[WLUG] Anyone have experience in reflashing a BIOS?

[Harry Burleson]

Are you sure the BIOS is toast?
Try the following to be sure:
1) After powering up press the "magic key": F2, F12, <DEL>
Do you get to a screen with options to set time, boot order, etc.?
2) If you insert a Live Linux CD/DVD are you able to boot and get to a working
Linux environment?

If the above two happen your BIOS is probably ok. It's more likely that your
bootloader and/or boot order settings in BIOS got screwed up. Then I would
suggest not reflashing your BIOS right now. If you decide to flash your BIOS
carefully read the manufacturer instructions and follow them to the letter. If
you mess up you will magically transform your laptop into a brick.

I have owned a few Toshiba laptops but no Lenovos. Toshiba has several methods
of updating BIOS:
1) Run some .exe within the Windows environment. I guess it does a tftp download
and reflashes. Then reboot.
2) It is also possible to make a self-booting CD, probably with FeeDOS or
similar. Install BIOS update and reboot.

One problem I can see with that .exe you mentioned is that it needs the proper
environment with the correct libraries, etc. Otherwise it will fail.

-Harry