[ubuntu-uk] Update BIOS with dual boot

Tue Jul 17 22:07:45 UTC 2012

Hi Anton,

Yeah, i tried two USB sticks. The first didn't work and after finding
the following post
(http://linuxified-tips.blogspot.co.uk/2008/08/bootlacecom-produces-error-invalid.html)
i saw that it had two partitions on it, in GParted. For some reason i
wasn't able to delete the partitions - but i'll save that issue for
another thread...

I then tried another USB which showed only one partition in GParted.
It gave the exact same error message.

Also i am not trying to write the ISO at this point. I am just trying
to create the grub4dos boot sector in the MBR of the flash drive. From
the instructions
(http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/BIOS_Upgrade#Using_grub4dos_.28also_for_Linux.29)
it seems like i am meant to then copy the ISO to the root directory of
the pendrive.

So i don't think its the ISO or the disk.

Thanks for looking into this via your friend. I'll appreciate any advice.

I'll also call Lenovo in the morning to see if they can tell me why
the Windows utility isn't working.

j

On 17 July 2012 22:10, Anton Kanishchev <antonk20117 at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi there,
> Have you made sure that the iso you create /put on the stick is correct? I
> had a few problems myself on the past where files downloaded from websites
> are not exact and come back with all sorts of errors. Have you tried another
> usb stick (or a cd for that matter to put the iso on?) some sticks do not
> appear to function as they should if you boot from them. I will get in
> contact with a guy I know (who also has a lenovo running linux so may have
> come across this problem) and will reply back with any new info. But at the
> moment I would try another usb stick if you can, it may solve the issue.
>
> On Jul 17, 2012 9:08 PM, "James Morrissey" <morrissey.james1 at 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.james1 at 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.
>> >
>> > j
>>
>> --
>> ubuntu-uk at lists.ubuntu.com
>> https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk
>> https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/
>
>
> --
> ubuntu-uk at lists.ubuntu.com
> https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk
> https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/
>

-- 
James Morrissey
Research Officer
Refugee Studies Centre | Department of International Development |
University of Oxford
3 Mansfield Road | Oxford, United Kingdom | OX1 3TB