The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Q: Optical drive options for BIOS flashing and windows installs

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by Rambler, Sep 3, 2011.

  1. Rambler

    Rambler Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    41
    Messages:
    142
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Hi

    I'm planning on purchasing an X220 to replace my X301 and have a question about optical drives for BIOS flashing and windows installs.

    I was going to purchase an ultrabase with an ultra bay DVDRW. Now I'm thinking that might be an overkill for what I need.

    Is it a better option to go for a USB powered Lenovo Slim USB Portable DVD Burner (0A33988) ?

    Also are these external drives recognized by the BIOS?

    Thanks
     
    Rambler, Sep 3, 2011
    #1
  2. ZaZ

    ZaZ Super Model Super Moderator

    Reputations:
    4,982
    Messages:
    34,001
    Likes Received:
    1,415
    Trophy Points:
    581
    I use an external Blu-ray drive. It's just the drive and the case I slapped together. It works fine.
     
    ZaZ, Sep 4, 2011
    #2
  3. John Ratsey

    John Ratsey Moderately inquisitive Super Moderator

    Reputations:
    7,197
    Messages:
    28,842
    Likes Received:
    2,172
    Trophy Points:
    581
    The BIOS supports USB 2.0 but not (for those who have it) USB 3.0.

    Any of the standard external USB 2.0 burners should work - it doesn't need to be Lenovo.

    John
     
    John Ratsey, Sep 4, 2011
    #3
  4. MidnightSun

    MidnightSun Emodicon

    Reputations:
    6,668
    Messages:
    8,224
    Likes Received:
    231
    Trophy Points:
    231
    I use a USB 2.0 ASUS external CD/DVD burner/reader with my X120e and my dad's X220, with no issues. Do note that Thinkpads can flash their BIOS using the flashing tool from within Windows itself... it's just as safe, if not safer, than using a CD.
     
    MidnightSun, Sep 4, 2011
    #4
  5. Thors.Hammer

    Thors.Hammer Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    982
    Messages:
    5,162
    Likes Received:
    33
    Trophy Points:
    216
    In my experience it's the reverse. Of the machines that have been bricked in our company, 100% came from the .EXE used in Windows. None so far from the .ISO and CD/DVD.
     
    Thors.Hammer, Sep 4, 2011
    #5
  6. Rambler

    Rambler Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    41
    Messages:
    142
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    31
    This is how I bricked my X301.
     
    Rambler, Sep 5, 2011
    #6