Updating the Lenovo IdeaPad B50-70 BIOS in Ubuntu

[Amichai Rotman]

Hello Guys,

I bought a Lenovo B50-70 without any OS on it (not even FreeDOS) and
installed Ubuntu 14.04 on it without any problems. Everything works great.

I noticed there is a new version of my Laptop's BIOS (Currently I have
v2.07 and the new one in v3.0) and I wanted to update...

Silly me... We live in Bill Gate's world...


1. There is no way to install the BIOS from within the current BIOS
(like with Asus).
2. There is no DOS-like BIOS installer on the Lenovo Support site
3. No option for Linux, DOS or Other in the OS list (Only Win7 & 8)

Arghhhh!

Trying to run the Window installer under Hiren's BootCD's Mini WinXP gives
me the "Insert System Battery" error...

I know there there are command line tools in Ubuntu to manipulate the BIOS.

The BIOS Management firmware on the laptop is InsydeH20 v3.7

Is it safe to do it with the BIOS utils in the Ubuntu repos?

Is there a way to do it without involving the Redmond BSOD Giant?

Thanks!

Amichai.

[Drac_0]

Post by Amichai Rotman
Hello Guys,
I bought a Lenovo B50-70 without any OS on it (not even FreeDOS) and
installed Ubuntu 14.04 on it without any problems. Everything works great.
I noticed there is a new version of my Laptop's BIOS (Currently I have
v2.07 and the new one in v3.0) and I wanted to update...
Silly me... We live in Bill Gate's world...
1. There is no way to install the BIOS from within the current BIOS
(like with Asus).
2. There is no DOS-like BIOS installer on the Lenovo Support site
3. No option for Linux, DOS or Other in the OS list (Only Win7 & 8)
Arghhhh!
Trying to run the Window installer under Hiren's BootCD's Mini WinXP gives
me the "Insert System Battery" error...
I know there there are command line tools in Ubuntu to manipulate the BIOS.
The BIOS Management firmware on the laptop is InsydeH20 v3.7
Is it safe to do it with the BIOS utils in the Ubuntu repos?
Is there a way to do it without involving the Redmond BSOD Giant?
Thanks!
Amichai.

...

It should be possible to install FreeDOS onto a USB stick along with the BIOS
update and boot from there. If successful, switch to drive C: and you should
be able to DIR the BIOS update and execute it.

I found a very helpful site here -

http://chtaube.eu/computers/freedos/bootable-usb/

Good luck!

Drac.

[Tommy Trussell]

Post by Amichai Rotman
I bought a Lenovo B50-70 without any OS on it (not even FreeDOS) and
installed Ubuntu 14.04 on it without any problems. Everything works great.
I noticed there is a new version of my Laptop's BIOS (Currently I have
v2.07 and the new one in v3.0) and I wanted to update...

...

Post by Amichai Rotman
1. There is no way to install the BIOS from within the current BIOS
(like with Asus).
2. There is no DOS-like BIOS installer on the Lenovo Support site
3. No option for Linux, DOS or Other in the OS list (Only Win7 & 8)

there are some workarounds... http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/BIOS_Upgrade

much of the information on this page is outdated (especially for newer
model Lenovo systems) but you may find an option appropriate to you. There
are some other options you can find if you dig around the Internet using
your favorite search engine.

HOWEVER you might want to carefully consider whether you want to try to
update the BIOS at all. Does it add any features you want or fix any bugs
you have experienced? If not, you might be fine sticking with your old
working BIOS.