Flash BIOS update - bootable diskette version for IBM(R) ThinkCentre(R) 8084, 8085, 8126, 8147, 8148, 8149, 8174, 8175, 8176, 8177, 8178, 8179 Version 2CKT19A Installation README This package updates the basic input/output system (BIOS) on IBM ThinkCentre 8084, 8085, 8126, 8147, 8148, 8149, 8174, 8175, 8176, 8177, 8178, and 8179 systems. BIOS is programming that controls low-level hardware operations, including interactions with diskette drives, hard disk drives, and the keyboard. The BIOS is stored on a chip. Your computer uses flash BIOS, which can be updated through a program on a flash diskette so that you do not have to replace the BIOS chip to update the BIOS. Note: Make note of any settings you have changed in the BIOS Configuration Utility. These settings may have to be re-entered after updating the BIOS. Print this file so that you can refer to it during the installation. Downloading the update ---------------------- 1. Click the file link to download the file from the web page. 2. When prompted, select a drive and directory in which to save the downloaded file, be sure to select a path that does not have a space in it's name. Extracting the update --------------------- Installing this update involves creating a BIOS flash diskette and running the flash program from the diskette. Before you begin, have a blank 1.44 MB diskette ready. 1. Click Start, select Find or Search, then click Files and Folders. 2. Insert a blank 1.44MB floppy diskette into the diskette drive. 3. Type 2cjt19a.exe in the search field, then click Find Now. This will locate the file you just downloaded. 4. Double-click the 2cjt19a.exe icon. 5. Follow the onscreen prompts. The necessary files will be extracted to the diskette. Installing the update --------------------- 1. Close all open applications. 2. Leave the diskette in the A: drive, and shut down and restart the computer to start the BIOS flash program. 3. When you are prompted to select a country, press the number on your keyboard which corresponds to the country in which you are using the computer. For example, press 1 for the United States. 4. Press Enter. You will be asked if you wish to update the serial number of your machine. 5. Press N. You will be asked if you wish to update the machine type/model number of your machine. 6. Press N. The Flash BIOS update utility will appear onscreen. 7. Wait until you see a message stating that the update has completed successfully. 8. Remove the diskette from the diskette drive. 9. Press Enter. Flash Changes ------------- General Information: 2CJTxxA is the flash diskette level. 2CKTxxA is the binary image level. (BIOS) NOTE: All changes carry forward. That is, if a change is added in 01, it is also in 02, 03 etc. Changes for 2CKTxxA/2CJTxxA: 2CKT19A/2CJT19A - Adds a thermal fix for F4x processors - Updates the CPU patches: F29 to rev 2Eh, F34 to rev 13h, F41 to rev 09h 2CKT18A/2CJT18A - Changes the UUID string in Setup to fix a problem with the last digit not being displayed due to the length of the string in some languages - Fixes a problem where the system hangs during POST with some languages and an Intel Prescott processor 2CKT17A/2CJT17A - Sets the DMI structure 4 maximum CPU speed to 3400MHz - Fixes a problem where a diskette used in manufacturing uses an incorrect boot sequence 2CKT16A/2CJT16A - Improves the runtime acoustics of the system 2CKT15A/2CJT15A - Fixes a potential problem where the system will hang while booting Windows XP if the USB mouse is moved during the transition - Fixes a problem where the Asset tag DMI structure has extra characters with POV - Fixes a problem where the '+' key does not work on Japanese keyboards - Fixes a problem where the system will hang at TP 9Ch with Token Ring adapter when onboard PXE Boot Agent is disabled - Adds support for the E-0 Prescott processor. Fixes a problem where the systems using an E-0 Prescott processor will hang when using earlier levels of BIOS 2CKT14A/2CJT14A - Fixes a problem where 2 mouse clicks are required to redisplay video on resume from standby under Windows XP - Adds a code change to display the proper brand when the processor is and Intel Prescott processor - Adds an Intel errata patch for the microprocessor firmware to address a potential issue that might cause a system to exhibit erratic behavior such as a system hang, reboot, blue screen, or Kernel Panic in Linux, and may also cause in-progress system operations (e.g., file, I/O) to fail. The possibility of this behavior is believed to be limited, but IBM strongly recommends that customers install this update as soon as possible to prevent the possibility of the issues listed above. See Retain Tip H181898 for more details on this issue: http://www.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=TCTR-ERRN91 The IDs of the affected microprocessors are 0F29, 0F33, and 0F34. NOTE: If you want to apply this processor patch without updating the rest of BIOS, refer to the "FLASHING BACK TO AN OLDER LEVEL OF BIOS" topic in the README.1ST file contained in this BIOS update package Determining the processor ID ---------------------------- There are several ways to determine the ID of the processor: 1. Go to BIOS setup (hold down the F1 key and power up the system) and look under the "Advanced" tab. (The processor ID is about 1/2 way down the screen.) 2. Use the Microsoft "System Information" tool. Go to the task bar and click through the following selections: Click Start, select Programs, select Accessories, select System Tools, then click System Information. The first screen displayed with this tool has processor information. For example, a F24 ID processor will have the following entry. (The "F" is translated to a "15" by this tool.) "Processor x86 Family 15 Model 2 Stepping 4 GenuineIntel .." 3. DMI information. The processor ID is presented in the DMI (Desktop Management Interface) Type 4 structure. There are various tools (DMI browsers) available to view this information. 4. If you have a Windows installation that for some reason does not have the "System Information" tool, a utility to display the processor ID can be obtained from Intel at the following URL: http://support.intel.com/support/processors/tools/frequencyid/ 5. System administrators may wish to refer to the following URL for an example of a Microsoft script file that extracts (among other things) the processor ID: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/community/scriptcenter/compmgmt/scrcm73.mspx 2CKT13A/2CJT13A - Fixes a problem that occurs when attempting to use IRQ 10 or 11 as SCI IRQ - Corrects password information in SMBIOS structure 24 - Fixes boot block recovery from USB floppy - Fixes corrupted characters in the runtime strings for some languages 2CKT12A/2CJT12A - Fixes a problem where the system may hang when using German language text 2CKT11A/2CJT11A - Initial Production Release Trademarks ---------- IBM and ThinkCentre are trademarks of the IBM Corporation in the United States, other countries, or both. Microsoft and Windows are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States, other countries, or both. Other company, product, and service names may be trademarks or service marks of others. THIS DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. IBM DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND MERCHANTABILITY WITH RESPECT TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT. BY FURNISHING THIS DOCUMENT, IBM GRANTS NO LICENSES TO ANY PATENTS OR COPYRIGHTS. (C) Copyright IBM Corporation 2004. All rights reserved.