Creating bootable DVD and USB stick for T520 BIOS

[freeagent]

I have been discussing wifi card upgrade in another thread as well as off-line with RBS. Staring a new thread because this may be more general. I need to create a bootable DVD/CD and a bootable USB stick as back up just in case after installing the BIOS with whitelist removed somehow leaves me dead in the water.

I downloaded the BIOS file from Lenovo site description: BIOS Update Bootable CD for Windows 8 (32-bit, 64-bit), 7 (32-bit, 64-bit), Vista (32-bit, 64-bit), XP - ThinkPad T520 and T520i. This results in an iso file named: 8auj30us.iso.

I at first used ImgBurn to burn this image file to a DVD. This appeared to work, but only file that shows on DVD is desktop.ini. The dvd does not boot I must be doing something wrong!!! EDIT I re-ran ImgBurn. This time the DVD did boot! I read the Read-Me, but of course did not try and update the BIOS. Hopefully it would work if needed. I would still like to make a bootable USB stick with the 1.49 BIOS.

I then tried using rufus to create a bootable USB stick. It reported iso was in unsupported format or unbootable. Again, I must be doing something wrong

I tried again using Etcher. It at first said that the iso had no boot partition (or something to that effect). It allowed me to continue and appeared to run. But the resulting USB stick would not boot.

I haven't done this sort of stuff for years - any help appreciated.

[freeagent]

Need Help!!!!!
Seeing I has the 1.49 recovery DVD, I decided to go ahead with the whitelist removal. Don't know what went wrong, but after running the batch file an rebooting, the T520 is essentially bricked.
Powering on result in an endless cycling of on-buttom light and clicking sound. Blank screen.
Hasn't registered that a corrupted bios would not allow recovery fromcd/usb devices.

Any T520 tricks to have motherboard revert to previous bios?

[axur-delmeria]

You'll need a hardware flasher to recover from that.

[RealBlackStuff]

I tried to email OP my T520-modded-BIOS file, but stupid Gmail refused to accept it!
Almost immediately afterward I found another online download for that BIOS and OP downloaded/used that.
On file-comparison I discovered that my 'old' file was differently compressed (.RAR) from the 'new' one (.7Z), which was also quite a bit smaller (8,881 KB rar - 6,236 KB 7z).
Some files were compressed in one file and not the other, and vice versa.
Could that cause a problem?

Furthermore, after unpacking the 7z-file in a new folder, OP updated from a CMD-window within W10, using 'flash.bat' which only contained WINUPTP.EXE -s.
If I had known earlier that OP also had a drive with W7, I would have told him to use that instead of W10.
But let's see how it develops.

[TPFanatic]

In my experience with these modded bioses you have to run the included WinPhlash utility and manually select the .FL1 file to flash. Otherwise I have no idea what it would try to flash.

I don't think different compression would have corrupted the files.

I've never had a BIOS flash go wrong on me, I've even flashed T520 to a modded version and then back to OEM for fan optimization, but I don't have enough info to troubleshoot what went wrong here.

[freeagent]

TPF - I did more or less as RBS described. First attempt I was in wrong dir in CMD. It gave message saying it couldn't find winduptp.exe -s. I changed to the correct dir and the batch file appeared to run. There was no message to say it had completed, so after about 5min I rebooted. That's when i found I had no boot.

Tried various suggestions but no luck. Not even a glimmer on display Screen seems dead. No action except for start button light and some internal noise when attempting to start.

What to do?
One option would be to find another T520 and move my drives to it. That way I recover my stuff that is not on cloud.

Another is to buy a different model and transfer via external USB . But how to that from the internal ssd board drive (I forget what they are called M2.?)

Another would be to see if a repair shop could reflash. What are the chances of that? Cost? I guess I should make some calls

[axur-delmeria]

But how to that from the internal ssd board drive (I forget what they are called M2.?)

The T520's SSD is mSATA. You can find USB --> mSATA enclosures, or 2.5" SATA adapters in order to gain access to its contents.

[RealBlackStuff]

Also remove that SSD from the WWAN-port and remove the CD from the drive.
When you now try to boot, immediately press F1 a few times.
Any luck?

Also, can you tell us which motherboard is in there? Discrete or Integrated graphics?
Could be on a sticker under the RAM-door.

[TPFanatic]

I would speculate the flash was interrupted early or it flashed the wrong thing, so you likely now have a corrupt BIOS and a brick. Good news is T520 is very inexpensive and you shouldn't pay more than $50 for a new one, but T520 is also legacy and if you only need it to read MSATA and SATA drives, you could just buy some cheap USB adapters to read the drives off your current PC.

[RealBlackStuff]

User freeagent cannot currently use his laptop, but he can email me using his phone.
So far this is what I received:

I did remove both ssds yesterday. Still nothing on screen, but optical drive did spin but stopped after a short while.

Problem might have been caused by me rebooting too soon. I didn't see any message saying flash was complete.

I will mess with this for a while, but do need to get back on line. Using phone is a pain;)

Later on I got this:

I tried your suggestions, but didn't get anywhere.
I tried removing both drives and the memory. Most of the time the start button lights up, computer makes a short groan (prob from DVD bay), then shuts down. But with drives/memory removed, the DVD drive would spin up and sound like it was doing something, but eventually stop. I forget, but I think it also did this with 1 Mem or 1 drive still in place. Howver no screen display and hitting various Fn buttons had no affect.

When dvd did spin up, with drives/members removed there was a beep code. ._..._..._. I think this just says there is memory problem or a main board problem. Not surprising

I tried with win10 recovery usb stick, but no recognition of that.

Doesn't look good.

Any help that any of you can give will be greatly appreciated!

[TPFanatic]

Without another PC hardware flashing is unfeasible.
They will have to buy something.
Another T520 should be inexpensive, even in CAD, just pnp the drives in and you're good to go no more effort. Then e-cycle the old laptop or keep for spare parts.

[RealBlackStuff]

A replacement motherboard is one option, replacing the BIOS-chip is another option (if you can solder an 8-pin chip).
Just in case anybody is near him, freeagent is in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, which is about 120 miles from Toronto.

[freeagent]

I would speculate the flash was interrupted early or it flashed the wrong thing, so you likely now have a corrupt BIOS and a brick. Good news is T520 is very inexpensive and you shouldn't pay more than $50 for a new one, but T520 is also legacy and if you only need it to read MSATA and SATA drives, you could just buy some cheap USB adapters to read the drives off your current PC.

I found a T520 locally, but he wanted $150. After I asked for which version and S/N he said it was sold (or may didn't want me to check it out too closely ) Nothing much else found on line and sometime shipping is a killer.

If I could have BIOS reflashed by shop, that would buy me some time to find replacement and get it configured. I wouldn't do this myself. Will call and ask, but not worth while if cost is too high. Desoldering etc not really worth trying on DIY basis at this stage.

I did find those adapters for the msata and I already have external usb enclosures for SSD/HDs. Those would be useful if I buy a new/refurb laptop.

Thanks for input

[freeagent]

The T520's SSD is mSATA. You can find USB --> mSATA enclosures, or 2.5" SATA adapters in order to gain access to its contents.

I have a 2.5 SATA adapter. Just ordered an msata->usb adapter today. Need them to move files that are not on Dropbox/Onedrive to my Toshiba that I am using while getting T520 back working. Will also need them if I later move to a new or refurb laptop.

[freeagent]

A replacement motherboard is one option,

There are a number for sale on eBay.com (model is WD4243WD1, M/B 04W3254 it seems). Problem is that they are all in USA and with shipping come to over $100. Then install could be a DIY challenge compared with the desktops I was familiar with.

Complete T520s are either way too expensive and so far have different specs from mine. Will keep looking, but perhaps a better idea to go to a later refurbished Lenovo? Maybe T450-T490 or ??? Any suggestions?

Local shops I contacted did not bite when I asked about a BIOS re-flash

So back to more updating of the old Toshiba I am currently using, and trying BIOS recovery on the T520 via USB.

[RealBlackStuff]

To replace the motherboard:
Download the T520 manual from the HMM link at the top of this page.
It fully illustrates how to take the T520 apart.
All you need are Phillips PH00 and PH0 (a.k.a. #00 and #0) screwdrivers, such as shown here:
https://www.amazon.com/Kraftform-2050-P ... B06Y5W9Q6R.
It is recommended to make a drawing of where the screws come from, then tape them on those locations.

[TPFanatic]

If you go for a new ThinkPad I recommend P series whatever your budget and needs are. They have IPS screens as standard and something with the newer 16GB or more Quadro or RTX GPUs can do some wicked renders. P series is the successor of the W series (Workstation version of T series) and they are better built than any of them.

Also:

I own a mostly disassembled parts-unit T530 with a bad microphone circuit on the motherboard (internal microphone is permanently dysfunctional). The motherboard is flashed with the 7-row and battery whitelist patch. I am willing to "sell" the bottom case (no palmrest, no keyboard, no lid) to you for the shipping cost from New Hampshire, then you try to rebuild it with your T520 parts. The lid will mount in but I'm not positive on the palmrest, and you are supposed to tape over a couple pins in the keyboard. Let me know if you want to try it.

[freeagent]

If you go for a new ThinkPad I recommend P series whatever your budget and needs are. They have IPS screens as standard and something with the newer 16GB or more Quadro or RTX GPUs can do some wicked renders. P series is the successor of the W series (Workstation version of T series) and they are better built than any of them.

Also:

I own a mostly disassembled parts-unit T530 with a bad microphone circuit on the motherboard (internal microphone is permanently dysfunctional). The motherboard is flashed with the 7-row and battery whitelist patch. I am willing to "sell" the bottom case (no palmrest, no keyboard, no lid) to you for the shipping cost from New Hampshire, then you try to rebuild it with your T520 parts. The lid will mount in but I'm not positive on the palmrest, and you are supposed to tape over a couple pins in the keyboard. Let me know if you want to try it.

Thanks for the advice and the offer. I have my old Toshiba Satellite working for now with most of capability of what I had on the T520 (albeit a bit slower!). . Meanwhile, I will research what I might get to replace the T520. I have also ordered a used T520 motherboard. If I am unsuccessful in recovering the existing BIOS (see my other thread), I will try switching motherboards.

[freeagent]

To replace the motherboard:
Download the T520 manual from the HMM link at the top of this page.
It fully illustrates how to take the T520 apart.
All you need are Phillips PH00 and PH0 (a.k.a. #00 and #0) screwdrivers, such as shown here:
https://www.amazon.com/Kraftform-2050-P ... B06Y5W9Q6R.
It is recommended to make a drawing of where the screws come from, then tape them on those locations.

I actually have that manual. Must be from when I did the MSATA, RAM, SSD and drive bay upgrades. I am good at taking things apart - But not so much at putting them back together again I do have lots of tools!

[freeagent]

To replace the motherboard:
Download the T520 manual from the HMM link at the top of this page.
It fully illustrates how to take the T520 apart.

I found this Youtube video - It doesn't say much, but seems a good visual guide. Will probably be a couple of weeks before the motherboard arrives. Meanwhile, had no success using Wincrisis.

https://youtu.be/Gqxv4dGCpPw

[freeagent]

In my experience with these modded bioses you have to run the included WinPhlash utility and manually select the .FL1 file to flash. Otherwise I have no idea what it would try to flash.

I've never had a BIOS flash go wrong on me, I've even flashed T520 to a modded version and then back to OEM for fan optimization, but I don't have enough info to troubleshoot what went wrong here.

I now have a replacement motherboard. But before installing it, one idea seeing I have the back up, is to try and replace the BIOS chip on the existing board. Now I see it, I think I could do it, or I could get a local guy with better skills and equipment to do it.

Ideally, I would find a Winbond chip with the modded BIOS already on it.

Otherwise, find a WinBond chip with the standard 1.49 already on it and then retry the flash. For this, I would ideally like to find a step by step method that I could follow for flashing. I would have Win 10 or 7 available as well as DVD and USB options.

Fortunately I have time - My old Toshiba Satellite is working well. It's on it's 3rd life - I once had to re-flow the graphics chip with a propane torch! Next wifi failed and I went to USB adapter that was super slow. Now using ethernet via Powerline, which is quite good considering port is 100Mbps max.

[TPFanatic]

This video by LaptopRetrospective covers it.
https://youtu.be/jsCfFOywZs0

[freeagent]

This video by LaptopRetrospective covers it.
https://youtu.be/jsCfFOywZs0

Thanks for the link. It uses a Thinkpad X220. Could procedure for T520 be slightly different? For example, ISTR that the Thinkvantage button is not used on my 4243 T520 - video uses it to interrupt boot up.

Another thing that confuses me. You said earlier:

In my experience with these modded bioses you have to run the included WinPhlash utility and manually select the .FL1 file to flash. Otherwise I have no idea what it would try to flash.

However, the video in the link appears to follow same procedure that RBS gave me and I used (except for using Win 7 instead of Win 10). It uses the flash batch file and BIOS updates automatically.

[TPFanatic]

I didn't watch all of LR's video.
Personally I have never just ran the flash.bat. I use the WinPhlash GUI utility and make sure the .fl1 is what will be flashed. The GUI will display a progress bar.

I wasn't a Windows 10 user until one week ago, so I've never flashed a BIOS from Windows 10 and am still personally phobic of it because of all that 10 (and 8, and 11) queues in the background as soon as it's connected to the internet. I would feel safer flashing from Windows 7 with the WinPhlash GUI, or by creating a Bootable ISO thst utilizes Lenovo's DOS utiliy. I can't walk through the steps to this.