT not now. Does Middleton's X61/X61s SXGA+ BIOS supports both screens? This 1024x768 AND 1400x1050? Or only 1400x1050?

Also ANY tips that will help me avoid well-known mistakes with flashing third party BIOS are gratefully appreciated.

Welcome to the forum.
If/when you update, get the Middleton BIOS, it's way more useful than Zender's.
Depending on your LCD, it's either XGA (first BIOS) or SXGA+ (2nd BIOS) on this page:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/lenovo- ... ost6501443
Download both, for when you eventually upgrade the LCD.
AFAIK the resolution is hard-coded, so flash the corresponding BIOS.
The downloads contain an ISO file for making a bootable CD, which is the preferred update method.
Just make sure you have both AC adapter and a charged, working battery attached.
Also, you need an external USB CD/DVD drive, you can NOT do this from the CD/DVD drive in the Ultrabase!

Thank you for your advices. I have downloaded Middleton's BIOS and now I have .iso file and "BIOS update/32-bit" directory which contains:
As I guess I can't like that run the WinPhlash.exe or the WINUPTP.EXE and use this for flashing Middleton's BIOS?
Cheapest new CD/DVD drive costs here something around 16 EUR, so if any friend of mine will not have one I'll need to buy it, unfortunately.

Another option is to copy all those files onto a flash drive, and then run winuptp from within (32-bit) Windows.

RealBlackStuff wrote:Another option is to copy all those files onto a flash drive, and then run winuptp from within (32-bit) Windows.

Okay. That is a way better option. Could you please tell more how to achieve this? I need to boot Windows 32-bit installation CD and then from command prompt run winuptp located on a flash drive? Or just simply flash it from Windows that is installed on a hard drive?

If you are running Windows 32-bit then you can update from inside the normal Windows (disclaimer: I've never done it).

If you have Windows 64-bit then you need to use the .iso version of the bios, either from cdrom, or from a USB key (method described here http://forum.notebookreview.com/lenovo- ... on-80.html worked for me).

From linux you can of course burn the .iso to CDROM but creating a usb can be more of a hassle because most of the tools are Windows-based. The approach outlined here works for me: http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/BIOS_Upgr ... ux_for_X61
... and lets you easily install several bios versions from the same USB key.

If your bios is already the latest version (2.22) you should first install the previous version before installing middleton's one (which is also version 2.22)

Cheers,
trmsw

The SXGA+ bios can be flashed easily and be used with XGA panel, no problems.

Thanks for all your advices. I'd like to know everyone that from now on my X61s is running with Middleton's BIOS (SXGA+ version). Yes, I still have XGA panel in my ThinkPad and "it just works". No issues noted. Raceboy was right about that. Also I have upgraded it as trmsw suggested (http://forum.notebookreview.com/lenovo- ... on-80.html - in step 2. say yes when it asks to overwrite "COMMAND.COM" file). I have been booted into nice menu with "upgrade computer program" option (AFAIR), two long beeps after 1-2 minutes of upgrade, reboot, done. Tomorrow I'll install BCM70015. Next thing to get for this little machine is 3com X-JACK (3CRXJK10075 or 3CRPAG175B), as I can't stand that heat of WiFi card.

Install the half-size Intel 6200N (2 antenna wires) or 6300N (3 wires), combined with the half-size adapter bracket.
They produce much less heat. I have a 6200N in my X60s.

RealBlackStuff wrote:Install the half-size Intel 6200N (2 antenna wires) or 6300N (3 wires), combined with the half-size adapter bracket.
They produce much less heat. I have a 6200N in my X60s.

I was thinking about that. Does it even make sense to install 6300N into X6x series? I think I've seen only 2 wires inside my laptop that are going to wireless card..

thgw wrote:Does it even make sense to install 6300N into X6x series? I think I've seen only 2 wires inside my laptop that are going to wireless card..

Well, in my X60 tablet there are 3 WLAN antennas + 2 WWAN antennas, so the 3rd antenna wire sometimes do exist.
If you only have 2 antennas and don't plan to install another one, though, 6200 should suffice.
(If you have unused WWAN antennas, maybe you can use one of those as your 3rd WLAN antenna. However, they are probably not optimized for WLAN frequencies, so performance may not be as good as a proper WLAN antenna.)

RealBlackStuff wrote:Install the half-size Intel 6200N (2 antenna wires) or 6300N (3 wires), combined with the half-size adapter bracket.
They produce much less heat. I have a 6200N in my X60s.

RBS - Just a thought. Are the half size & less heat producing wireless cards only available with Intel chips? Are there any Atheros (Mac OSX) friendly ones that do the same?

no-yes

RealBlackStuff wrote:no-yes

Do recommend some Atheros ones that are half size, less heating.. and Mac OSX friendly? Say for an X61T or T61? Or newer X-series

Do your homework for once, I have only tried Intels.

I recall elsewhere on this forum that many have said the 6200 is a MUCH cooler solution to reduce palmrest heat.

RealBlackStuff wrote:Do your homework for once, I have only tried Intels.

Wow.

Not 'Wow'!
All this guy does, is ask, ask, ask...

RealBlackStuff wrote:Not 'Wow'!
All this guy does, is ask, ask, ask...

Apologies RBS. Did not mean to offend you. We can always Google stuff, but then we'd miss out on the "experienced" knowledge of people on TP forums.
I ask because it helps to have an experienced person share their wisdom about a subject that one is not aware.
When I know of a subject matter I share what I have learnt.