Lenovo 9211 : A52, M52 Series ThinkCentre Deskop PC User Guide : Page 49

Appendix A. Updating system programs

This appendix contains information about updating POST/BIOS and how to

recover from a POST/BIOS update failure.

System program

System programs are the basic layer of software that is built into your computer.

They include the power-on self-test (POST), the basic input/output system (BIOS)

code, and the Setup Utility program. POST is a set of tests and procedures that is

performed each time you turn on your computer. BIOS is a layer of software that

translates instructions from other layers of software into electrical signals that the

computer hardware can understand. You can use the Setup Utility program to

view and change the configuration and setup of your computer.

Your computer system board has a module called electrically erasable programmable

read-only memory (EEPROM, also referred to as flash memory). You can easily update

POST, BIOS, and the Setup Utility program by starting your computer using a

flash update diskette or by running a special update program from your operating

system.

Lenovo might make changes and enhancements to the POST/BIOS. When updates

are released, they are available as downloadable files on the World Wide Web (see

the Quick Reference). Instructions for using the POST/BIOS updates are available in

a .txt file that is included with the update files. For most models, you can

download either an update program to create a system-program-update (flash)

diskette or an update program that can be run from the operating system.

Note: You can download a self starting bootable CD image (known as an .iso

image) of the diagnostics program from

http://www.lenovo.com/think/support to support systems without a

diskette drive.

Updating (flashing) BIOS from a diskette or CD-ROM

To update (flash) the BIOS from a diskette or CD-ROM, do the following:

1. Insert a system program update (flash) diskette or CD-ROM into the diskette

drive or optical drive. System program updates are available at

http://www.lenovo.com/think/support on the World Wide Web.

2. Turn on the computer. If it is on already, you must turn it off and back on

again. The update begins.

3. When you are prompted to select a language, press the number on your

keyboard that corresponds to the language and then press Enter.

4. When prompted to change the serial number, press Y.

5. Type in the seven character serial number of your computer and then press

Enter.

6. When prompted to change the machine type/model, press Y.

7. Type in the seven character machine type/model of your computer and then

press Enter.

8. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the update.