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BIOS Upgrade?!?
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Posted by: burnmedic
Ok, so I thought it was a good idea! I found an IBM Thinkpad 760c 9548-U28 for $300. I am a firefighter and am at the stations for 24hrs at a time and wanted something to run the net with and play on my basic recreational time. It has a P120 and 40mb RAM and has the MWave sound and 33.6 modem combination. The only 2 problems with it were that it didn't have a CDROM and this was fixed with a PCICMA CDROM and then it only had a 810MB HDD. I ordered an IBM 20GB HDD and opened the HDD holder and plugged it in. When I started up the system it gives an error code and stops the boot saying that the HDD has an error. I started researching the BIOS spects and found that IBM only has a BIOS that supports up to a 5.1GB HDD. When I asked them about a BIOS that would accomodate the 20GB they said they didn't have one and that my system was too old to upgrade ?!? For $300 dollars and a machine that works for what I want it to at work, got a nice 800mhz at home, I don't think that I need to get rid of it for this reason! Sounds almost like a sales pitch to me!
Before I return this 20GB for a 5.1GB, I thought that you guys might be able to help or suggest. Are there any universal BIOS's out there that I can flash this with that would work? I believe that it is flashable as there are several versions of BIOS to download for this machine that you can install. Thanks again for any help.
Scooby
Posted by: Kdr Kane
An IBM 760 Laptop is an old standard with my company. Just get the smaller drive or setup the settings on the 20 GB for the 5.1 GB specs if you can. You aren't going to be able to refit a laptop to new specs.
A 20 GB laptop drive seems to cost a lot more than a 5 GB drive anyway.
It's best to go with the last BIOS update for that model.
Posted by: Chako
I searched high and low on the net for something that may help you, and I could not find anything. Laptops are highly proprietary in nature. IBM does not support your model anymore (I think it dates to 1996), and chances are nobody else will spend the time to make a BIOS flash for that model. I think you will not find anything that will allow you to use your 20gig. I would return it and get yourself a 5.1 Gig instead.
Maybe some of the more knowledgeable people who frequent these forums might have something that might help you out. From where I stand, I think your out of luck. It is a sad fact that laptops are not the easiest things to upgrade, and sometimes, are impossible to upgrade if they are old enough.
Posted by: burnmedic
How would one set up the 20Gb to the 5.1Gb specs? Not familiar with this. Any suggestions. As for the price, actually the 20Gb was $89 and a 5.0Gb is $69!!!! Dosen't make since to me but thats the cheapest I can find right now for the 2.5 IDE HDD's. Thanks for the answers and suggestions. You all are GREAT!
Scooby
Posted by: Kdr Kane
How would one set up the 20Gb to the 5.1Gb specs?
Sorry, I may have mislead you. I'm not sure you can. It may be possible, but not necessarily likely.
Posted by: burnmedic
Thanks Kane for your reply. Oh well, will send this big one back and get a smaller one.
Scooby
Posted by: burnmedic
Well guys, I returned the 20gb and got a 4.8gb HDD and when I tried to start the computer up with it I get the same error code, 00174. According to the IBM website bios version 1.25 encorporated 4gb and 5gb HDD and I have version 1.30! This means that I should be able to use the 4.8, right? I have sent emails to IBM and haven't recieved a response yet, go figure. Just hoping that one of the many viewers might have a suggestion for me. It would be nice to have a little bit more space than 810mb.
Scooby
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