Ubuntu
linux package

  1. Bug #1618267
  2. Comment #10

Comment 10 for bug 1618267

Revision history for this message
Thor H. Johansen (thorhajo) wrote :

For others who come across this report, here are some crucial bits of information about upgrading the BIOS on this machine:

1. Download the Windows BIOS update from the Lenovo support website.
2. Install innoextract (apt-get install innoextract) and use it to extract the MS-DOS flash utility inside.
3. Get a pre-built FreeDOS image from https://www.chtaube.eu/computers/freedos/bootable-usb/ and write it to a USB drive as instructed.
4. Mount the FAT partition on the USB drive (e.g. sudo mount /dev/sdb1 /mnt) and copy the flash image to the drive (e.g. sudo cp app/1QCN32WW.exe /mnt/).
5. Unmount (e.g. umount /mnt), reboot and mash Fn+F2 to get into the BIOS. If the system refuses to reboot, pull out the USB drive (MBR boot records seem to make the BIOS hang if it's not in Legacy Support mode).
6. Change Boot Mode to Legacy Support.
7. Exit and save changes.
8. You should now be able to boot FreeDOS. Stick with the defaults in the boot menus.
9. Type DIR to get a list of files.
10. Run the flasher utility (e.g. 1QCN32WW and return).
11. Let it do its thing.
12. You might get an Access Denied / Invalid Image error at this point. Don't panic! Your computer is not bricked. Hit Ctrl+Alt+Del and mash Fn+F2 to get into the BIOS again, disable the Safe Boot option, then Exit and save changes.
13. Your system will now boot again.

If you're installing Ubuntu on this system, I suggest you keep Safe Boot disabled all the time. It seems to cause nothing but trouble.