Recently changed laptop from a HP to Lenovo. Just trying to keep everything up to date and make sure all the lower level stuff works. There is a more specific reason why I am interested in doing this now, but that would take a bit to explain, and isn’t all too relevant to the issue at hand really, as far as I know. I’ll explain if requested.
I’ve tried to follow the guide the arch linux wiki has on flashing the BIOS ( here https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Flashing_BIOS_from_Linux#Lenovo ) and immediately have run into a problem - I’ve downloaded both the installer from Lenovo and innoextracter from the extra repository, but innoextract just tells me flat out “Not a supported Inno Setup installer!”. All my internet searching skills have just turned up with nothing on this.
The arch linux article has an implied alternative - using Wine. I assume though that there is a specific reason why it is recommended to use innoextract or that the idea of using a non-specific exe extractor - if that is such a thing - isn’t suggested. Maybe I am wrong though.
Yes, and it did update something called the UEFI “dbx”. Not 100% sure what that is. In any case dmidecode -s bios-version still lists an older version of the bios than the newest version Lenovo lists. KUCN34WW (current) vs KUCN37WW (the newest version). This is after a full shutdown to be clear.
Thanks @thefrog,@ricklinux, and @anon26269396, for suggesting Hirens boot. I’ll give that a try sometime tomorrow and report back (it is already past midnight where I live haha).
Well I managed to get into the USB boot but now I get the error “Secure Flash Interface Error” when trying to run the installer.
I have the installer on my usb. I believe the problem might be that windows can’t access my storage since it is btrfs. In any case the internet only returns issues with authentication error, not interface error, and different laptop models than ideapad.
I was seeing some sort of warning or something rather so used HBCD in this manner.
Re:Update Bios - ThinkBook 15 G2 ITL
Newer Intel BIOS are no longer supporting (UEFI/Legacy).
Update your Bios with Hirens Boot.
https://www.hirensbootcd.org/download/
https://rufus.ie/
USB Drive 8GB or larger ( I used a 16GB )
PC with Windows 10 (or Windows 7)
Ran Rufus and selected the Hirens Boot ISO
Used GPT which was the default
Press Start and wait for it to complete
Boot from USB and create a new directory, I used Lenovo and copy the Bios file to this location
Extract the *.exe Bios file to ( my case was Y:/Drivers/*** )
From within that new extracted directory, I clicked on the *.exe bios file and followed the instructions.
Thanks Sam
I have managed to boot into HBCD. The problem comes up with running the installer, which gives the error I mentioned when I tried to run it while in the downloads directory on the USB. This was before being offered any options. Would really trying to move it to a new directory on the USB really work? That doesn’t seem like it would change anything.
It seems like your issue was resolved right after getting into HBCD and then running the installer. The issue I am now having is right after that - after booting into HBCD and then trying to run the installer on the system.
When you extracted the bios file, did you extract it to the windows file system on the usb, or did you do it onto the linux file system on your laptop? I assume the former but just being 100% sure, since that is what I did.
Off topic but I am surprised that Lenovo tried to help. I would have thought that changing your OS would void whatever warrenty or any sort of obligation they had to help you with your machine.
Huh, maybe I just wasn’t paying close enough attention but it just seemed that it only gave me the option to run it not to extract. I’ll have a look again later after I’ve done some uni work.
The fool proof way to flash bios on lenovo laptops is to just replace your drive with a spare drive with windows on it. In addition there are some handy Lenovo utilities that make this easy. Given the easy of switching drives on most of their laptops this is what I do.
Fwupd works well if you don’t have a spare drive and your computer is supported.
The exact issue is that the wizard presents an error after running. “Secure Flash Interface Error”. This is after pressing start and before any more options are presented, after working for 5 or so seconds.