[ltp] Short term work-around to ThinkPad 600E BIOS update problem

[linux-thinkpad@www.bm-soft.com]

Folks:

I have reproduced the problem myself, and I've determined that the problem
is new with BIOS revision INET26WW (file SPSDIN26.EXE) and does not exist
in the other released BIOSes (at least those from INET23WW onward).

Problem summary
===============
To summarize the problem, when a ThinkPad 600E is upgraded to BIOS INET26WW
(file SPSDIN26.EXE from the IBM HelpCenter Web Site), Linux fails to boot,
providing the error message:

    hda:  INVALID GEOMETRY: 0 PHYSICAL HEADS?

Other operating systems supported by IBM don't appear to be affected.

** PLEASE NOTE **
Not all ThinkPad 600E models use the INET2xWW series of BIOSes. The IBM
HelpCenter Web site describes which BIOS to use for the various flavors of
the ThinkPad 600E.

Recommendation
==============
My current recommendation is for Linux users to go back to BIOS INET25WW
(file SPSDIN25.EXE) until we've determined the exact nature of the problem
and have released an update. I have tested going from INET26WW backward to
INET25WW and have not encountered any problems. Here is a link to the BIOS
that I am recommending:
ftp://ftp.pc.ibm.com/pub/pccbbs/mobiles/spsdin25.exe

Don't forget to follow these steps (below) after updating the BIOS. These
steps are copied directly from the SPSDIN26.TXT file.

=================================================================
After the update has been completed, do the following to make the
changes effective.

7.  Make sure the System Program Service Diskette is removed from
    the diskette drive, then turn off the computer.
8.  Press and hold the F1 key, then turn on the computer. Hold the F1 key
    until the Easy-Setup menu appears.
9.  If a password prompt appears, type the correct password.
10. Select Config, then select Initialize.
11. Select OK to initialize the system.

Run the diagnostics to make sure that the computer runs with no errors:

12. Turn off the computer, press and hold the F1 key, then turn on
    the computer. Hold the F1 key until the Easy-Setup menu appears.
13. Select Test, then select Start to run all the basic tests.
    Various test patterns will appear on the screen.
    An OK will appear for each device that passes the test.
14. Verify that OK appears for all of the devices tested.
15. Press the Esc key to exit Test and turn off the computer.
=================================================================

Note that this problem is under active investigation.

-- Keith

Keith Frechette
Linux Development Lead, Mobile Computing Options and Software Development
IBM Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
kfrechet@us.ibm.com / 919-543-3761 / TieLine:441-3761


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