Thinkpads Forum

Hi all,

I got my hands on a X61 without OS.
I'd like to install the Middleton BIOS to get Sata II.
I thought the easiest thing to do that was to install a 32bit Windows Vista (or 7) on the X61.

I am on a Linux machine, and I tried to create a bootable Windows Vista USB without any luck.
What I tried so far:

- Create a USB drive linux installer just to make sure the x61 can boot from it. Succeded with no issues.
- Create a Windows Vista USB drive using WoeUSB-ng [1]. The USB drive does not boot (getting an infinite blinking cursor)
- Create a Windows 7 USB drive using WoeUSB-ng [1]. The USB drive does not boot (getting an infinite blinking cursor)

I got both Vista and 7 iso images from archive.org

- Has anyone had any luck making a Windows bootable USB drive from Linux?
- Can I flash the Middleton BIOS from Linux maybe?
- Is there any alternative BIOS that enables SataII that I can flash from Linux?
- Any other idea?

Cheers!

[1] https://github.com/WoeUSB/WoeUSB-ng

Welcome to the Forum.

If Linux can't do it, why not ask a friend with a Windows machine to use e.g. Rufus to make you bootable USB sticks?
Middleton BIOS download includes an ISO to make such a bootable USB.

carloratm wrote: ↑

Sun May 04, 2025 4:33 am

I am on a Linux machine, and I tried to create a bootable Windows Vista USB without any luck.
What I tried so far:

- Create a USB drive linux installer just to make sure the x61 can boot from it. Succeded with no issues.
- Create a Windows Vista USB drive using WoeUSB-ng [1]. The USB drive does not boot (getting an infinite blinking cursor)
- Create a Windows 7 USB drive using WoeUSB-ng [1]. The USB drive does not boot (getting an infinite blinking cursor)

I got both Vista and 7 iso images from archive.org

My experience with my trio of X61s, one X60 and an X61T is that they are oddly picky about the boot sectors. I mainly had problems with these things booting off hard drives created from another laptop. I.e. an XP install from say an Acer laptop that boots fine there would be stuck on an infinite cursor on this laptop.
AFAIK there is an alternative though where you can use the bootable iso file of the middleton and dump that iso onto your USB drive, that could work fine. But it's probably better you grab a USB optical drive and use that to boot from the iso burnt onto a disc

I was able to install the BIOS using the provided .iso and Ventoy [1], which is a tool to boot machines from iso files.
Very recommended.

Thank you,
Cheers!

[1] https://www.ventoy.net