Compaq Presario 1510T is resisting a BIOS update

[Jeff7]

Got a 1510T here with wireless adapter troubles - see link in sig. My BIOS is from 2002. There are newer BIOSes available for this laptop, at this site. However, big problem - the disk boots, and executes a little .com file less than 500 bytes. It simply says "Incorrect system. Remove disk and turn off unit."
And yes, I'm quite sure this is in fact a Presario 1510T laptop. The labels and the BIOS setup screen itself confirm this. 🙂

So, I did a potentially stupid thing, and put the updater exe file and the .rom file onto a standard boot disk, without that tiny .com file, and tried it that way. Upon executing the updater program, the laptop simply freezes. No damage luckily, but no update either.

Has anyone encountered anything like this before? It would be really nice to get the wireless ethernet working on this computer.

A bit of quick background, the laptop uses a Texas Instruments PCI-4410 Cardbus adapter. There are a number of other people having difficulties with this same combination of Windows, this Cardbus adapter, and just about any brand of wireless network adapters. Makes me wonder if a BIOS upgrade will do anything, but it's still something I'd like to get done.

I should also like to update the BIOS to try to fix some weirdness that happens when restoring from standby or hibernate - the screen doesn't come back on unless I hold down the little button that tells the laptop that the lid is closed, then press a key, and then release the little button. THEN the screen powers on.

 

[Jeff7]

Bump. Anyone?

 

[stingbandel]

what BIOS do you want to update? I went to the link and saw nothing new. There's no new BIOS at all.

I have Presario 1500T and never have any problems with the wireless nor with BIOS update.

Maybe you can specify it maybe I could help you out.

 

[stingbandel]

are u talking about the wireless that is attached on the top of the laptop? If yes, use this one, http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/soft...&lang=en&cc=us&softwareitem=ob-27036-1

I use that and it works fine.

if you have another question then you can PM me for faster since I don't read too many stuff lately...

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: stingbandel
what BIOS do you want to update? I went to the link and saw nothing new. There's no new BIOS at all.

I have Presario 1500T and never have any problems with the wireless nor with BIOS update.

Maybe you can specify it maybe I could help you out.

1510T.
What they've got at the link is newer than what's on the laptop. Latest BIOS version from Compaq is v15.28, from September 2004. My laptop currently has a version from May 2002.

Originally posted by: stingbandel
are u talking about the wireless that is attached on the top of the laptop? If yes, use this one, http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/soft...<=en&cc=us&softwareitem=ob-27036-1

I use that and it works fine.

if you have another question then you can PM me for faster since I don't read too many stuff lately...

Nope - this laptop has no integrated wireless adapters. That capability is only available with a PCMCIA card.
Though oddly enough, the F2 key on the keyboard does have the little wireless icon on it. Probably just a standard keyboard though for multiple laptop models.

 

[stingbandel]

well then you can only use the PCMCIA based card in order to get the wireless then. So why are you upgrading the wireless from compaq? what you need is to buy the pcmcia wireless then install the driver. I am not sure if I get your problem right. maybe you can explain more cause that's what I got from your reading.

 

[stingbandel]

I look 10 times already on the link that you provided. There is no BIOS section at all. All I see is just some updates that's not important.

Where is the BIOS or the wireless update on the link you have? I don't see anything.

If I see something maybe I can try it on my Compaq.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: stingbandel
I look 10 times already on the link that you provided. There is no BIOS section at all. All I see is just some updates that's not important.

Where is the BIOS or the wireless update on the link you have? I don't see anything.

If I see something maybe I can try it on my Compaq.

They call it a "keyboard controller firmware update" for whatever reason- it should be the 5th red line down.
Screenshot

well then you can only use the PCMCIA based card in order to get the wireless then. So why are you upgrading the wireless from compaq? what you need is to buy the pcmcia wireless then install the driver. I am not sure if I get your problem right. maybe you can explain more cause that's what I got from your reading.

Here it is real quick and simple: 🙂
1. Bought 802.11g wireless card.
2. Install drivers according to instructions provided with card.
3. Power down PC according to instructions provided with card.
4. Plug in card, and boot system.
5. Windows recognizes the card and begins installing drivers. As it approaches completion, the system locks. Removing the card does nothing. It must be switched off, and rebooted. Windows comes back normally (without the card installed). Then, plug the card in - Windows immediately freezes again. After this, the CPU fan comes on, and the processor gets fairly hot, indicating full CPU usage.
The problem seems to be a problem with the way Windows interacts with the Texas Instruments PCI-4410 Cardbus controller - in my thread, someone else has posted with the same problem, and he's got the same cardbus controller in his laptop.
Now, if I try Knoppix 3.7 - it detects the card just fine and proceeds to seek out a signal.

 

[Jeff7]

Bump

 

[mparr1708]

They call it a keyboard firmware update because thats what it is. It probably updates the bios for the keyboard controller not on the system bios you are thinking of. This would be no help to your current situation.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: mparr1708
They call it a keyboard firmware update because thats what it is. It probably updates the bios for the keyboard controller not on the system bios you are thinking of. This would be no help to your current situation.

Doubtful. Check out the fixes in the version histories:

- Fixes issue where notebook may Power Off when connected to a specific printer. (ooh, new one, posted in August this year)

- Fixes intermittent issue where system fans do not work properly if the notebook fails to start when running a Microsoft Windows Operating System.

- Fixes issue where charger LED would blink when a fully charged Korean made cell was inserted.

- Corrects issue where the system could not detect a Microsoft IntelliMouse Version 1.2A.

- Changes Enter key scan code from E0 1C to 1C.

- Fixes a problem with internal reset while resuming from standby mode.

Only one deals with the keyboard. The rest sound like standard BIOS fixes.


Update - the latest update file does the same thing.
Incorrect System
Please remove the diskette and power off

Again, as the readme file for these BIOSes says it supports the Presario 1510T, you'd think my system would be supported.
Picture of the BIOS setup screen, just to confirm that I can read. Product Name: Presario 1510T. 🙂 Compaq, you listening? Heh. Too bad their tech support couldn't figure it out either.