Lenovo ThinkCentre M51e (English) User guide - Page 45

Appendix, Updating, system, programs

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Appendix A. Updating system programs This appendix contains information about updating system programs 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 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 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 .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. Updating (flashing) BIOS from a diskette or CD-ROM 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 which 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. Updating (flashing) BIOS from your operating system Note: Due to constant improvements being made to the Lenovo Web site, Web page content (including the links referenced in the following procedure) is subject to change. © Lenovo 2005. Portions © IBM Corp. 2005. 29

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Appendix
A.
Updating
system
programs
This
appendix
contains
information
about
updating
system
programs
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
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
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
.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.
Updating
(flashing)
BIOS
from
a
diskette
or
CD-ROM
1.
Insert
a
system
program
update
(flash)
diskette
or
CD-ROM
into
the
diskette
drive
or
optical
drive.
System
program
updates
are
available
at
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
which
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.
Updating
(flashing)
BIOS
from
your
operating
system
Note:
Due
to
constant
improvements
being
made
to
the
Lenovo
Web
site,
Web
page
content
(including
the
links
referenced
in
the
following
procedure)
is
subject
to
change.
©
Lenovo
2005.
Portions
©
IBM
Corp.
2005.
29