BIOS Update (Diskette) - ThinkPad 600

Click here for instructions and limitations on downloading and creating the diskette.

This Additional Information field contains the following sections:
I. Summary of changes
II. Installation instructions
III. BIOS information with links to previous BIOS releases
IV. Slave Controller information
V. Memory information
VI. Simple Boot Flag function
VII. Microsoft Windows 2000 diskette drive/drive letter handling

I. Summary of changes
version 1.22 - IBET54WW

• (New) Support for Microsoft Windows XP
• (Fix) OS installation failure with CD-ROM boot
  

Click here for a complete list of changes fixed by this BIOS update.

II. Installation instructions
Notes:

• You need an AC adapter and a charged battery pack to update the system program.
  
• If your computer is attached to a port replicator, turn off the computer and detach it before proceeding.
  
• Make sure the SPSD diskette is write protected.

1. Print these instructions or display on another computer.
2. Firmly connect the AC adapter to the computer.
3. Insert the System Program Service Diskette into the diskette drive and turn on the computer.
4. Select Read this first from the menu and carefully read the information that appears.
5. Press the Esc key to return to the menu.
6. Select Update system program and follow the instruction on the screen.
   
   Warning:Do not turn off or suspend the computer until the update has been completed. If you turn off or suspend the computer while the update is still in progress, the system board may have to be replaced.
   
   After the update has been completed, run the diagnostics to make sure that the computer runs with no errors.
   

7. Make sure the System Program Service Diskette is removed from the diskette drive, then turn off the computer.
8. Press and hold the F1 key, then turn on the computer. Hold the F1 key until the Easy-Setup menu appears.
9. If a password prompt appears, type the correct password.
10. Select Config, then select Initialize.
11. Select OK to initialize the system.
    Run the diagnostics to make sure that the computer runs with no errors:
12. Turn off the computer, press and hold the F1 key, then turn on the computer. Hold the F1 key until the Easy-Setup menu appears.
13. Select Test, then select Start to run all the basic tests. Various test patterns will appear on the screen. An OK will appear for each device that passes the test.
14. Verify that OK appears for all of the devices tested.
15. Press the Esc key to exit Test and turn off the computer.

1. When the message Press F1 for IBM BIOS setup Utility appears at the bottom right hand corner, press the F1 key and wait for the BIOS Utility screen to appear.
2. Select System Information. The BIOS version is displayed at System BIOS Version line.

The slave controller version number can be viewed by running the ThinkPad Configurator utility from your operating system and selecting System Information from the Help menu or by clicking on the System Information button.
The slave controller information can also be found by invoking Easy-Setup and selecting Config followed by System Board.

V. Memory information
The following information shows memory areas that are either unavailable or that can be included with a memory manager such as EMM386.

Reserved BIOS area*
C0000-C9FFF (reserved for Video BIOS)
F0000-FFFFF (reserved for BIOS)

Usable BIOS ROM area*
E0000-EFFFF (can be used as UMB (Upper Memory Block))

VI. Simple Boot Flag function
This function automatically optimizes the behavior and boot performance of the BIOS and operating system, based on the installed operating system and previous boot.

If this function is Enabled and once a Plug and Play-capable operating system, such as Windows 98, is installed, the system BIOS does not configure such hardware resources as system interrupts, memory ranges, and I/O port ranges for all the devices in the system.

If you are going to use a non-Plug and Play-capable operating system, disable this function so that the BIOS will configure hardware resources.

Note:
If you are using multiple operating systems in addition to Windows 95/98, you must DISABLE the Simple Boot Flag in Easy-Setup.

To modify the Simple Boot Flag:

1. Hold down the F1 key on the ThinkPad and power on the system.
   
2. Open the Config icon.
   
3. Open the Quick Boot icon.
   
4. Set Simple Boot Flag to Enable or Disable depending on configuration.

VII. Windows 2000 diskette drive/drive letter handling
From BIOS version IBET43WW, diskette drive/drive letter handling under Windows 2000 environment has changed to fixed drive letter assignment:

• External diskette drive letter : A drive (A:)
  
• Ultraslim Bay diskette drive letter : B drive (B:)