Appendix B. Updating System Programs
The following contains information about updating system programs (POST/BIOS)
and how to recover from a POST/BIOS update failure.
System programs
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 Configuration/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
Configuration/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 Configuration/Setup Utility program by starting your
computer using a flash update diskette.
IBM might make changes and enhancements to the system programs. When
updates are released, they are available as downloadable files on the World Wide
Web (see the Quick Reference). Instructions for using the system program updates
are available in a README file that is included in the update files.
To update system programs (flash the EEPROM):
1. Insert a system program update (flash) diskette into the diskette drive (drive A)
in your computer. System program updates are available at
http://www.pc.ibm.com/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.
Recovering from a POST/BIOS update failure
If power to your computer is interrupted while POST/BIOS is being updated (flash
update), your computer might not restart correctly. If this happens, follow the steps
for “Erasing a lost or forgotten password (clearing CMOS)” on page 56.
© Copyright IBM Corp. 2001 61
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