[ltp] A31p BIOS upgrade and win2k

[Meidinger,Christopher]

 Hello David,

i had similar (but not so extreme problems) with Windows XP after updating
the BIOS on my a31p as well. XP was not stable until i updated the BIOS
again with the even newer version. I have both BIOS files still if you want
them. 

The W2k Error 'inaccessible boot device' generally happens when you change
IDE configurations without uninstalling the IDE bus first. You can put HDDs
in safely, but do not remove them with uninstalling the IDE controllers &
drives first. Why this would happen after a BIOS update is a mystery to me,
but maybe that information will help.

Chris

PS: are you using a port replicator/docking station? The large IBM docking
stations have an extra IDE bus in them, which *could* cause a problem like
yours.



-----Original Message-----
From: David Grindrod
To: linux-thinkpad@www.bm-soft.com
Sent: 7/6/02 10:01 PM
Subject: [ltp] A31p BIOS upgrade and  win2k

  I have recently upgraded my BIOS on my A31p to the latest version  
(1.02 - 1GET30WW) following suggestions by IBM. After upgrading by 
downloading and running (as the IBM Update program did not work) 
everything seemed fine until I booted into Windows 2000 after booting 
into Linux. Windows would not boot no matter what I did and comes back 
with INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE in the  blue screen of death. I have 
performed all the obvious things (booting from repair console and 
installing mbr etc.) to fix things but always get the same error. Linux 
runs fine  and luckily I can boot into this and try and fix the problem.

Although this is not directly relevant to Linux other users should bear 
this in mind when considering upgrading the BIOS. It may be just my 
machine but I think this is more fundamental problem.  If anyone has any

suggestions on how to fix this without reformatting and re-installing I 
would appreciate it. Unfortunately I cannot ring IBM and ask them as 
they told me last week that since it is a dual boot machine then I have 
no software warranty (this was in the UK). I have paid for 3 year onsite

warranty world wide but apparently this is only for hardware. I was told

that as soon as I put another operating system on the box then they will

not help with any software issues! Typical as the only thing that seems 
to work on my box at the moment is the other invalid operating system. I

though IBM was supposed to support Linux! The only improvement of IBM 
over Dell is that IBM will not invalid your hardware warranty if you put

Linux on their Laptops. With Dell all your warranty is lost.

I have done a search of the web and this error seems to means that 
windows 2000 driver cannot read the  controller anymore. Suggestions on 
a fix are very welcome.

Dave

PS I have somehow lost my boot set-up for my recovery partition (can 
someone send me a copy of the boot set-up  for the booting the IBM 
Recovery tools (i.e. boot.ini) I would appreciate it. 





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