Take a look at our
ThinkPads.com HOME PAGE
For those who might want to contribute to the blog, start here: Editors Alley Topic
Then contact Bill with a Private Message
ThinkPads.com HOME PAGE
For those who might want to contribute to the blog, start here: Editors Alley Topic
Then contact Bill with a Private Message
Batteryless BIOS Upgrade for ThinkPad A30
Batteryless BIOS Upgrade for ThinkPad A30
I just got caught in a situation where I needed to
downgrade the BIOS in an IBM ThinkPad A30
that (incorrectly) appeared to have a battery
that was not charged. The standard IBM BIOS
utility will NOT let you modify the BIOS unless
it detects a fully charged battery. It is a safety
feature but it can be a major problem if your
computer cannot correctly check the battery
charge (what happens when you install embedded
controller BIOS version 1EHJ18WW(1.06) in a
ThinkPad A30).
The A30 actually has two BIOSes: a regular BIOS
and an embedded controller BIOS. I will describe
the update for both. There are some "batteryless
update" instructions floating around on the web.
You will find that they are unhelpful for an A30
which is different. I will describe my approach
which worked on a ThinkPad A30 in June of 2004.
Regular BIOS update/downgrade:
1) Make a BIOS update floppy disk.
IBM provides utilities which will create these. For example:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-39861
2) Create a clean bootable disk with DOS 6.22 or lower.
Any DOS version above 6.22 automatically loads HIMEM.SYS
which is not compatible with the updater utility.
3) Remove all the files from the boot floppy EXCEPT:
IO.SYS
MSDOS.SYS
COMMAND.COM
(your IO and DOS files may have different names if you
use a different type of DOS).
4) Copy all the files (with the exceptions below) from the
BIOS update disk to the boot disk. Do NOT copy:
IBMBIO.COM
IBMDOS.COM
COMMAND.COM
5) Boot from your new boot disk.
6) Execute "QKFLASH.EXE" and it should update.
Embedded Controller BIOS update:
1) Make a BIOS update floppy disk.
IBM provides utilities which will create these. For example:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-40847
2) Create a clean bootable disk with DOS 6.22 or lower.
Any DOS version above 6.22 automatically loads HIMEM.SYS
which is not compatible with the updater utility.
3) Remove all the files from the boot floppy EXCEPT:
IO.SYS
MSDOS.SYS
COMMAND.COM
(your IO and DOS files may have different names if you
use a different type of DOS).
4) Copy all the files (with the exceptions below) from the
BIOS update disk to the boot disk. Do NOT copy:
IBMBIO.COM
IBMDOS.COM
COMMAND.COM
5) Boot from your new boot disk.
6) Execute "ECFLASH2.EXE -f filename.FL2" and it should update.
(filename.FL2 is the name of the provided data file
e.g. $0182000.FL2)
Note: the "-f" switch will force it to allow a version downgrade.
Normally, it will not allow you to downgrade a BIOS version.
I don't know if there is a similar switch for the regular BIOS
flashing utility. I didn't have to downgrade that one; I merely
upgraded it.
I hope this helps some others out there. Today (6-24-2004), you
will not find this info anywhere else on the web. I just figured
it out tonight in my basement.
downgrade the BIOS in an IBM ThinkPad A30
that (incorrectly) appeared to have a battery
that was not charged. The standard IBM BIOS
utility will NOT let you modify the BIOS unless
it detects a fully charged battery. It is a safety
feature but it can be a major problem if your
computer cannot correctly check the battery
charge (what happens when you install embedded
controller BIOS version 1EHJ18WW(1.06) in a
ThinkPad A30).
The A30 actually has two BIOSes: a regular BIOS
and an embedded controller BIOS. I will describe
the update for both. There are some "batteryless
update" instructions floating around on the web.
You will find that they are unhelpful for an A30
which is different. I will describe my approach
which worked on a ThinkPad A30 in June of 2004.
Regular BIOS update/downgrade:
1) Make a BIOS update floppy disk.
IBM provides utilities which will create these. For example:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-39861
2) Create a clean bootable disk with DOS 6.22 or lower.
Any DOS version above 6.22 automatically loads HIMEM.SYS
which is not compatible with the updater utility.
3) Remove all the files from the boot floppy EXCEPT:
IO.SYS
MSDOS.SYS
COMMAND.COM
(your IO and DOS files may have different names if you
use a different type of DOS).
4) Copy all the files (with the exceptions below) from the
BIOS update disk to the boot disk. Do NOT copy:
IBMBIO.COM
IBMDOS.COM
COMMAND.COM
5) Boot from your new boot disk.
6) Execute "QKFLASH.EXE" and it should update.
Embedded Controller BIOS update:
1) Make a BIOS update floppy disk.
IBM provides utilities which will create these. For example:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-40847
2) Create a clean bootable disk with DOS 6.22 or lower.
Any DOS version above 6.22 automatically loads HIMEM.SYS
which is not compatible with the updater utility.
3) Remove all the files from the boot floppy EXCEPT:
IO.SYS
MSDOS.SYS
COMMAND.COM
(your IO and DOS files may have different names if you
use a different type of DOS).
4) Copy all the files (with the exceptions below) from the
BIOS update disk to the boot disk. Do NOT copy:
IBMBIO.COM
IBMDOS.COM
COMMAND.COM
5) Boot from your new boot disk.
6) Execute "ECFLASH2.EXE -f filename.FL2" and it should update.
(filename.FL2 is the name of the provided data file
e.g. $0182000.FL2)
Note: the "-f" switch will force it to allow a version downgrade.
Normally, it will not allow you to downgrade a BIOS version.
I don't know if there is a similar switch for the regular BIOS
flashing utility. I didn't have to downgrade that one; I merely
upgraded it.
I hope this helps some others out there. Today (6-24-2004), you
will not find this info anywhere else on the web. I just figured
it out tonight in my basement.
Last edited by warnergt on Fri Jun 25, 2004 10:05 am, edited 1 time in total.
A21p Bios upgrade power mgmt failure
THANKS!!
I recently had the same problem with my A21p. After upgrading to the current BIOS, I had the battery charging system stop working and the charging light was always flashing yellow. After following the first of your repair solutions, the machine sprang back to life. This unit does not offer two different controller updates. I did down grade back to the previous BIOS. As you mentioned, I also had an aftermarket battery and also wasted alot of time talking to IBM. Thanks again for all your help!
Drez
I recently had the same problem with my A21p. After upgrading to the current BIOS, I had the battery charging system stop working and the charging light was always flashing yellow. After following the first of your repair solutions, the machine sprang back to life. This unit does not offer two different controller updates. I did down grade back to the previous BIOS. As you mentioned, I also had an aftermarket battery and also wasted alot of time talking to IBM. Thanks again for all your help!
Drez
I have an A31 Battery going cheap ($40.00us) plus ($16.00us shipping)
please email: therealcableguy@hotmail.com
This WILL solve your BIOS problems permanently!!!
Upgrade or back flash it does not matter with a GENUINE battery!
please email: therealcableguy@hotmail.com
This WILL solve your BIOS problems permanently!!!
Upgrade or back flash it does not matter with a GENUINE battery!
-
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Sun Oct 15, 2006 6:25 am
- Location: CAMBRIDGESHIRE PE19 1SE
Greetings All
Which cretin at IBM insisted on a battery/fully charged battery be present to upgrade bios? Usually after a given period of time(variable) the battery becomes deceased like Monty Python's parrot. So many people run off the mains. So why ,other than pure greed does one have to have a battery to update the bios?
regards
Which cretin at IBM insisted on a battery/fully charged battery be present to upgrade bios? Usually after a given period of time(variable) the battery becomes deceased like Monty Python's parrot. So many people run off the mains. So why ,other than pure greed does one have to have a battery to update the bios?
regards
"What me worry!"
-
- Special Member
- Posts: 5741
- Joined: Sat Oct 08, 2005 1:24 pm
- Location: UC Berkeley, California
- Contact:
A more practical reason is that it is there in case of a failure of the AC line power. When reflashing the BIOS, a power outage is a serious problem, and can cause corruption to the image on the BIOS.Alfred E. Newman wrote:Greetings All
Which cretin at IBM insisted on a battery/fully charged battery be present to upgrade bios? Usually after a given period of time(variable) the battery becomes deceased like Monty Python's parrot. So many people run off the mains. So why ,other than pure greed does one have to have a battery to update the bios?
regards
It isn't impossible to re-flash the BIOS of a Thinkpad without the battery, but it is there as a safety net for the most part, much like a UPS.
IBM ThinkPad T43 Model 2668-72U 14.1" SXGA+ 1GB |IBM 701c
~o/
I met someone who looks a lot like you.
She does the things you do.
But she is an IBM.
/~o ---ELO from "Yours Truly 2059"
~o/
I met someone who looks a lot like you.
She does the things you do.
But she is an IBM.
/~o ---ELO from "Yours Truly 2059"
quote="christopher_wolf"]
I don't have a battery in my normal PC, do I?
Personelly I upgraded my battery by putting new 1.2V cells in the origional holder (from a HP batterypack) It works fine.
I find it weird IBM creates such a solution.Alfred E. Newman wrote:Greetings
A more practical reason is that it is there in case of a failure of the AC line power. When reflashing the BIOS, a power outage is a serious problem, and can cause corruption to the image on the BIOS.
It isn't impossible to re-flash the BIOS of a Thinkpad without the battery, but it is there as a safety net for the most part, much like a UPS.
I don't have a battery in my normal PC, do I?
Personelly I upgraded my battery by putting new 1.2V cells in the origional holder (from a HP batterypack) It works fine.
A30 batteries not charging, Batteryless BIOS? HELP
Hi,, I have 2 batteries for my A30 neither of which will charge, always shows 0%, I have read that maybe a BIOS upgrade will help but how the heck do I do it???
I read about creating a diskette which I tried but I only hace cd drives Burner,,, Any suggestions very helpfull
I read about creating a diskette which I tried but I only hace cd drives Burner,,, Any suggestions very helpfull
Glyn Hollabaugh
-
- Posts: 47
- Joined: Mon Feb 04, 2008 11:07 am
- Location: Wunnumin Lake Ontario Canada
- Contact:
Bios UPGRADE A30
I followed the posted proceedure and it worked like a charm thank goodness I was around before Windows became the norm and in a drawer with old junk I found 3 disks still in cellophane labeled Dos 5.5 ... Bless my soul I felt like Methusala but never the less I diligently followed step for step and hey presto I have an upgraded bios, why? I dont know......... I was bored and wanted to use the old DOS disks I found........ Normally I'm a "If its not broken dont mess with it person"..
As for the necessity of having a charged battery in your TP when doing an upgrade, think of the consequences if after the the boot or during the actual flash......the power went out.............. YEAH!!! Hello NO BIOS AT ALL and trust me there aint no way to fix it, then...EVER!!
As for the necessity of having a charged battery in your TP when doing an upgrade, think of the consequences if after the the boot or during the actual flash......the power went out.............. YEAH!!! Hello NO BIOS AT ALL and trust me there aint no way to fix it, then...EVER!!
T42P 2373-HSG~1.8Ghz~1.0GB~60Gig~XP Pro SP3Stolen
A31P 2653-XX9~2.5GHz~0.0GB~0Gig~
Toshiba 210Pro~1.9GHzX2~2.5GB~160Gig~Vista SP1Stolen
Canada wasn't always a scary place
A31P 2653-XX9~2.5GHz~0.0GB~0Gig~
Toshiba 210Pro~1.9GHzX2~2.5GB~160Gig~Vista SP1Stolen
Canada wasn't always a scary place
-
- Posts: 11
- Joined: Sat Aug 25, 2007 9:28 am
- Location: Vermont, USA
Re: Batteryless BIOS Upgrade for ThinkPad A30
Thanks warnergt, your procedure worked almost perfectly for me to upgrade the BIOS and EC firmware on my beloved Thinkpad A30.
I faced one additional hurdle, though. There's no floppy available so I had to create the bootable floppy diskettes then convert them to a bootable CD. This took extra steps but went fairly smoothly.
Here are ISO images of the DOS bootable CD's I created and used to flash my A30. These will save anyone a great deal of work in re-creating them. If you think you may need to upgrade the BIOS or Embedded Controller firmware in a Thinkpad A30, best grab a copy of them now. The file hosting service I uploaded them to only keeps inactive files around for a matter of days before deleting them. The file size for each is around 1 MB.
Thinkpad A30 BIOS v1.19 Flasher Disc
http://www.filedropper.com/thinkpada30b ... lasherdisc
Thinkpad A30 EC v1.08 Flasher Disc
http://www.filedropper.com/thinkpada30ecv108flasherdisc
To use either CD image, burn it to a physical CD with your choice of burning software. I favor free software and either CDBurnerXP or ImgBurn works well. When burning the CD, have the software verify the physical CD after burning and close (finalize) the disc.
Set your Thinkpad BIOS to boot from the CD drive first. Boot from the CD. The display should read something like "Starting MS-DOS." Let the system boot from the CD. Next you'll receive the standard DOS prompts to enter the current time and date. Skip those as they're unnecessary. Just hit the "Enter" key at both prompts. When you're at the DOS prompt, just enter "QKFLASH.EXE" and hit the "Enter" key. The flashing will start immediately without prompting or warnings then the laptop with turn itself off. My flashing took less than a minute each.
Both discs work the same. Just enter the command "QKFLASH.EXE" and hit the "Enter" key. The charge state of your battery won't matter. Just make sure to have your AC adapter plugged in to the wall outlet and in to the laptop.
BTW, you don't need to sign up or pay anything at the file hosting service. The download should be hassle-free and totally free.
I faced one additional hurdle, though. There's no floppy available so I had to create the bootable floppy diskettes then convert them to a bootable CD. This took extra steps but went fairly smoothly.
Here are ISO images of the DOS bootable CD's I created and used to flash my A30. These will save anyone a great deal of work in re-creating them. If you think you may need to upgrade the BIOS or Embedded Controller firmware in a Thinkpad A30, best grab a copy of them now. The file hosting service I uploaded them to only keeps inactive files around for a matter of days before deleting them. The file size for each is around 1 MB.
Thinkpad A30 BIOS v1.19 Flasher Disc
http://www.filedropper.com/thinkpada30b ... lasherdisc
Thinkpad A30 EC v1.08 Flasher Disc
http://www.filedropper.com/thinkpada30ecv108flasherdisc
To use either CD image, burn it to a physical CD with your choice of burning software. I favor free software and either CDBurnerXP or ImgBurn works well. When burning the CD, have the software verify the physical CD after burning and close (finalize) the disc.
Set your Thinkpad BIOS to boot from the CD drive first. Boot from the CD. The display should read something like "Starting MS-DOS." Let the system boot from the CD. Next you'll receive the standard DOS prompts to enter the current time and date. Skip those as they're unnecessary. Just hit the "Enter" key at both prompts. When you're at the DOS prompt, just enter "QKFLASH.EXE" and hit the "Enter" key. The flashing will start immediately without prompting or warnings then the laptop with turn itself off. My flashing took less than a minute each.
Both discs work the same. Just enter the command "QKFLASH.EXE" and hit the "Enter" key. The charge state of your battery won't matter. Just make sure to have your AC adapter plugged in to the wall outlet and in to the laptop.
BTW, you don't need to sign up or pay anything at the file hosting service. The download should be hassle-free and totally free.
-
- Similar Topics
- Replies
- Views
- Last post
-
-
ThinkPad A30. Can I replace the 80 gig IDE with an SSD?
by emmett518 » Tue Feb 13, 2024 3:58 pm » in ThinkPad R, A, G and Z Series - 3 Replies
- 623 Views
-
Last post by olex126
Wed Feb 14, 2024 4:37 am
-
-
-
Thinkpad 770 Bios mod for cpu upgrade
by franjimo24 » Sun Dec 10, 2023 8:14 am » in ThinkPad Legacy Hardware - 6 Replies
- 5301 Views
-
Last post by solidpro
Tue Jan 23, 2024 4:02 pm
-
-
-
T420 - Quad Core CPU and BIOS upgrade (or downgrade)
by ojciec » Fri Dec 15, 2023 4:49 pm » in ThinkPad T400/T410/T420 and T500/T510/T520 Series - 3 Replies
- 6278 Views
-
Last post by axur-delmeria
Mon Dec 18, 2023 12:04 am
-
-
- 0 Replies
- 998 Views
-
Last post by danceswithrage
Tue Jan 30, 2024 5:26 pm
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 14 guests