BIOS Update Bootable or Update Utility

Hi,
I am in the process of installing all updates on my new W520. Regarding the BIOS, I noticed there are two options as following:
BIOS Update Bootable CD for Windows 7
BIOS Update Utility for Windows 7
Is it preferable to use one over the other? What is the reason why Lenovo offers this choice?
Thanks
W520 (4270 CTO) | i7-2820QM (8mb cache) | BIOS 1.40 | 1920x1080 FHD | Sensor |
Hybrid Seagate 750gb | 16 GB 1333 mHz RAM | 2000M NVIDIA GPU 2gb | Ultimate-N 6300 | Windows 7 Professional (64-bit)
Solved!
Go to Solution.

I can tell you that with previous models the bios update utility wouldn't run under a 64bit windows version so their solution was a bootable dos type disc that would do the flash, however I don't (personally) think it was designed well. The bootable disc will do the job just fine assuming there are no problems with the computer, but I had it destroy a computer because I hadn't realized that a used computer I picked up had a failing optical drive, so a few simple read errors on the disc and it flashed garbled data onto my bios chip and there is no easy way to recover.
Since your unit is new and in top condition, it shouldn't matter, and even if the bios flash did ruin your system board, it would be fixed under warranty, but if I was designing the bootable disc I would have it pause with a "do not continue if your system appears unstable", instead of having it continue no matter what state the system is in.
The update utility is my method of choice now, but keep in mind that you do need a stable operating system. a random bluescreen crash in the middle of a flash and you could end up with an unusable system.
ThinkPad W-510 i7-820QM(1.73-3.06GHz) Quad Core... ThinkPad T500, T9900, 8gb SSD...FrankNpad T-60p/61p (X9000 2.8ghz) 8gb SSD ips FlexView...ThinkPad T-61p (T9300 2.5ghz) 8gb ram...Thinkpad X-61 Tablet 4gb ram...ThinkPad A-31 (1.9ghz P4 1.5gb ram)

Similar Messages

BIOS update utility does not run

I am on an IBM-branded T42, model 2378-EXU. My current BIOS level is 3.13 (1RETDHWW). I have XP Professional with all service packs and updates installed and up to date.
I am trying to update to the latest BIOS of 3.23 (1RETDRWW).
I downloaded the BIOS update utility file 1ruj37us.exe from the Lenovo support & downloads site. I copied it to a temp directory on my hard drive. I disconnected my computer from the dock, have it on AC power, have a fully charged battery. I have shut down all other applications and my antivirus software. I have followed all other instructions on the site verbatim.
When I run the exe file, it starts up in Windows as expected. I run through all the confirmation screens and tell it to start the BIOS update. As I understand it, the next thing should be automatic startup of a DOS utility that does the actual work. Instead, as soon as I hit the final confirmation on the Windows utility, it shuts down Windows and restarts the computer. The BIOS does not get updated. I have confirmed this through system utilities (the Thinkpad system information) and by interrupting startup and verifying the BIOS information in the configuration utility. I have also tried reloading BIOS to default in order to reinitialize it.
I have done these steps at least four times now. My computer doesn't update and the update utility never fires up the workhorse part of the functionality. It just goes straight to system restart.
Can you offer any suggestions?

I have started the exe utility from a DOS window by manually typing in the name, I have started it from the RUN dialog box, and I have started it by double-clicking it from the Windows Explorer. In all cases it starts up the Windows application portion just fine. I get all the initial warning messages and confirmation messages. But as soon as I get to the "do it now button" (click Next to update your BIOS), it just immediately shuts down and restarts my computer without doing the flash update.

New NF980-G65 with an AMD X6 1090T and the BIOS Update Utility Crashes?

Last week I received my new NF980-G65 board and with it an AMD Phenom II X6 1090T (Thuban 3.2GHz Socket AM3). After installing the board and starting it up for the first time I noticed that it reports BIOS version 1.1 and CPU unknown. Next I downloaded the BIOS update to version 1.3 from msi, made a boot USB stick and powered up again. System will not boot from USB. I tried now over 20 different sticks from 256MB to 64GB and none of them worked!
Went back to my old system and ripped its floppy drive out to install it in the new computer. Had to go to RadioShack since I have not touched a floppy in over 10 years, but they had some on clearance. Made me a boot disk, put the new BIOS and install utility on it, booted the system with the floppy, started the BIOS update utility and watched it crash. When I start it by itself it gives me three screens of options and commands, but as soon as I try to use one of the commands or update the BIOS it keeps crashing.
What do I have to do to get the BIOS on the NF980-G65 updated so it will run with my AMD X6 1090T processor?
Thank you in advance for ANY help...
Tyler

Quote
I am sorry, but I need to work with this thing since I make a living writing code, I do not play with it! This thing and the support I am getting for it are not worth my time or money!
What thing are you talking about? You are experiencing the a certain symptom for which you do not know the cause. For some strange reason and without any in-depth tests you seem to assume that the board must be the problem (ignoring all other components (for example your factory overclocked memory modules).
Quote
the support I am getting for it are not worth my time or money!
What support have you tried to get that actually has to do anything with money? Please note that this is not MSI Technical Support but a User-to-User forum, run by users (just like you) that do not get paid for donating their private time to try to help others. Whatever your level of frustration is in regards to the money spent for your components, please do not use it to insult anyone here in this forum.
Quote
The result remains the same, the update utility keeps crashing...
Are still using the same floppy drive with the same floppy disk in it?
What is your current BIOS-Version?
Quote
BIOS update utility
What version? What is the exact file name of that utility?
Quote
ade me a boot disk
How/Based on what DOS Version?

BIOS update utility - ThinkPad X61, X61s, Reserve Edition Version: 2.20

BIOS update utility - ThinkPad X61, X61s, Reserve Edition
A new BIOS update is available on Lenovo site for X61. Is it worth updating and will it solve overheating problem. Please let me know those who tested it.
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-67982
Regards.

I forgot to follow up my own follow up. The heat problem returned and I was going to send it back again, but realized tech would probably just repack and send it back to me untouched. I was able to reduce the heat by eliminating much of the bloatware, including several of Lenovo's own utilities. I monitor it now and find that when running a spyware scan, for example, the heat builds up again.
I believe the problem is all about hardware constrictions, that is, faster components in an ever-shrinking case. I blame developers for not implementing better cooling techniques, and am especially critical of the premium sellers like Lenovo for charging as much as they do for mediocre performance.
Tom

Does Toshiba supports an BIOS Update Utility like DCCU?

Hi all
Different notebook manufacturer use a utility called the Client Configuration Utility (DCCU) which can be used to update the BIOS for multiple notebook models from the series.
I have searched these forums and the web but I cannot find a similar tool for Toshiba laptops.
Can anyone point me in the right direction please?
Thanks
Scott
Edited by: admin

> My firm has hundreds of laptops from another large manufacturer who do supply the DCCU utility to centrally manage BIOS updates and other BIOS settings, such as enabling/disabling options like Wake On LAN.
Well, the Toshiba provides a tool called Toshiba HWSetup. Using this tool you can change the different BIOS settings like booting order, wake up on LAN, etc very easily in the Windows OS.
As you know BIOS update is always risky and the BIOS update procedure is not always the same on all Toshiba notebooks series. The wrong BIOS or wrong update procedure can damage the motherboards ROM.
Therefore the BIOS update must be done on single notebook.
> Why is it that this particular manufacturer can create the DCCU utility that works for all machine models and Toshiba cannot produce a similar utility please?
Who knows ?:| I didnt find such informations in the internet or on the Toshiba page Such questions can be answered by a Toshiba technician or Toshiba manager but as you probably dont know this is a user-to-user forum and a simply user like me and you dont know such details In my personal opinion every manufacturer have own policies and restrictionsThat's all
Best regards

BIOS Update Utility for Win8 x64?

I need to install a BIOS update available for the H430, but Lenovo doesn't offer an update utility that runs under 64-bit Windows. The instructions in the BIOS download say to download an ISO image file and burn it to a CD. That's fine, but I can't find any such file on the Lenovo site.
How do I install a BIOS update on an H430 running Win8 x64?

Quote from: GGMan on 24-May-06, 10:37:33
Hi, when I try to update the BIOS from 1.4 to 1.6 I get the following error message "The image file c:\....\7185v16\AWFL859G.exe is valid, but is for a machine type other than the current machine" . The reason I am doing an up date is because its detecting my CPU at 0 revs. But when i use another scoket on the MB (system fan) it reads it ok. And when I put the system fan into CPU, its ok as well . Hence the Update. Plus I cant get "live update 3.75" to work as get the following error all the time "service has not started" (not to bothered about this error). I am currently using XP Pro x64 Edition .
Regards
GGMan
ok, let me understand. you want to update because the CPU fan shows 0 rpms in BIOS. if you put the system fan on the CPU fan connector, then it shows a correct value for rpms? then the BIOS is not a problem, but the fan is. did you check if the fan was actually spinning or the connector was properly inserted? anyway, have you also checked if the BIOS version you want to flash to contains a fix for your problem? you can see that in the BIOS release notes.
it seems to me that you are trying to flash with the wrong BIOS. make sure that if you flash, you use the correct one for your mobo.

Bios Update Utility for Linux?

Hi Community,
I want to know if there is a way to update a BIos in a Lenovo 3000 N200 using Linux as an operating system.
Thanks.
Hope to hear from you.

I have started the exe utility from a DOS window by manually typing in the name, I have started it from the RUN dialog box, and I have started it by double-clicking it from the Windows Explorer. In all cases it starts up the Windows application portion just fine. I get all the initial warning messages and confirmation messages. But as soon as I get to the "do it now button" (click Next to update your BIOS), it just immediately shuts down and restarts my computer without doing the flash update.

ThinkPad Edge S430: BIOS update utility for Windows 2.50

For anybody who wants to update to the latest BIOS released a couple of days ago (gauj10us.exe) and get this error:
It's because the setup definition is wrong. You just have to execute with elevated privileges. Right click over the file and select "Run as administrator".
Cheers.
If I helped you, please give me some kudos! ^^

Hi Yasarharafath,
I am sorry for the delay in reply!
I am glad to hear that your system is now booting after using Phoenix Wincrisis Tool. But for this new issue suggest you to check with uninstalling ACPI adapter from the device manager. Remove the battery from the system & power on the system from connecting ‘Power Adapter’. Wait till the system boot completely and then go to ‘Device Manager’ then uninstall ‘Microsoft ACPI-Compliant Control Method Battery’ under battery option. After uninstalling shutdown the system, remove ‘Power Adapter’ and insert the battery then switch ON the system and check.
Hope this helps.
Best regards,
Hemanth Kumar
Did someone help you today? Press the star on the left to thank them with a Kudo!
If you find a post helpful and it answers your question, please mark it as an "Accepted Solution"! This will help the rest of the Community with similar issues identify the verified solution and benefit from it.
Follow @LenovoForums on Twitter!

BIOS Update Bootable CD ambiguity

I have a T500 for which I want to update my 6FET82WW v3.12 BIOS to v3.22.
I ran the BIOS update utility from the bootable CD. On the 2nd page of the Read Me First menu option, it says if the system is connected to an expansion unit remove it before running the update.
I'm using a Lenovo Advanced Mini Dock but am not sure if that qualifies as an expansion unit.
Do I need to remove my T500 from the dock? And if expansion unit is not another term for docking station, what the heck it is?
Regards,
Frank
Solved!
Go to Solution.

Thanks. Since I posted that I saw both terms used interchangeably in a document from Lenovo, so I performed the update undocked.
Odd though that in the Read Me file, under UPDATING THE BIOS where they list the 3 optical drives types that can be used, one of them is "Ultrabay installed in the Docking Station". Then in the BIOS update utility they tell you not perform the update from a docking station.

Lenovo t410 BIOS update for win 8.1

hi
I want to upgrade my BIOS, but there is no update available for bios in windows 8.1.. My Bios version is 1.18, I want to update because i read somewhere that if your fan make noise make sure you have updated BIOS :A.. I want to know if I can install "BIOS update for win 8" in my lenovo t410 with windows 8.1..
thanks everyone for helping..
sorry any mistake in english, I am from Kosova <3
Solved!
Go to Solution.

Hello.
The Windows BIOS upgrade isn't OS specific, it runs on all OS's between XP-Win8.1, even if it doesn't list 8.1 specifically.
You can either update it manually, using the update here:
BIOS Update Utility for ThinkPad T410, T410i
Or make a bootable CD/USB with the ISO file here:
BIOS Update Bootable CD for ThinkPad T410, T410i
Either way works like a charm on a Windows 8.1 machine, but be aware of the risks involved in updating your BIOS.
Good luck!
ThinkPad W540 (20BG) - i7-4800MQ/24GB // ThinkPad T440s (20AQ) - i7-4600U/12GB
ThinkPad T440p (20AW) - i7-4800MQ/16GB // ThinkPad Helix (3698-6EU) - i5-3337U/4GB
ThinkPad W520 (4282-W4Q) - i7-2720QM/32GB // ThinkPad T400 (2767-W1C) - P9500/8GB
ThinkPad T61 (7665-CTO) - T7700/4GB // ThinkPad T60p (8741-C2G) - T7400/4GB

Bios update problem...

i have a lenovo 3000 N100 0768 AQ1...I don't know which bios it had...i tried to update it...i downloaded bios update utility from
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-67008#install
and extracted it...after that i went to C:/> drive where it was extracted and double clicked a file name ...
"ADROMLDR.exe"....a window poped up i flashed the bios using a file "DL01108.WPH" in realtek folder...since then i have been faacing problems ...i dont have back up bios ...i formatted my laptop thinking it will get ok......
my pc still has the problem....if i use keyboard the usb get connected and disconnected frequently...and the audio is having problem too....if i start my pc with headphone plugged in..te speakers of laptop don't work..just the headphones....and if i restart with no headphone plugged in...speakers play but they play even when i plug in the headphone..i.e. both headphone and speakers work at same time........
please help me.....what should i do???

installed latest intel and sound drivers for your pc?

Boot failure in B50-30 Touch after BIOS update

Hi,
I bought a B50-30 Touch notebook 2 months ago in the United States.
Just before my visit to India, I updated the BIOS from version 2.04 to 2.07.
Now I am unable to successfully boot into the factory-installed Windows 8.1.
The Lenovo logo appears & the system gets stuck in a restarting loop.
I reset the BIOS to the system default settings, but still failed to boot successfully.
Even using the Novo button for system recovery results in an endless restarting loop.
Kindly let me know if there is any way I can flash the BIOS back to version 2.04 using an USB flash drive.
I have executables of both versions 2.04 & 2.07 of the BIOS update utility:
http://download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub/pc/pccbbs/mobiles/ziwb0207.exe
http://download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub/pc/pccbbs/mobiles/ziwb0207.txt
http://download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub/pc/pccbbs/mobiles/ziwb0204.exe
http://download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub/pc/pccbbs/mobiles/ziwb0204.txt
Any help in this regard would be greatly appreciated.
Waiting till I return back to States after 3 months is not a pleasant option.
Solved!
Go to Solution.

Andrew_Mitchell wrote:
That's a lot of useful info!
However it appears that you did not understand what I said about the Linux Live USB.
I was actually not successful in being able to view any of the partitions or files on the HDD.
Only the folders & files created by the Linux Live USB installation could be seen.
This is worrying as some of the stuff on the HDD needs to to backed up.
So I think it is a risk to proceed further before making sure that the data on the HDD is intact.
Also, another thing I would like to state is that the system (C) partition has nothing of value on it.
All the data that I need to backup is on the D: partition.
So if your instructions risk losing only the contents on the C: partition, then it is fine with me.
I can go ahead & try to repair the installation.
Please clarify this in order for me to proceed further.
As always, thanks a million for your help.
It is greatly appreciated.
PS I always make sure that I know what I am doing before tinkering with a system.
I understood your reference but I was indicating that the hardware was working, not inferrring the data was readable. If it came up with no hard disk installed under linux it would have been a different story. I apologize if this caused confusion.
There is always a chance that data will be lost with any change to partition information, that is why I always suggest making a back up if possible. If you can not see the data on the partitions, the best way is to use GParted and TestDisk to view the contents of the hard disk with both quick scan and deep scan options. Using this will not make changes to data, only allow you to see what TestDisk can say is there. If you look at TestDisk walkthru you can see it does not make changes unless you "write" or commit your changes to the drive.
If TestDisk shows you the partitions information it will include all that are "marked" for deletion or corrupted. It can give you options to view partition contents (raw data) to verify the proper partition to recover and then make it active. It can also restore boot sectors as well.
Windows RE will attempt to do this, but if it fails you will have little choice but to initialize the drive and start over.
PS> I figured you knew to look before leaping, but better not to assume... LOL

Lenovo w510 will not boot after BIOS update

Hi,
This morning I used the windows bios update utility to update my Lenovo w510 type 4318. Everything appeared to have been successful until the machine rebooted. It froze on the lenovo splash screen with text saying to press the blue think vantage button for more options.
I waited a good 30 minutes to make sure it wasn't processing anything before trying again. When frozen pressing the power button cause system to beep two times Pause and beep three more times.
Called Lenovo support and was told since out of warranty (2/12) the onlyI option is for paid mail in repair at quoted maximum of $575. Needless to say I was very dissatisfied - and made this clear to support who informed there was no way to escalate and no other options.
Does anyone have any other options or ability to escalate this case and keep a Lenovo customer. really disappointed
Case #9026SN6
Btw, reason i updated bios to fix issue with usable ram showing 3 gb.
Solved!
Go to Solution.

lead_org wrote:
sometimes it is safer to do the bios update outside of windows environment.
NEVER use the .EXE method for a BIOS update. Always use the .ISO and the CD/DVD boot method. Never update after the warranty expires.

ThinkVantage Toolbox does not run after BIOS update

Lenovo ThinkVantage System Update Tool on my T410 ThinkPad (2518EWG) offered me download and installation of ThinkPad BIOS Update Utility US version 1.28-1.11.
Since then, whenever I try to run Lenovo ThinkVantage Toolbox I receive a message: „This version of Lenovo ThinkVantage Toolbox is not licensed to run on this system“.
I notice that the ThinkVantage Toolbox still shows the old BIOS No. 6IET49WW (1.09), while the updated BIOS is 6IET68WW (1.28).
Any comprehensible instruction how to solve the problem for a computer layman will be much appreciated. Thanks - Jan

I have at least found out why this happened, the program obtained from Toshiba automatically 'attempts' to upgrade the BIOS upon activation. This means that the program engaged with errors without my authorisation. I don't find this very impressive from a company as large and powerful as Toshiba.
Also it may be possible to fix myself if the BIOS installation instructions made sense, extracting the .zip file does not create three sub folders and pressing the F12 key does not start the laptop.

Thinkpad E440 can't use wireless after 2.07 BIOS Update

Hi all, I need some help. I just bought a new thinkpad edge e440-Q01 last sturday. After I installed Win 7 ultimate 64 Bit, all the driver, everything work fine, i can connect to the internet, start working etc.
Then I update the BIOS, first it was 1.61 version then I upated my BIOS using BIOS utility for win 7 (downloaded from http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/downloads/default.page). After that i can't connect to the interter via wireless LAN. It was said that I need to turn on the "hardware radio switch", both intel wireless utility and thinkvantage connection utility says i need to switch the wireless on, but, i can't find the hardware switch for wireless on thinkpad edge e440.
I try to push F8 button, as there is a symbol of wireless LAN, but nothing happens.
Then when I open the device manager, there is lenovo connect 1.0 device and i can't find it's driver, so it remain as unknown device.
I try to reinstall the windows, but now i don't have bluetooth to.
Other driver such as GT740, Ethernet, chipset, usb, etc are working just fine.
Anyone can help?

just for addition, lenovo bios update utility have 2 option task. to update bios and model number. ican update the bios but not the model number.

BIOS Update Bootable or Update Utility

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for