Re: update bios from debian

[SDA]

On Thu, Mar 08, 2018 at 03:38:58PM +0100, Sven Hoexter wrote:
> On Wed, Mar 07, 2018 at 09:22:06PM -0800, Don Armstrong wrote:
> 
> Hi,
> 
> > sudo apt install grub-imageboot;
> > sudo cp 7wuj43uc.iso /boot/images;
> > sudo update-grub2;
> > 
> > then reboot, and select the right cd image in your grub menu.
> 
> That's a nice approach.
> Added it to https://wiki.debian.org/Firmware/Updates which already collects a 
> few
> other ways on how you can handle BIOS/EFI/Firmware updates.
> 
> Sven
>
Great information, thanks Don & Sven! 

Re: update bios from debian

[Jimmy Johnson]

On 03/07/2018 07:37 PM, emetib wrote:

has anyone tried to update their bios from debian or linux in general?

i've looked at these pages ->
https://wiki.debian.org/FlashBIOS
https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/downloads/DS038945

and have downloaded the packages that they say to get, and have also downloaded 
the new bios from lenovo's website.

don't really want to turn my laptop into a brick, so i'm curious if anyone has 
done this before, and if so anything that i should worry, not worry about?

the lenovo site say to just click on the .exe, yet i don't know if it needs 
windows to do the install or not.



It's easy to do using WindowsXP Live cd, less than 593Mb Zip file download.
 https://www.hiren.info/pages/bootcd

Cheers,
--
Jimmy Johnson

Debian Sid/Testing - Trinity KDE 3.5 - AMD A8-7600 - EXT4 at sda8
Registered Linux User #380263

Re: update bios from debian

[Sven Hoexter]

On Wed, Mar 07, 2018 at 09:22:06PM -0800, Don Armstrong wrote:

Hi,

> sudo apt install grub-imageboot;
> sudo cp 7wuj43uc.iso /boot/images;
> sudo update-grub2;
> 
> then reboot, and select the right cd image in your grub menu.

That's a nice approach.
Added it to https://wiki.debian.org/Firmware/Updates which already collects a 
few
other ways on how you can handle BIOS/EFI/Firmware updates.

Sven

Re: update bios from debian

[Forest Dean Feighner]

On Mar 8, 2018 12:22 AM, "Don Armstrong"  wrote:

Just:

sudo apt install grub-imageboot;
sudo cp 7wuj43uc.iso /boot/images;
sudo update-grub2;

then reboot, and select the right cd image in your grub menu.


Going OT a little but is that all you have to do to add ISOs to grub!?




--
Don Armstrong  https://www.donarmstrong.com

Live and learn
or die and teach by example
 -- a softer world #625
http://www.asofterworld.com/index.php?id=625

Re: update bios from debian

[Don Armstrong]

On Wed, 07 Mar 2018, emetib wrote:
> found a cd image, yet don't have any cd's to burn one to. i only use
> usb sticks now. doing more searching and it seems others have updated
> their bios' from linux, so i'll keep reading.

Just:

sudo apt install grub-imageboot;
sudo cp 7wuj43uc.iso /boot/images;
sudo update-grub2;

then reboot, and select the right cd image in your grub menu.

-- 
Don Armstrong  https://www.donarmstrong.com

Live and learn
or die and teach by example
 -- a softer world #625
http://www.asofterworld.com/index.php?id=625

Re: update bios from debian

[Jape Person]

On 03/07/2018 10:37 PM, emetib wrote:
> has anyone tried to update their bios from debian or linux in general?
> 
> i've looked at these pages ->
> https://wiki.debian.org/FlashBIOS
> https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/downloads/DS038945
> 
> and have downloaded the packages that they say to get, and have also 
> downloaded the new bios from lenovo's website.
> 
> don't really want to turn my laptop into a brick, so i'm curious if anyone 
> has done this before, and if so anything that i should worry, not worry 
> about?  
> 
> the lenovo site say to just click on the .exe, yet i don't know if it needs 
> windows to do the install or not.
> 
> any thoughts?
> thanks.
> em
> 
> 

I looked at the Lenovo support site and saw no evidence of a
bootable BIOS update CD for the G405 and G505.

For the Lenovo systems I've seen before those images are
available alongside the Windows executable (.exe) updater that
you've downloaded. The .exe will not work from within Linux, and
you don't want to try using it from within WINE.

You should ask Lenovo if they can supply the bootable BIOS
update CD.

Here's a quote from the Lenovo site regarding the BIOS Update
CDs available for Thinkpad laptops:

The BIOS Update CD can boot the computer disregarding the
operating systems and update the UEFI BIOS (including system
program and Embedded Controller program) stored in the ThinkPad
computer to fix problems, add new functions, or expand functions
as noted below.

I think that's the type of BIOS / UEFI updater you want. You can
use such an image by burning it to CD and booting from the CD,
or you can use information from one of the many locations online
like

https://workaround.org/article/updating-the-bios-on-lenovo-laptops-from-linux-using-a-usb-flash-stick/

to create and use a bootable usb flash drive as the basis for
updating the system.

I'm concerned that Lenovo doesn't seem to make the update CD
image for the G405/G505. Do they only provide them for
Thinkpads? If so, not cool.

Hope you find a solution.

JP

Re: update bios from debian

[emetib]

On Wednesday, March 7, 2018 at 10:00:05 PM UTC-6, emetib wrote:
> has anyone tried to update their bios from debian or linux in general?
> 
> i've looked at these pages ->
> https://wiki.debian.org/FlashBIOS
> https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/downloads/DS038945
> 
> and have downloaded the packages that they say to get, and have also 
> downloaded the new bios from lenovo's website.
> 
> don't really want to turn my laptop into a brick, so i'm curious if anyone 
> has done this before, and if so anything that i should worry, not worry 
> about?  
> 
> the lenovo site say to just click on the .exe, yet i don't know if it needs 
> windows to do the install or not.
> 
> any thoughts?
> thanks.
> em

found a cd image, yet don't have any cd's to burn one to.  i only use usb 
sticks now.  doing more searching and it seems others have updated their bios' 
from linux, so i'll keep reading.

thank you.

Re: update bios from debian

[emetib]

On Wednesday, March 7, 2018 at 10:00:05 PM UTC-6, emetib wrote:
> has anyone tried to update their bios from debian or linux in general?
> 
> i've looked at these pages ->
> https://wiki.debian.org/FlashBIOS
> https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/downloads/DS038945
> 
> and have downloaded the packages that they say to get, and have also 
> downloaded the new bios from lenovo's website.
> 
> don't really want to turn my laptop into a brick, so i'm curious if anyone 
> has done this before, and if so anything that i should worry, not worry 
> about?  
> 
> the lenovo site say to just click on the .exe, yet i don't know if it needs 
> windows to do the install or not.
> 
> any thoughts?
> thanks.
> em

don't have a lenovo cd.  don't know if i ever got one, i'll have to take a look 
around for one online.

Re: update bios from debian

[Don Armstrong]

On Wed, 07 Mar 2018, emetib wrote:
> has anyone tried to update their bios from debian or linux in general?

In the past, I've used Lenovo's CD image to update the bios; it's
generally easier and better tested.

For server hardware, HP's and Dells firmware update packages have worked
well when I've used them.

-- 
Don Armstrong  https://www.donarmstrong.com

A people living under the perpetual menace of war and invasion is very
easy to govern. It demands no social reforms. It does not haggle over
expenditures on armaments and military equipment. It pays without
discussion, it ruins itself, and that is an excellent thing for the
syndicates of financiers and manufacturers for whom patriotic terrors
are an abundant source of gain.
 -- Anatole France

update bios from debian

[emetib]

has anyone tried to update their bios from debian or linux in general?

i've looked at these pages ->
https://wiki.debian.org/FlashBIOS
https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/downloads/DS038945

and have downloaded the packages that they say to get, and have also downloaded 
the new bios from lenovo's website.

don't really want to turn my laptop into a brick, so i'm curious if anyone has 
done this before, and if so anything that i should worry, not worry about?  

the lenovo site say to just click on the .exe, yet i don't know if it needs 
windows to do the install or not.

any thoughts?
thanks.
em