[ubuntu-uk] Update BIOS with dual boot
James Morrissey
morrissey.james1 at gmail.com
Wed Jul 18 08:02:11 UTC 2012
Hi Phil
Thanks for looking into this.
have you tried this method? [1] If it is not correct, then the instructions
> need updating to include systems it will not work on :/
I am a little confused. This is telling me how to install Lubuntu onto
a flash disk. Part of that involves loading a boot loader (GRUB 2)
onto the MBR of the flash disk, but this only happens during the
Lubuntu install process. I am not sure how i go about just installing
a boot loader and then importing the Lenovo ISO.
j
On 18 July 2012 01:28, Phill Whiteside <PhillW at ubuntu.com> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> have you tried this method? [1] If it is not correct, then the instructions
> need updating to include systems it will not work on :/
>
> Regards,
>
> Phill.
> 1. http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1872303
>
> On 17 July 2012 23:07, James Morrissey <morrissey.james1 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> 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
>>
>> --
>> ubuntu-uk at lists.ubuntu.com
>> https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk
>> https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/
>
>
>
>
> --
> https://wiki.ubuntu.com/phillw
>
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