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/
