BIOS upgrade? Or don't bother? Or Microcode ?

Hi all, I have a Thinkpad X220 with the original "stone age" (2011) BIOS. I don't have problems with the laptop, but I don't want to miss possible later optimalisations. (The only problem I have is the fan going wild from time to time, I'm looking into "thinkfan" solutions, so I consider that solved)
What do you guys advise regarding the BIOS? I am torn:
a) Upgrade it to the latest Lenovo bios
b) Leave it alone: "don't fix it if it ain't broken"
c) Microcode. Per the Arch Wiki: " .... . Intel releases microcode updates to correct processor behavior .....While the regular approach to getting this microcode update is via a BIOS upgrade, Intel realizes that this can be an administrative hassle. The Linux operating system and VMware ESX products have a mechanism to update the microcode after booting....."
[ d) coreboot. Unfortunately, flashing it is hard and it misses lot of functions.... This would have been the best solution, maybe later, when (if) the image is improved.... http://www.coreboot.org/Board:lenovo/x230 So I dismiss this solution for now ]
My idea is a): just upgrade to a newer BIOS. What would you advise me?

PieterGen wrote:
Hi all, I have a Thinkpad X220 with the original "stone age" (2011) BIOS. I don't have problems with the laptop, but I don't want to miss possible later optimalisations. (The only problem I have is the fan going wild from time to time, I'm looking into "thinkfan" solutions, so I consider that solved)
What do you guys advise regarding the BIOS? I am torn:
a) Upgrade it to the latest Lenovo bios
I recently upgraded the Intel bios on a Sandy Bridge board (an Intel board with sandy bridge i5, somewhat like yours). It bricked the board. Opinion in the Intel support forums was that the latest firmware would detect some sandy bridge boards as if they were Ivy Bridge and that _maybe_ my board would be able to boot if I upgraded the processor. It's cheaper to upgrade the board so I ended up tossing a perfectly good but unbootable motherboard into the trash. (and for the record, I am VERY happy with my new Gigabyte Z77 board -- GA-Z77X-UD3H). You have been warned.

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S7700n bios upgrade failure

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'your system does not meet the minimum requirements for this update. update has been cancelled (9996)'
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if a train comes to a stop at a train station then what becomes of work at a workstation?

question: is it possible one needs to install 5.02 first before installing 5.03? if so, could you please provide a link?
NO, one doesn't need to install all previous BIOS updates before installing the most current update. BIOS updates are cumulative and contain all previously released modifications.
"The only BIOS update listed for this model is...sp35113"... really? try this one on... sp35113 (5.03) and sp35154 (5.04)
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2007-09-14
sp35112.exe
Version:3.05
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2007-09-14
sp35113.exe
Version:5.03
Microsoft Windows Vista
A8MN-BR
2007-09-12
sp35155.exe
Version:3.04
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sp35154.exe
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Microsoft Windows Vista
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but what oh wise one might the other issues be? i've been at this for three days and i'm now at my wit's end
Without getting into too much detail, HP has the confusing habit of using the same or similar motherboard model numbers for different motherboards. To make matters worse, HP sometimes chooses to name the motherboard models with names that are the same but incremental or similar. Case in point... the M2N78-LA (4 diferent boards... Viola, Voilet, Violet3, Violet6)... the M2N68-LA (Narra, Narra2, Narra3, etc,)... the PTGD-LA/PTGD1-LA/PTGD2-LA series (Goldfish series, Grouper, Puffer, Piranha, etc.). Many times this cause BIOS update issues where there is a BIOS update listed on the support for a particular model but when you run the update, it is rejected.
This happened to me with a Violet based computer and a Violet6 based computer. HP listed the same BIOS update for both but it really only applied to the Violet based system. Trying to update the Violet6 board resulted in an error like yours. A call to HP and months later, they pulled the update.
I suspect some combination of errors is the reason you can't install the update. Honestly, the only one I would consider installing is sp35113.exe. And if it doesn't install, I would stop while ahead. The only reason to install a BIOS update, is to correct an issue that affects your system or to add support for something specific that you need. If the update doesn't address those items, there is no reason to attempt a potentially dangerous BIOS update and risk turning your computer into a BRICK.
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Frank
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Moderator note; subject line edited

Wow. Two days and not a single person knows what to do. Now, I know which brand of PC I should not buy. HP is way better, atleast they have a bios flash utility that can configure the bios upgrade to run off a pen drive.
Let me find my way out. Good day.

External USB keyboard does not work with T60 after BIOS upgrade

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t

Hi and welcome the forum!
Try uninstalling all USB hub devices from the device manager and reinstalling them again, particularly the keyboard's.
v2.26 is supposed to fix the issue according to lenovo:- http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-63024
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Hi,
i have a MSI 7800GTX installed in a Windows X86_64 machine and would like to know how I can update the cards BIOS as the update software does not work on this platform ?
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I have the same issue.
And no answer from Lenovo Support. Only bad links and no 32bit drivers for windows 8.1.
I's the first time and the last time i by a lenovo.
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Bon courage Laurent, il en faut de la patience...
C'est tellement dommage parce-qu'en dehors de ça c'est une petite machine bien pratique.

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Solved!
Go to Solution.

So here's the answer:
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BIOS upgrade stream

Is there a list of the necessary BIOS upgrades and the order of the upgrades?
I have been lead to understand that you cannot go directly from like 39 to 94.
Thanks
Frank
Kenmore, WA
USA

I waited and finally updated my S10 BIOS from 38 directly to 92.
No problems.
But don't update unless your machine has an issue
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Some users have attempted BIOS updates that fail and leave problems.
Others develop odd symptoms that did not exist before their BIOS update.
And most of the updates modify functions that do not affect most users.
For example, one update allows the user to turn off the power-plug-in&out beep in the BIOS.
The most recent update adds some sort of 3G functionality for the few 3G-capable machines.
Rule #1: If it ain't broke, don't fix it!
Message Edited by yus9 on 08-11-2009 10:57 PM

Tried BIOS upgrade. Ruined computer?

I was out of my element but I don't know of anyone in my town to ask for help.
Here's the story. Subject is a PM8M3-V motherboard with a Celeron 3.2 CPU. I thought I would like to try a Pentium 4 CPU since they are just about giving them away but was told that in order to use it I had to upgrade my BIOS to V1.5. Mine is 1.4.
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I remember seeing some reference to the fact that the floppy would save me if the BIOS upgrade failed but it seems it is not going to help me.
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Quote from: XFM on 12-September-12, 06:54:01
See this topic re: BIOS Recovery:
https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?topic=119375.0
Exactly which P4 CPU (model, part or spec code number) are you referring to? Not all are supported on that MB.
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Many thanks,

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Please, I don't need you to use this post to knock Linux.

The BIOS updates are here.
Can you read the Microsoft COA sticker and see all twenty five characters of the license activation key?
If you can, then you can download legal Digital River Windows 7 ISO images from here. I suggest using Windows 7 (64-bit). After you have the ISO image you can use the Microsoft USB\DVD tool to create a USB Windows 7 installer and upgrade the BIOS. The Windows 7 install will be very quick. The Windows 7 drivers for the notebook are here at the HP web support portal download section.
Anyone who uses a SmartPhone that has Android installed and knows what that means certainly wouldn't purposely knock Linux.
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Cannot find bios upgrade info on web site

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