Toshiba Netbook NB100 - Bios update failure

[malcolli]

Toshiba have launched another bios update for the NB100 Linux UNR.
Unfortunately you cannot do the bios update on an already updated system.
I have downloaded the bios update zip file bios-20090312152021.zip. Extracted the file ARL190.sh, changed the properties to make it executable then run it .
When run in a terminal nothing happens and the bios is not updated.

The only way to update the bios is to do a factory reset and do the bios update BEFORE doing the UNR / LPIA updates.

This has already been mentioned in the Toshiba forums, and reported to Toshiba support.
Toshiba say it is an open source problem, and a factory reset has to be done Thanks Toshiba!

Why is this?

[malcolli (malcolm-collins12)]

When run the following message is displayed

Module isfl_drv.ko insert error

[Lucas Maneos (ubuntu-subs)]

Workaround: the NB105 BIOS update (<http://cdgenp01.csd.toshiba.com/content/support/downloads/ll10v190.exe>) contains a binary-identical BIOS image (ar10x190.fd) to the one contained in ARL190.sh (bios.rom), and also a bootable ISO image that can be used to flash the NB100.

For those without a USB CD drive readily available, follow the instructions at <http://en.gentoo-wiki.com/wiki/FreeDOS_Flash_Drive> to create a bootable FreeDOS USB stick and add the DOS-based flasher found in the above archive. To extract:
- extract the contents of ll10v190.exe (it's a ZIP archive)
- loopback-mount or extract the contents of ll10v190.iso found in the above
- loopback-mount (-t vfat -o loop) 2290D190.IMA somewhere

The above worked for me, but we may not be so lucky next time. Anything relying on a binary-only kernel driver is guaranteed to break sooner or later.

[Lucas Maneos (ubuntu-subs)]

A Free option that could possibly work without requiring any kernel modules is flashrom (<http://www.coreboot.org/Flashrom>). However it does not currently detect the flash chip used, and while "flashrom -f -c 82802AC -r bios" works it produces a file that differs from the published one in 5350 bytes so I'm not feeling brave enough to test it.

[Chris Gregan (cgregan)]

Bill,
Do we have any information on this. I realize the advice is not correct, but do we have any info on the bios updater shipped? Seems to me if it had a kernel depends the tool would not have launched to begin with.

[David Horváth (chronos-hun)]

I can confirm https://bugs.launchpad.net/netbook-remix/+bug/348198/comments/2 as a workaround. I successfully updated my bios from 1.30 to 1.90 with that method. I just wrote to usb stick the Bootable_2.88M.img, boot up from usb stick with AC plugged in, and worked beatifully.
Thank you!

[Lucas Maneos (ubuntu-subs)]

New BIOS update released (2.0, http://support1.toshiba-tro.de/tedd-files2/0/bios-20090728134553.zip), same problem.

dmesg says:
[ 815.145528] isfl_drv: disagrees about version of symbol struct_module

and modinfo on the binary kernel module shows:

filename: isfl_drv.ko
license: Proprietary
version: 0.0.02
description: InsydeFlash tool for Linux
author: Howard Ho <email address hidden>
srcversion: 1CC9B552E0B905753632615
depends:
vermagic: 2.6.24-19-lpia SMP mod_unload 586

[Lucas Maneos (ubuntu-subs)]

FYI, http://cdgenp01.csd.toshiba.com/content/support/downloads/ll10v200.exe contains an identical BIOS image.

[Chih-Hsyuan Ho (chih)]

A bootable USB disk can be easily made by following the steps below:

1. Extract the Bootable_2.88M.img file from http://cdgenp01.csd.toshiba.com/content/support/downloads/ll10v200.exe

2. Plug-in a USB disk and let's assume it is recognized by the system as /dev/sdb

3. Run the following commands:

$sudo dd if=Bootable_2.88M.img of=/dev/sdb

4. The USB disk can be used to boot up the system and upgrade the BIOS in it.

[Mark Fraser (launchpad-mfraz)]

Just to clarify the 1st step in the guide above, using unzip extract ll10v200.iso from http://cdgenp01.csd.toshiba.com/content/support/downloads/ll10v200.exe

[p vandenplas (pvdp)]

The method described by Chih ho didn't work for me (unable to boot) so ..

I did it on a tiny usb key (64 Mb) :

1/ $sudo dd if=Bootable_2.88M.img of=/dev/sdb.

2/ keep 2 files : ar10x200.fd and flashit.exe

3/ install freedos as explained here : http://manual.sidux.com/fr/bios-freedos-fr.htm (in french)

4/ copy the 2 files above on the key

5/ boot on freedos

6/ enter : flashit.exe ar10x200.fd

That's it.

[Chih-Hsyuan Ho (chih)]

Please try to use imagewriter to prepare the USB bootable disk, instead. Imagewriter is part of the usb-imagewriter package which can be directly downloaded by: sudo apt-get install usb-imagewriter

[David Horváth (chronos-hun)]

2.10 is out.
http://cdgenp01.csd.toshiba.com/content/support/downloads/ll10v210.exe
extract it, you'll have iso image. Extract that as well, you'll have an img file. Use the Ubuntu bootable image writer or how its called. Boot up, make sure you have usb legacy turned on in the bios, and with f12 select usb memory. If not working, try it again with formatting.

[malcolli (malcolm-collins12)]

I'm sorry, but I am lost.
Extracted II10v210.exe . That gave me II10v210 folder.
Open the folder I see II10v210.iso OK
I extract that giving me another folder II10v210 with 3 files in it
2354D210.IMA;1 BOOT.CAT;1 and README.TXT;1

I also tried to extract the ar210.exe file but it won't do it?

Where is the IMG file

I ran image-wrtier but it cannot find the IMG file?

Where am I going wrong?

[malcolli (malcolm-collins12)]

If I download bios 2009092410337 from Toshiba I cannot extract the AR210.exe any further. I get the error

End-of-central-directory signature not found. Either this file is not
  a zipfile, or it constitutes one disk of a multi-part archive. In the
  latter case the central directory and zipfile comment will be found on
  the last disk(s) of this archive.
zipinfo: cannot find zipfile directory in one of /home/malcolm2396/Desktop/AR210.exe or
          /home/malcolm2396/Desktop/AR210.exe.zip, and cannot find /home/malcolm2396/Desktop/AR210.exe.ZIP, period.

I have a Toshiba NB100-11B running Ubuntu 9.04 netbook.
Would like to run 9.10, but it seems from some posts that I need to update the bios first?

[Chih-Hsyuan Ho (chih)]

Malcolli, I can extract AR210.exe contained in ll10v210.exe downloaded from https://bugs.launchpad.net/netbook-remix/+bug/348198/comments/12 just fine (refer to the attached screen shot)

[Chih-Hsyuan Ho (chih)]

Malcolli, I can extract AR210.exe contained in ll10v210.exe downloaded from https://bugs.launchpad.net/netbook-remix/+bug/348198/comments/12 just fine (refer to the attached screen shot)

[Chih-Hsyuan Ho (chih)]

Malcolli, by the way, I was using file-roller to extract those files.

[LifeBringer (lifebringer-heavenknows)]

Just so people understand. .IMA is the same thing as .IMG. Just change the extension to .IMG to use. Furthermore, Macolli was attempting to extract the AR210.exe, which is not really possible.

Cheers

[LifeBringer (lifebringer-heavenknows)]

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/FromImgFiles

The above page has links to both Windows and Linux software for writing IMG files to USB media.

Enjoy! I'll be updating my NB100-14 to run Win7 as we speak.

Version 2.10 2009-09-08
   o Added support for the TVAP "Alarm power on" functions for the Win7
     tool.
   o Added support for the Window 7 Container ID function.
   o The CMOS Year/Month/Date default setting is set to 2009/07/01 when an
     RTC battery failure occurs.
   o Fixed: Setup menu string errors in French mode.
   o Added a BIOS update method for Linux users to use USB memory.

Version 2.00 2009-07-08
   o Fixed: WOL doesn't work after shutdown for 2~3 seconds.
   o Updated: SLP2.1 for WINDOWS 7.
   o Added one extra reset in the EC when the user presses the power button
     from S4/S5 for the WOL issue.

Version 1.90 2009-03-09
   o Fixed: FN + X key doesn't work properly on German and Belgium
     keyboards.

Version 1.60 2009-01-14
   o Fixed: DOS mode 3G on/off hotkey does not function.
   o Updated the ATOM CPU microcode to 212.
   o Improved: S4 cycling color Screen Issue.
   o Improved: BIOS flash program in Linux.
   o Added: When the user presses Fn+ "~" hotkey in DOS mode, the EC will
     send a 3G On/Off SMI to the host.

Version 1.50 2008-12-19
   o SCU will hang when pressing the space key to change language.
   o Disables the KB and PS/2 mouse when flashing the BIOS.
   o Changed: CPU supports C4 only in DC mode.
   o Updated the VBIOS to disable unnecessary settings.
   o Fixed: When RTC is lost can not find BT.
   o Fixed: When using 3G wireless and USB Memory, can not boot to OS.
   o Fixed: When a CRT is attached and the display mode is set to
     Auto-Selected in BIOS, the TOSHIBA LOGO appears twice.
   o EC turns off SB power when system (XP) shuts down to prevent color
     screen issue.
   o Improved cycling fail rate.
   o Added additional BIOS interface for the flash utility.
   o Fixed: Linux can't boot when the SATA controller is changed to
     Compatibility mode.
   o Support added for the Realtek/Silego clock generator.
   o Modified the pixel clock to auto switch the VBIOS for 3G and non 3G
     modules.

[LifeBringer (lifebringer-heavenknows)]

Lastly, it registers as 'FDD' in the boot menu as an IMG.

[Leo (leorolla)]

This is not a Netbook Remix bug.