with google I found an old page that has since been removed from the linuxbios website that had the beginnings of a story about putting linuxbios on a thinkpad T22. I guess the story never got finished?
I have a thinkpad 570e with the latest bios from IBM (1999) and wanted to replace its hard drive with a compact flash card. So I found a CF->IDE converter, bought a CF card and tried to boot it. But the bios doesn't recognize the CF card as an IDE device. A newer thinkpad T40 does find the card and boot from it just fine. So I know the card works as a disk. But the BIOS on the 570e is too old and stupid to find it. So currently, I am using isolinux to boot from a CD, load the kernel/initrd and then mount the CF card as /.
So I am coming to this list in hopes that I can find a way to update my bios so that it will recognize the CF card as a bootable device.
--Vernon
# dmidecode 2.6 SMBIOS 2.3 present. 32 structures occupying 1022 bytes. Table at 0x000E8010. Handle 0x0000 DMI type 0, 20 bytes. BIOS Information Vendor: IBM Version: IUET26WW Release Date: 12/12/1999 Address: 0xE8000 Runtime Size: 96 kB ROM Size: 512 kB Characteristics: ISA is supported PCI is supported PC Card (PCMCIA) is supported PNP is supported APM is supported BIOS is upgradeable BIOS shadowing is allowed ESCD support is available Boot from CD is supported Selectable boot is supported Boot from PC Card (PCMCIA) is supported EDD is supported 3.5"/720 KB floppy services are supported (int 13h) 3.5"/2.88 MB floppy services are supported (int 13h) Print screen service is supported (int 5h) 8042 keyboard services are supported (int 9h) Serial services are supported (int 14h) Printer services are supported (int 17h) CGA/mono video services are supported (int 10h) ACPI is supported LS-120 boot is supported BIOS boot specification is supported Handle 0x0001 DMI type 1, 25 bytes. System Information Manufacturer: IBM Product Name: 26436AU Version: Not Available Serial Number: 78D7521 UUID: F7D92A01-43E4-11CB-AB13-DA4C1C3D217B Wake-up Type: Power Switch Handle 0x0002 DMI type 2, 8 bytes. Base Board Information Manufacturer: IBM Product Name: 26436AU Version: Not Available Serial Number: J1D9R03003H Handle 0x0003 DMI type 3, 17 bytes. Chassis Information Manufacturer: IBM Type: Notebook Lock: Not Present Version: Not Available Serial Number: Not Available Asset Tag: Not Available Boot-up State: Safe Power Supply State: Safe Thermal State: Safe Security Status: Unknown OEM Information: 0x00000000 Handle 0x0004 DMI type 126, 17 bytes. Inactive Handle 0x0005 DMI type 126, 17 bytes. Inactive Handle 0x0006 DMI type 4, 32 bytes. Processor Information Socket Designation: None Type: Central Processor Family: Pentium III Manufacturer: GenuineIntel ID: 83 06 00 00 FF F9 83 03 Signature: Type 0, Family 6, Model 8, Stepping 3 Flags: FPU (Floating-point unit on-chip) VME (Virtual mode extension) DE (Debugging extension) PSE (Page size extension) TSC (Time stamp counter) MSR (Model specific registers) PAE (Physical address extension) MCE (Machine check exception) CX8 (CMPXCHG8 instruction supported) SEP (Fast system call) MTRR (Memory type range registers) PGE (Page global enable) MCA (Machine check architecture) CMOV (Conditional move instruction supported) PAT (Page attribute table) PSE-36 (36-bit page size extension) MMX (MMX technology supported) FXSR (Fast floating-point save and restore) SSE (Streaming SIMD extensions) Version: Pentium(R) III Voltage: 1.6 V External Clock: 66 MHz Max Speed: 500 MHz Current Speed: Unknown Status: Populated, Enabled Upgrade: None L1 Cache Handle: 0x000A L2 Cache Handle: 0x000B L3 Cache Handle: Not Provided Handle 0x0007 DMI type 5, 20 bytes. Memory Controller Information Error Detecting Method: None Error Correcting Capabilities: None Supported Interleave: One-way Interleave Current Interleave: One-way Interleave Maximum Memory Module Size: 128 MB Maximum Total Memory Size: 256 MB Supported Speeds: 70 ns 60 ns Supported Memory Types: FPM EDO DIMM Memory Module Voltage: 3.3 V Associated Memory Slots: 2 0x0008 0x0009 Enabled Error Correcting Capabilities: Unknown Handle 0x0008 DMI type 6, 12 bytes. Memory Module Information Socket Designation: Base Memory Bank Connections: 0 1 Current Speed: Unknown Type: DIMM SDRAM Installed Size: 64 MB (Single-bank Connection) Enabled Size: 64 MB (Single-bank Connection) Error Status: OK Handle 0x0009 DMI type 6, 12 bytes. Memory Module Information Socket Designation: DIMM Slot 1 Bank Connections: 2 3 Current Speed: Unknown Type: DIMM SDRAM Installed Size: 128 MB (Double-bank Connection) Enabled Size: 128 MB (Double-bank Connection) Error Status: OK Handle 0x000A DMI type 7, 19 bytes. Cache Information Socket Designation: L1 Cache Configuration: Enabled, Socketed, Level 1 Operational Mode: Write Back Location: Internal Installed Size: 16 KB Maximum Size: 16 KB Supported SRAM Types: Burst Pipeline Burst Synchronous Asynchronous Installed SRAM Type: Synchronous Speed: Unknown Error Correction Type: None System Type: Unified Associativity: 4-way Set-associative Handle 0x000B DMI type 7, 19 bytes. Cache Information Socket Designation: L2 Cache Configuration: Enabled, Socketed, Level 2 Operational Mode: Write Back Location: External Installed Size: 256 KB Maximum Size: 256 KB Supported SRAM Types: Burst Pipeline Burst Synchronous Asynchronous Installed SRAM Type: Pipeline Burst Synchronous Speed: Unknown Error Correction Type: None System Type: Unified Associativity: 4-way Set-associative Handle 0x000C DMI type 8, 9 bytes. Port Connector Information Internal Reference Designator: Not Specified Internal Connector Type: 9 Pin Dual Inline (pin 10 cut) External Reference Designator: Serial External Connector Type: DB-9 male Port Type: Serial Port 16550A Compatible Handle 0x000D DMI type 8, 9 bytes. Port Connector Information Internal Reference Designator: Not Specified Internal Connector Type: 25 Pin Dual Inline (pin 26 cut) External Reference Designator: Parallel External Connector Type: DB-25 female Port Type: Parallel Port ECP/EPP Handle 0x000E DMI type 8, 9 bytes. Port Connector Information Internal Reference Designator: Not Specified Internal Connector Type: None External Reference Designator: PS/2 Mouse External Connector Type: Circular DIN-8 male Port Type: Keyboard Port Handle 0x000F DMI type 8, 9 bytes. Port Connector Information Internal Reference Designator: Not Specified Internal Connector Type: None External Reference Designator: USB External Connector Type: Other Port Type: USB Handle 0x0010 DMI type 8, 9 bytes. Port Connector Information Internal Reference Designator: Not Specified Internal Connector Type: None External Reference Designator: Line-In External Connector Type: Other Port Type: Other Handle 0x0011 DMI type 8, 9 bytes. Port Connector Information Internal Reference Designator: Not Specified Internal Connector Type: None External Reference Designator: Headphone Jack External Connector Type: Other Port Type: Other Handle 0x0012 DMI type 9, 13 bytes. System Slot Information Designation: CardBus Slot 1 Type: 32-bit PC Card (PCMCIA) Current Usage: Available Length: Other ID: Adapter 0, Socket 0 Characteristics: 5.0 V is provided 3.3 V is provided PME signal is supported Hot-plug devices are supported Handle 0x0013 DMI type 9, 13 bytes. System Slot Information Designation: CardBus Slot 2 Type: 32-bit PC Card (PCMCIA) Current Usage: Available Length: Other ID: Adapter 0, Socket 0 Characteristics: 5.0 V is provided 3.3 V is provided PME signal is supported Hot-plug devices are supported Handle 0x0014 DMI type 10, 8 bytes. On Board Device 1 Information Type: Video Status: Disabled Description: Video (NeoMagic) On Board Device 2 Information Type: Sound Status: Disabled Description: Audio (Crystal) Handle 0x0015 DMI type 16, 15 bytes. Physical Memory Array Location: System Board Or Motherboard Use: System Memory Error Correction Type: None Maximum Capacity: 1 GB Error Information Handle: Not Provided Number Of Devices: 2 Handle 0x0016 DMI type 17, 23 bytes. Memory Device Array Handle: 0x0015 Error Information Handle: No Error Total Width: 64 bits Data Width: 64 bits Size: 64 MB Form Factor: TSOP Set: None Locator: On board Bank Locator: On board Type: DRAM Type Detail: Synchronous Speed: Unknown Handle 0x0017 DMI type 17, 23 bytes. Memory Device Array Handle: 0x0015 Error Information Handle: No Error Total Width: 64 bits Data Width: 64 bits Size: 128 MB Form Factor: DIMM Set: None Locator: DIMM Bank Locator: DIMM Type: DRAM Type Detail: Synchronous Speed: Unknown Handle 0x0018 DMI type 19, 15 bytes. Memory Array Mapped Address Starting Address: 0x00000000000 Ending Address: 0x0000C0003FF Range Size: 196609 kB Physical Array Handle: 0x0015 Partition Width: 0 Handle 0x0019 DMI type 20, 19 bytes. Memory Device Mapped Address Starting Address: 0x00000000000 Ending Address: 0x00003FFFFFF Range Size: 64 MB Physical Device Handle: 0x0016 Memory Array Mapped Address Handle: 0x0018 Partition Row Position: 1 Handle 0x001A DMI type 20, 19 bytes. Memory Device Mapped Address Starting Address: 0x00004000000 Ending Address: 0x0000BFFFFFF Range Size: 128 MB Physical Device Handle: 0x0017 Memory Array Mapped Address Handle: 0x0018 Partition Row Position: 1 Handle 0x001B DMI type 21, 7 bytes. Built-in Pointing Device Type: Track Point Interface: PS/2 Buttons: 3 Handle 0x001C DMI type 22, 26 bytes. Portable Battery Location: Front Manufacturer: Not Specified Name: IBM Design Capacity: Unknown Design Voltage: Unknown SBDS Version: Not Specified Maximum Error: Unknown SBDS Serial Number: 0000 SBDS Manufacture Date: 1980-00-00 SBDS Chemistry: Not Specified OEM-specific Information: 0x00008600 Handle 0x001D DMI type 22, 26 bytes. Portable Battery Location: UltraBase Manufacturer: Not Specified Name: IBM Design Capacity: Unknown Design Voltage: Unknown SBDS Version: Not Specified Maximum Error: Unknown SBDS Serial Number: 0000 SBDS Manufacture Date: 1980-00-00 SBDS Chemistry: Not Specified OEM-specific Information: 0x00000F01 Handle 0x001E DMI type 32, 20 bytes. System Boot Information Status: No errors detected Handle 0x001F DMI type 127, 4 bytes. End Of Table
0000:00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corp. 440BX/ZX/DX - 82443BX/ZX/DX Host bridge (rev 03) Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 64 Memory at f8000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=64M] Capabilities: [a0] AGP version 1.0
0000:00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corp. 440BX/ZX/DX - 82443BX/ZX/DX AGP bridge (rev 03) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode]) Flags: bus master, 66MHz, medium devsel, latency 64 Bus: primary=00, secondary=01, subordinate=01, sec-latency=64 Memory behind bridge: f4200000-f47fffff Prefetchable memory behind bridge: f5000000-f5ffffff
0000:00:02.0 CardBus bridge: Texas Instruments PCI1450 (rev 03) Subsystem: IBM: Unknown device 0130 Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 168, IRQ 11 Memory at 50000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4K] Bus: primary=00, secondary=02, subordinate=05, sec-latency=176 Memory window 0: 10000000-103ff000 (prefetchable) Memory window 1: 10400000-107ff000 I/O window 0: 00004000-000040ff I/O window 1: 00004400-000044ff 16-bit legacy interface ports at 0001
0000:00:02.1 CardBus bridge: Texas Instruments PCI1450 (rev 03) Subsystem: IBM: Unknown device 0130 Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 168, IRQ 11 Memory at 50100000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4K] Bus: primary=00, secondary=06, subordinate=09, sec-latency=176 Memory window 0: 10800000-10bff000 (prefetchable) Memory window 1: 10c00000-10fff000 I/O window 0: 00004800-000048ff I/O window 1: 00004c00-00004cff 16-bit legacy interface ports at 0001
0000:00:05.0 Multimedia audio controller: Cirrus Logic CS 4614/22/24 [CrystalClear SoundFusion Audio Accelerator] (rev 01) Subsystem: IBM: Unknown device 0132 Flags: slow devsel, IRQ 11 Memory at f4100000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4K] Memory at f4000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=1M] Capabilities: [40] Power Management version 2
0000:00:06.0 Bridge: Intel Corp. 82371AB/EB/MB PIIX4 ISA (rev 02) Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0
0000:00:06.1 IDE interface: Intel Corp. 82371AB/EB/MB PIIX4 IDE (rev 01) (prog-if 80 [Master]) Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 64 I/O ports at 1800 [size=16]
0000:00:06.2 USB Controller: Intel Corp. 82371AB/EB/MB PIIX4 USB (rev 01) (prog-if 00 [UHCI]) Flags: medium devsel, IRQ 11 I/O ports at 1820 [size=32]
0000:00:06.3 Bridge: Intel Corp. 82371AB/EB/MB PIIX4 ACPI (rev 03) Flags: medium devsel, IRQ 9
0000:00:07.0 Communication controller: Lucent Microelectronics WinModem 56k (rev 01) Subsystem: IBM Lucent Win Modem Flags: medium devsel, IRQ 11 Memory at f4101000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=256] I/O ports at 1810 [size=8] I/O ports at 2000 [size=256] Capabilities: [f8] Power Management version 2
0000:01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: Neomagic Corporation NM2200 [MagicGraph 256AV] (rev 20) (prog-if 00 [VGA]) Subsystem: IBM ThinkPad 570 Flags: bus master, fast Back2Back, medium devsel, latency 128, IRQ 11 Memory at f5000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=16M] Memory at f4400000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4M] Memory at f4200000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=1M] Capabilities: [dc] Power Management version 1
0000:02:00.0 Ethernet controller: 3Com Corporation 3cCFE575CT CardBus [Cyclone] (rev 10) Subsystem: 3Com Corporation FE575C-3Com 10/100 LAN CardBus-Fast Ethernet Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 64, IRQ 11 I/O ports at 4000 [size=128] Memory at 10400000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=128] Memory at 10400080 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=128] Expansion ROM at 10000000 [disabled] [size=128K] Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 1
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Vernon Mauery