On 18 July 2012 11:25, James Morrissey <morrissey.jam...@gmail.com> wrote: > Having spoken to Lenovo, i am rather unsatisfied. > > Their story is that they don't know why the windows client won't work. > They also suggest that i use the live CD as a means for updating the > BIOS - this is the recommended method. Unbelievably (to my mind, at > least), they only have instructions for this using a CD. This is > currently hopeless for me as i have a thinkpad x121e which has no > optical drive, and i don't have an external drive on me. They say that > they can't provide me with any instructions on how to update the BIOS > using a USB as these are not officially supported. As such they say > that the only thing they can do is send the machine in to them - which > will take about 5 days. > > As background to this story i should note that i have had these same > acpi-related problems on two other occasions. Both times i have sent > the machine in to them and the (exact same) problem has recurred
If it is a recurrent problem that has been fixed in the past then I don't see how a BIOS upgrade will fix it. What did they do to fix it previously I wonder. Colin > This > will be the third time i send in the machine. The first time this > happened it was under international warranty and it took 3 weeks to > fix. That means that in the 10 months i have had the machine it will > have spent over a month in the shop, dealing with a recurrent problem. > > I really am rather disappointed, especially as Lenovo's thinkpad range > is meant to be pretty good for linux and have pretty good support in > general. > > j > > On 18 July 2012 09:09, James Morrissey <morrissey.jam...@gmail.com> wrote: >> Hi Anton, >> >> -contacting lenovo about that matter may be a good starting point >> >> I'll be on it when they open this morning. >> >> However having a quick look >>> (choosing a lenovo x121e on the site) and going through the 6 step process >>> to select the OS (chose win7) it comes back with a "bios update bootable cd >>> iso"-have you tried that method? >> >> That's what i am trying to do! I can't get a bootloader onto the USB. >> As i understand, this is what i have to do as the ISO doesn't contain >> one. Someone please tell me if i am wrong. >> >> also the lenovo site >>> cautions against updating it (in the readme.txt along with the files) if it >>> is running fine >> >> Its not running fine: I have lost use of function keys, fan has >> stopped working and shutdown on lid close doesn't work. >> >> Something to research/ask potentially- if for some reason >>> the windows update method (from within win7 that failed on you) doesnt like >>> grub or something like that isnt there an easy way to delete grub (backing >>> it up first), hence fooling the system that it is only a single boot and >>> then running the update? after that booting from a live cd and reinstalling >>> grub??? >> >> This looks tricky. I'll save it for a last resort, but surely i should >> be able to get a bootloader onto the USB so that i can run the update >> from there. >> >> Will let you know what Lenovo say. >> >> Thanks again, >> >> j >> >> On 18 July 2012 07:25, Anton Kanishchev <antonk20...@gmail.com> wrote: >>> Hi James, >>> >>> I have had a chat with my friend regarding updating the bios on a dual boot. >>> what model of thinkpad do you have? He has never had to go through grub4dos >>> to update his, so unfortunately he cant help there.He has updated dual boot >>> setups via windows as you mentioned in your first email(worked in his >>> case)-contacting lenovo about that matter may be a good starting point.It >>> may just be a corrupt file or something. However having a quick look >>> (choosing a lenovo x121e on the site) and going through the 6 step process >>> to select the OS (chose win7) it comes back with a "bios update bootable cd >>> iso"-have you tried that method? Since it is booting from the cd (please >>> correct me someone if the following is wrong) it doesnt really matter if it >>> is a multi boot set up or not as it is only taking files from the bootable >>> cd and updating the bios on the laptop. if you do (have) download(ed) the >>> bios disk is there a md5sum you can check for errors? also the lenovo site >>> cautions against updating it (in the readme.txt along with the files) if it >>> is running fine. Something to research/ask potentially- if for some reason >>> the windows update method (from within win7 that failed on you) doesnt like >>> grub or something like that isnt there an easy way to delete grub (backing >>> it up first), hence fooling the system that it is only a single boot and >>> then running the update? after that booting from a live cd and reinstalling >>> grub??? >>> >>> On 17 July 2012 21:50, Kris Douglas <krisdoug...@gmail.com> wrote: >>>> >>>> On 17 July 2012 21:07, James Morrissey <morrissey.jam...@gmail.com> wrote: >>>> > Hi all, >>>> > >>>> > Digging up an old thread as i am still trying to solve this problem. >>>> > Hoping someone can help me update my BIOS from a live USB. >>>> > >>>> > After having these problems come back >>>> > http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=12106970#post12106970; i got >>>> > the reply which falls at the bottom of the thread. >>>> > >>>> > So i am now trying to update my BIOS, from 1.15 to 1.16. >>>> > >>>> > Having tried to use the native windows client as i did last time my >>>> > machine remains on 1.15. Getting the files for the 1.16 from here: >>>> > http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/downloads/default.page? and following >>>> > the instructions here: >>>> > http://download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub/pc/pccbbs/mobiles/8quj09us.txt, i >>>> > don't get any on-screen instructions for step 14("Select 'Update >>>> > ThinkPad BIOS' and follow the instructions on the screen.") and when i >>>> > check system information in Win7 i still see the BIOS are 1.15. >>>> > >>>> > So now i am trying to follow the instructions for creating a live ISO >>>> > contained here: >>>> > >>>> > http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/BIOS_Upgrade#Using_grub4dos_.28also_for_Linux.29. >>>> > My sense is that it would also be good to learn how to do this update >>>> > without windows. >>>> > >>>> > So now: >>>> > >>>> > I have formatted my pen drive to FAT32. >>>> > >>>> > sudo fdisk -l gives: >>>> > >>>> > Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System >>>> > /dev/sda1 * 2048 2459647 1228800 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT >>>> > /dev/sda2 2459648 109043711 53292032 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT >>>> > /dev/sda3 109045758 625141759 258048001 5 Extended >>>> > /dev/sda5 109045760 608542719 249748480 83 Linux >>>> > /dev/sda6 608544768 625141759 8298496 82 Linux swap / >>>> > Solaris >>>> > >>>> > Disk /dev/sdc: 4011 MB, 4011851776 bytes >>>> > 124 heads, 62 sectors/track, 1019 cylinders, total 7835648 sectors >>>> > Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes >>>> > Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes >>>> > I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes >>>> > Disk identifier: 0x0004629e >>>> > >>>> > Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System >>>> > /dev/sdc1 * 62 7834071 3917005 c W95 FAT32 (LBA) >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > Following the instruction on grub4dos >>>> > >>>> > (http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/BIOS_Upgrade#Using_grub4dos_.28also_for_Linux.29), >>>> > i navigate the terminal, to the gub4dos-0.4.4 folder and try: >>>> > >>>> > ~/grub4dos-0.4.4$sudo ./bootlace.com /dev/sdc1 >>>> > >>>> > But i get the error: >>>> > >>>> > "Error: Invalid partition table. Must specify --floppy explicitly for >>>> > floppy. >>>> > BOOTLACE writes GRLDR BOOT RECORD to MBR or to the boot area of a file >>>> > system. >>>> > Usage: bootlace.com [OPTIONS] DEVICE_OR_FILE >>>> > Options: --read-only, --floppy[=N], --boot-prevmbr-first, >>>> > --boot-prevmbr-last, >>>> > --no-backup-mbr, --force-backup-mbr, --mbr-enable-floppy, >>>> > --mbr-disable-floppy, >>>> > --mbr-enable-osbr, --mbr-disable-osbr, --duce, --time-out=T, >>>> > --hot-key=K, >>>> > --preferred-drive=D, --preferred-partition=P, --sectors-per-track=S, >>>> > --heads=H, >>>> > --start-sector=B, --total-sectors=C, --install-partition=I, --lba, >>>> > --chs, >>>> > --fat12, --fat16, --fat32, --vfat, --ntfs, --ext2, --serial-number=SN, >>>> > --restore-mbr, --mbr-no-bpb, --chs-no-tune >>>> > DEVICE_OR_FILE: Filename of the device or image. For DOS, a BIOS drive >>>> > number >>>> > (in hex 0xHH or decimal DDD format)can be used to access the drive." >>>> > >>>> > I see that someone >>>> > (http://ubuntuforums.org/archive/index.php/t-1163031.html) has >>>> > suggested that the command should be: sudo >>>> > /boot/Grub4DOS/stage2/bootlace.com --floppy=7 /dev/sdb7, but since i >>>> > am worried about wiping my whole hard disk i am worried about >>>> > experimenting (i don't want "sudo /boot/Grub4DOS/stage2/bootlace.com >>>> > --floppy=1 /dev/sdc1" to write to sda1 as opposed to sdc1). >>>> > >>>> > I have been overwhelmed by the grub4dos readme file, so if anyone as >>>> > any ideas on either 1) how to get grub4dos working, or 2) how i make a >>>> > live usb from the Lenovo ISO to update my BIOS, i'd appreciate it. >>>> > >>>> > Sorry for the long and complicated issue. >>>> > >>>> > Thanks, >>>> > >>>> > j >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > On 31 January 2012 21:32, James Morrissey <morrissey.jam...@gmail.com> >>>> > wrote: >>>> >> Thanks for all the help on this. >>>> >> >>>> >> I ended up using the windows utility and the whole process was >>>> >> painless. Instructions were here: >>>> >> http://download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub/pc/pccbbs/mobiles/8quj08us.txt >>>> >> >>>> >>> I've just had a look at BIOS updates for my Thinkpad Edge 11 and >>>> >>> they're >>>> >>> delivered as a bootable CD so there will presumably be a similar >>>> >>> option for >>>> >>> the Thinkpad X121e. >>>> >>> >>>> >> >>>> >> Yes, one is available here: >>>> >> http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/downloads/detail.page?DocID=DS019251, >>>> >> but the windows route seemed easier. >>>> >> >>>> >> Thanks again. >>>> >> >>>> >>>> Hello, did you try running the bios flash utility as administrator on >>>> windows by explicitly right-clicking it. That's always a good way for >>>> it to fail. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> Kris Douglas. >>>> www.krisd.eu >>>> >>>> -- >>>> ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com >>>> https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk >>>> https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/ >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com >>> https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk >>> https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/ >>> > > -- > ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com > https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk > https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/ -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/
