How to update Lenovo BIOS on a T460 without battery?

I am trying to update my Lenovo T460 bios to latest version:

Version 1.43.1.11 (https://pcsupport.lenovo.com/fr/en/products/laptops-and-netbooks/thinkpad-t-series-laptops/thinkpad-t460/downloads/driver-list/component?name=BIOS%2FUEFI).

Normally it is not a problem to update the BIOS but my battery is dead (and can't order a new one due to COVID-19 in my location) and the update tool says I need the battery to be charged.

Do you know of any switches like Dell BIOS typically has, i.e.

/forceit

Solution 1:

Lenovo requires a working battery, decent charge (at least half) and plugged into AC. This is to prevent possibly bricking the BIOS chip. There is not a facility within the Lenovo BIOS update application (and looking through the documentation) to update with no battery.

I have done lots of Lenovo (and IBM) BIOS updates for myself and for clients.

I have ordered parts during COVID. Try Lenovo Sales Support and also 3rd party suppliers with warranty approved parts.

Solution 2:

Following info and steps worked in my old lenovo

The bios zip file includes:

• 2 files .FL1(BIOS) and .FL2 (ECP: Embedded Controller Program / platform)
• executables with a name similar to winphlash (can be DOS or windows)

winphlash can backup current BIOS and apply a BIOS with extension .ROM and will not check for battery.

The .FL files have the format required by winphlash, so you can rename the extension FL1 to ROM or just force the filter to pick the FL file

I managed to Flash the FL1(BIOS) and it is recognized and works.

However I didn't know what to do with FL2 file, I tried to flash as i did with BIOS but I received a warning message saying that version and code is not the expected.

(update: ECP should always be flashed before than BIOS)

Anyway, despite the message I flashed the ECP/platform ROM and everything worked well.

BTW I don't consider buying a new battery the best solution. Because in the practise not all people need a battery and for old laptops the cost can be similar to the laptop price.

Solution 3:

After a month searching the internet, I finally got my Yoga X1 Gen2 bios updated without battery. It was much more simple than I thought.

• download the official bios on lenovo support page and extract it.
• Run WINUPTP64.EXE or WINUPTP.EXE using command line with "-sp" option.

In my case, in CMD, I typed: C:\DRIVERS\FLASH\n1nuj30w\20210302.08305818/WINUPTP64.EXE -sp

Command line options:

   "  -s        ... Silent mode\n"
   "  -r        ... Reboot after program completed\n"
   "  -sp       ... Skip power status check\n"
   "  -chk      ... Check current TPM firmware\n"
   "  -suc password ... Skip user confirmation at startup\n\n"
   " Note: -suc option requires supervisor password.\n"

source: https://thinkdeploy.blogspot.com/2017/11/tpm-firmware-update-utility.html

Solution 4:

On Lenovo ThinkPad X230i was enough to copy BIOS (*.FL1) and ECP (*.FL2) files to parent folder, where WinFlash64.exe is located then run cmd.exe as administrator and enter command:

> cd <path/to/WinFlash64.exe>
> WinFlash64.exe /file $01D3000.FL1

where $01D3000.FL1 was my BIOS file. ECP had the same name but "the next" extension like $01D3000.FL2 and it was probably taken automatically based on numeric pattern.