How to update firmware using Linux?

markw10 · 07-28-2009, 09:21 PM

I recently purchased an Acer Aspire Timeline 3810T-6415. It came with firmware version 1.04 and now version 1.08 is out.
The issue is it came with Windows Vista and I noticed Acer's website has files to update the firmware via either DOS or Windows. I was going to update via DOS using a USB Floppy Drive but the problem is the actual firmware file alone (without the firmware installation file) is 2GB and I can only put 1.44GB on a floppy.
Are there any other ways to update? I know I probably can't do it within Mandriva Linux itself but can I do it from a flash drive somehow booting into DOS or is there another way to do it? I'm having some issues getting Mandriva to work on it and hope that the firmware may resolve some of it.

lazlow · 07-28-2009, 09:57 PM

If you look at freedos you can make a bootable cd. Put the stuff relevant to the bios update on the cd too.

jay73 · 07-28-2009, 10:02 PM

You can even put it on a USB stick if you don't want to waste a cd; I have upgraded BIOS that way.
http://www.linuxinsight.com/how-to-f...ppy-drive.html

thorkelljarl · 07-29-2009, 04:22 AM

I don't understand...

This is an Acer notebook, but what part of it has the firmware you want to update? Are you not referring to the BIOS?

I found these references below on using UNetbootin and FreeDOS with a USB stick, but I would use google to research thoroughly on exactly how with linux.

On looking at the BIOS files, I found two with the same date and time, and in both a Windows .exe file that should be used to flash the BIOS. Is this BIOS meant to be flashed from within a running Windows installation?. I would try to find out if that is the case, and if it is a problem while flashing with FreeDOS. As well, it would be good to know if there is a difference between version 1.08 and 1.10 that would require you to use one and not the other.

Flashing a BIOS incorrectly can be fatal to the notebook; knowledge is not a luxury.

http://www.netbooktech.com/tag/acer-...-instructions/

http://4zzblawg.wordpress.com/2008/1...to-flash-bios/

Good Luck

markw10 · 07-29-2009, 10:23 AM

Thanks for the help. I will look at those links and also the difference between 1.08 and 1.10. I was confused with 1.10 since that and 1.08 were both listed on the same date. I am going to update the BIOS Firmware but am only at 1.04 now so will do the update to 1.08 and check if I need to do the update to 1.10.

moxieman99 · 07-29-2009, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markw10

Thanks for the help. I will look at those links and also the difference between 1.08 and 1.10. I was confused with 1.10 since that and 1.08 were both listed on the same date. I am going to update the BIOS Firmware but am only at 1.04 now so will do the update to 1.08 and check if I need to do the update to 1.10.

Why update your BIOS at all? We all know that a bad update can turn your system into a brick. What can you do using version 1.08 or 1.1 that you cannot do with 1.04, and is that difference worth the risk?

markw10 · 07-29-2009, 04:34 PM

I am having some issues with a grey screen at bootup. I am able to install Mandriva and do a set up the updates and then I reboot and it starts to boot and then just goes to this grey screen.
I posted elsewhere on here and was told it may be a graphics driver issue but I tried those steps and it doesn't fix it. I know there is a suspend to RAM issue that a firmware update is supposed to fix. I am going to try an install now that I have 1.08 on there but 1.10 is probably too risky at this time. I still don't know if this will fix the issue with the grey screen. I was told there is an issue with the SATA Mode, having AHCI mode selected and it was suggested to change it to IDE mode but that didn't fix my issue.

thorkelljarl · 07-29-2009, 05:30 PM

It's called a BIOS...

I assume that you successfully updated your BIOS to 1.08, but you are having trouble with your Mandriva installation. Have you tried to boot a live-cd of the latest Ubuntu or Fedora or openSUSE to see if the graphics and display will work with one of them.

You might try to include more detailed information about exactly what you installed and what happened. The system does boot, but in console mode without the X window manager, or boots into level 3, or the screen is merely dark without text?

http://www.linuxquestions.org/linux/...Ask_a_Question

markw10 · 07-29-2009, 09:34 PM

It seems the update to the 1.08 BIOS was successful but I'm still having issues with the Mandriva install.
The odd thing is I can do the basic Mandriva install and it seems to work fine. I get 4 updates and restart the computer fine. Then it prompts me for more updates and at that time it won't restart. I am using Mandriva PowerPack, 64 bit. I thought about trying 32 bit but I know this is a 64 bit computer and if I'm correct to use all 4 Gigs of RAM I'd need 64 bit.
When it starts though it goes to a black screen and I can see a white 'underline' cursor at the top left of the screen but that is all. The computer actually seems locked up and I can't type anything. When I boot it it goes through the GRUB screen, then some text, then a screen that is the Blue Mandriva screen where it says booting, then it quickly shows some text and then goes to the black screen I mentioned.
I'm kind of new to Linux so am not very familiar with all of this but have installed Mandriva on netbooks in the past without any issues. I haven't tried any other Live CD's yet but can do that. Since it booted a couple times successfully I didn't originally think it was graphics related.