[ltp] Updating BIOS and Embedded Controller from Windows CD install

[Bjørn Mork]

leam@reuel.net writes:

> The BIOS and Embedded Controller Programs are not the most
> current. Is there any problem with reloading the laptop with NT,
> upgrading the BIOS/ Embeded Controller, and then re-installing
> Linux?

You don't need to do that.  Burn two bootable CDs with the updater
floppy images and use them.  There is no need to install Windows.

HOWTO:

a) download the "Non-Diskette" images from IBM (you may have to select
   a Windows OS to get this option)

b) extract the self-extracting .exe using cabextract:

bjorn@obelix:~/tmp$ cabextract spsu1i69.exe 
Extracting cabinet: spsu1i69.exe
  extracting 1IUJ11US.IMG
  extracting IBMTPI.XML
  extracting BIOSUPTP.EXE
  extracting DOBOOT.EXE
  extracting DOSBOOT.COM
  extracting DOSBOOT.SYS
  extracting DOSBOOT.VXD
  extracting EFLASHAS.SYS

All done, no errors.

c) create an el-torito bootable CD from the extracted floppy image
   (the xxxxxxxx.IMG file):

bjorn@obelix:~/tmp$ mkisofs -b 1IUJ11US.IMG -c cat -o 1IUJ11US.iso 1IUJ11US.IMG
INFO:   ISO-8859-1 character encoding detected by locale settings.
        Assuming ISO-8859-1 encoded filenames on source filesystem,
        use -input-charset to override.
Size of boot image is 2880 sectors -> Emulating a 1440 kB floppy
Total translation table size: 2048
Total rockridge attributes bytes: 0
Total directory bytes: 0
Path table size(bytes): 10
Max brk space used 0
896 extents written (1 MB)


d) burn it:

bjorn@obelix:~/tmp$ cdrecord -v 1IUJ11US.iso
cdrecord: No write mode specified.
cdrecord: Asuming -tao mode.
[etc]

e) repeat for the EC updater

f) boot the CDs, but remember to read all instructions from IBM first!



Bjørn