LAPTOP FORUM

> Hi All,
>
> Im looking for a BIOS image binary for an old IBM Thinkpad 310D laptop,
> type 2600-2UK. Does anyone know where I could find one, or even supply me
> with an image of theirs? The thinkpad support website doesnt have my model
> listed, and technical support arent interested in helping unless I pay them
> Ł60 first!
>
> The BIOS on the laptop I have has developed a fault that should be rectified
> by re-flashing it.
>

> Hi All,
>
> Im looking for a BIOS image binary for an old IBM Thinkpad 310D laptop,
> type 2600-2UK. Does anyone know where I could find one, or even supply me
> with an image of theirs? The thinkpad support website doesnt have my model
> listed, and technical support arent interested in helping unless I pay them
> Ł60 first!
>
> The BIOS on the laptop I have has developed a fault that should be rectified
> by re-flashing it.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Mark.
>
>

> Mark Potter wrote:
>> Hi All,
>>
>> Im looking for a BIOS image binary for an old IBM Thinkpad 310D
>> laptop, type 2600-2UK. Does anyone know where I could find one, or
>> even supply me with an image of theirs? The thinkpad support website
>> doesnt have my model listed, and technical support arent interested
>> in helping unless I pay them Ł60 first!
>>
>> The BIOS on the laptop I have has developed a fault that should be
>> rectified by re-flashing it.
>>
> What is the fault, & have you read this?:-
>
> http://www.elhvb.com/mobokive/edwin/laptops/IBM/THINKPAD%20310,%20315.PDF
>
> My experience of IBM laptops of this age is that the clock battery
> (Usually a CR2032 with a special connector) being bad can cause error
> messages relating to all sorts of oddities. My first check is always the
> voltage of this battery which should be about 3 volts.
>
> The BIOS is flashed by using a boot floppy, so unless youve already
> unsoldered the BIOS from the motherboard, youd be better off finding
> one of those.
>

> John Williamson wrote:
>> Mark Potter wrote:
>>> Hi All,
>>>
>>> Im looking for a BIOS image binary for an old IBM Thinkpad 310D
>>> laptop, type 2600-2UK. Does anyone know where I could find one, or
>>> even supply me with an image of theirs? The thinkpad support
>>> website doesnt have my model listed, and technical support arent
>>> interested in helping unless I pay them Ł60 first!
>>>
>>> The BIOS on the laptop I have has developed a fault that should be
>>> rectified by re-flashing it.
>>>
>> What is the fault, & have you read this?:-
>>
>> http://www.elhvb.com/mobokive/edwin/laptops/IBM/THINKPAD%20310,%20315.PDF
>>
>> My experience of IBM laptops of this age is that the clock battery
>> (Usually a CR2032 with a special connector) being bad can cause error
>> messages relating to all sorts of oddities. My first check is always
>> the voltage of this battery which should be about 3 volts.
>>
>> The BIOS is flashed by using a boot floppy, so unless youve already
>> unsoldered the BIOS from the motherboard, youd be better off finding
>> one of those.
>>
> Hi John and thanks for both messages,
>
> The fault is that:-
> a) It doesnt hold its BIOS settings (easy)
> b) When you go in to change BIOS settings the BIOS software crashes!
>
> Pretty sure (b) is a flashable offence, but Im going to change the
> battery and clear the CMOS first just in case there is some oddity
> about how they work.
>
> Ive got a *slight* further complication, that is I dont have a FDD
> for the laptop - its an external add on that didnt come with it! I
> was planning on using its current OS (98) to boot to a dos prompt and
> re-install from there... when Ive got it working that is!
>
> The unit is destined to become an ethernet<>usb bridge for my Topfield
> 5800 PVR, with the addition of a PCMIA USB and Ethernet card...
>
> ...Either that or its original role as a doorstop.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Mark.

> Hi John and thanks for both messages,
>
> The fault is that:-
> a) It doesnt hold its BIOS settings (easy)
> b) When you go in to change BIOS settings the BIOS software crashes!
>
> Pretty sure (b) is a flashable offence, but Im going to change the
> battery and clear the CMOS first just in case there is some oddity about
> how they work.
>

> Ive got a *slight* further complication, that is I dont have a FDD for
> the laptop - its an external add on that didnt come with it! I was
> planning on using its current OS (98) to boot to a dos prompt and
> re-install from there... when Ive got it working that is!
>

> The unit is destined to become an ethernet<>usb bridge for my Topfield
> 5800 PVR, with the addition of a PCMIA USB and Ethernet card...
>
> ...Either that or its original role as a doorstop.

> Mark Potter wrote:
>
>> Hi John and thanks for both messages,
>>
>> The fault is that:-
>> a) It doesnt hold its BIOS settings (easy)
>> b) When you go in to change BIOS settings the BIOS software crashes!
>>
>> Pretty sure (b) is a flashable offence, but Im going to change the
>> battery and clear the CMOS first just in case there is some oddity
>> about how they work.
>>
> It may well clear the problem, IME. It takes summat quite nasty to upset
> the BIOS. In fact, in 15+ years of messing about with laptops, Ive
> never known a defective BIOS. Others will have, of course....
> Most of the computers of that age hold the BIOS settings in the CMOS
> clock chip memory, so a bad clock backup battery can corrupt all sorts
> of things. You *may* be able to get away with just disconnecting all the
> power while removing the CMOS battery for 30 seconds, or follow the
> procedure in the IBM manual I sent you the URL for. At least the
> batterys not soldered onto the motherboard on this one.
>
>> Ive got a *slight* further complication, that is I dont have a FDD
>> for the laptop - its an external add on that didnt come with it! I
>> was planning on using its current OS (98) to boot to a dos prompt and
>> re-install from there... when Ive got it working that is!
>>
> The problem here is that the BIOS flashing program rewrites the code
> that controls the IDE interface, so you cant boot from IDE to do it. In
> fact, the boot floppy isnt even DOS, but has its own OS code.
>
> Sometimes, the floppy drive comes up on fleabay, or there are computer
> breakers who may have them. You may also find that the floppy for any
> ultrabay fitted Thinkpad *may* fit. (From memory, the 760 used the same
> floppy connector, but ICBW)
>
>> The unit is destined to become an ethernet<>usb bridge for my Topfield
>> 5800 PVR, with the addition of a PCMIA USB and Ethernet card...
>>
>> ...Either that or its original role as a doorstop.
>
> Good luck with getting it working.
>
> Depending where you are, I have a Thinkpad 760 with all the bits & a
> virtually dead display sitting round doing nothing.
>

> Hmm...
>
> Taken the thing apart to get to the battery - you litterally have to
> remove EVERYTHING. Its at 0.8v... just enough to turn on a junction
> but probably not right!
>

> Ill look for a replacement sometime, meanwhile I live down in Kent,
> near Maidstone - where abouts are you?
>

> I think Ill end up resigning this lappy to silicon heaven because Im
> not sure I can be bothered sticking it all back together again! You
> wouldnt believe the number of different sized screws.