Here are the steps I used to upgrade the BIOS of my Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon Gen 2.
You have to download the bootable ISO file from Lenovo support site, convert it and copy it to a usb flash drive.
You will need a USB key you can erase.
First Get the bootable ISO file from Lenovo support website. To get your product number:
sudo dmidecode -t system | grep Product
To check your BIOS version: sudo dmidecode -t bios
Get the geteltorito program from your packages or download it:
cd /tmp/ wget http://userpages.uni-koblenz.de/~krienke/ftp/noarch/geteltorito/geteltorito chmod +x geteltorito
Extract the img from the ISO:
./geteltorito -o bios.img gruj09us.iso
Copy the img to the USB key (make sure sdb is you USB key!!):
sudo fdisk -l /dev/sdb #at least check that device size is right sudo dd if=bios.img of=/dev/sdb
That’s it. Boot on USB stick and follow the instructions to update your BIOS.
In my case, X1 Carbon Gen 1, and not Gen 2….
I’d like to have feedback before if any one tried? ;) What’s Geteltorito repository?
Thank’s for the tip ;)
Pad
Actually I have :
~ sudo dmidecode -t bios
# dmidecode 2.12
SMBIOS 2.7 present.
Handle 0x000E, DMI type 0, 24 bytes
BIOS Information
Vendor: LENOVO
Version: G6ET93WW (2.53 )
Release Date: 02/04/2013
Address: 0xE0000
Runtime Size: 128 kB
ROM Size: 12288 kB
Characteristics:
PCI is supported
PNP is supported
BIOS is upgradeable
BIOS shadowing is allowed
Boot from CD is supported
Selectable boot is supported
EDD is supported
3.5″/720 kB floppy services are supported (int 13h)
Print screen service is supported (int 5h)
8042 keyboard services are supported (int 9h)
Serial services are supported (int 14h)
Printer services are supported (int 17h)
CGA/mono video services are supported (int 10h)
ACPI is supported
USB legacy is supported
BIOS boot specification is supported
Targeted content distribution is supported
UEFI is supported
BIOS Revision: 2.53
Firmware Revision: 1.2
Handle 0x002D, DMI type 13, 22 bytes
BIOS Language Information
Language Description Format: Abbreviated
Installable Languages: 1
en-US
Currently Installed Language: en-US
~
Hi Pad,
geteltorito is just a perl script to extract the iso.
http://freecode.com/projects/geteltorito
you should get the iso file from lenovo download website.
Marc
I Left it aside… And just did it now ;-)
Works like a charm… ThX a Lot !
I works … But just one question: Why did I have to make an img with iso file, with geteltorito?
img should works also no?
I’m not an expert on the matter : I think some special iso files can be used either on USB or CD, but this one from Lenovo has to be transformed.
I used the USB method on T520i with BIOS 1.29/EC 1.22
And some point of BIOS update, i received and error screen.
After that computer booted with new 1.45 BIOS, but the EC was at version 1.22
Using an update with a CD fixed things.
Works fine on “X1 Carbon 3rd Generation” with current n14ur07w.iso.
@Tobias Hommel
I am still with BIOS v1.06 on my “X1 3rd gen” and I wonder if it makes sense updating to v1.09(n14ur07w.iso). Have you noticed any improvements?
Perfect.
This does work great on X1 Carbon 3rd generation with n14ur09w.iso.
You safe my day :)
Works great on X1 Carbon 3rd generation with n14ur10w.iso.
I tried this but was not able to get it to boot for Lenovo T510. I definitely snagged the bootable BIOS but when it burnt out to the USB there was nothing there (is that normal?). When I tried to boot the error message was that there was no OS? Any ideas??
How do you do this in Windows? I download a geteltoritor utility for Windows and it’s creates an image of only 512 bytes.
BTW, Lenovo bios util does NOT run any Windows 7/8/10 64 bit versions. I rather not burn a CD…since my Lenovo has no CD drive
It works on Thinkpad E470 and r0duj12wd.iso. Thanks!
Where do we save the ISO file as i cannot run the ./geteltorito -o bios.img gruj09us.iso command properly. It throws up an error. Also if the file is nor there in the tmp folder how will it run the file. Please help and give more details.
I was able to get the file and everything setup but now i am receiving an error saying persmission denied
Now i am stuck at a point where i receive a syntax error. please Help i am trying to update my Lenovo thinkpad x260 bios because of the sleep problem that most lenovo thinkpads are facing
Please paste the command and terminal output if you want help.
start with “sudo ” give space and then type the command.
it will ask for password, type in you password carefully and press return or enter
Make sure you select the usb drive or your HDD will be damaged.
All the best
I’m trying to run geteltorito but it throws up an error:
The file ‘./geteltorito’ is marked as an executable but could not be run by the operating system.
How to proceed?
Ah, the URL was invalid. It should be http://userpages.uni-koblenz.de/~krienke/ftp/noarch/geteltorito/geteltorito/geteltorito
you saved my day! lenovo should send you money! :)
Thanks! Worked perfectly on a Gen1 :)
This update does not work on old Lenovo Thinkpads. The update can be carried out only on the new version of laptops.