Lenovo bios update?
Guppy Apr 20, 2022
So it seems a critical bios update has been released for my laptop:
https://it.slashdot.org/story/22/04/19/2118232/hackers-can-infect-over-100-lenovo-models-with-unremovable-malware

except of course it comes as a windows 11/10 .exe only

I'm 99.9% certain that running that though wine would brick my laptop, so what options are there? does windows have a 'live usb' option, and is that reliable enough to flash a bios?

( not a troll question, I've genuinely not use windows for properly 15+ years - so I've not the foggiest idea )
whizse Apr 20, 2022
Looks like you should be able to extract the needed firmware and do the update manually (at least for some models):
https://bladecoder.medium.com/flash-your-lenovo-ideapad-laptop-bios-from-linux-using-uefi-capsule-updates-a82e455ea29c

It's easier for the ThinkPad models. Most are supported (to some degree) via LVFS.
Guppy Apr 20, 2022
Quoting: whizseLooks like you should be able to extract the needed firmware and do the update manually (at least for some models):
https://bladecoder.medium.com/flash-your-lenovo-ideapad-laptop-bios-from-linux-using-uefi-capsule-updates-a82e455ea29c

It's easier for the ThinkPad models. Most are supported (to some degree) via LVFS.

Nice one sadly no .cap file for me though :(
mr-victory Apr 20, 2022
Quoting: Guppyoes windows have a 'live usb' option
There are community-made WinPE (preinstall environment, what is used by windows installer) based live images.
Quoting: Guppyand is that reliable enough to flash a bios
I am not sure of that.

I would ask the official support how to upgrade the firmware on Linux or install Windows.
Guppy Apr 21, 2022
Quoting: mr-victoryI would ask the official support how to upgrade the firmware on Linux or install Windows.

I did, my ticket got canceled without comment :|

Guess I'll just ignore the issue >_>
GustyGhost Apr 21, 2022
You might have to resort to one of these. Though if I were in your position I would just move to some board that isn't so dreadfully unsupported.
g000h Apr 21, 2022
Quoting: Guppy
Quoting: whizseLooks like you should be able to extract the needed firmware and do the update manually (at least for some models):
https://bladecoder.medium.com/flash-your-lenovo-ideapad-laptop-bios-from-linux-using-uefi-capsule-updates-a82e455ea29c

It's easier for the ThinkPad models. Most are supported (to some degree) via LVFS.

Nice one sadly no .cap file for me though :(

I don't know which BIOS you need to use (i.e. What's your laptop model?), but I did a little random test for myself.

I visited here and found the list of affected Lenovo laptops and chose one at random..
https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/product_security/LEN-73440#Lenovo%20Notebook

This is the one I chose:
https://pcsupport.lenovo.com/us/en/products/laptops-and-netbooks/3-series/ideapad-3-14iml05/downloads/driver-list/component?name=BIOS%2FUEFI

I picked up the dxcn39ww.exe BIOS file from that page, and ran innoextract on it.
Innoextract created a new folder ( ~/codeGetExtractPath ) with similar-named file inside, e.g. DXCN39WW.exe

I opened the second file with Gnome's Archive Manager and I could access all the files. There wasn't a .CAP file but I did spot a BIOS.fd file (18.1MB). I expect this file is exactly the same thing (just a different name).

So, potentially, you could grab "that" file (for your specific model) and try out the idea mentioned earlier:
https://bladecoder.medium.com/flash-your-lenovo-ideapad-laptop-bios-from-linux-using-uefi-capsule-updates-a82e455ea29c
(using the fwupdate tool).

If you do try this, please post back and let us know how it went =P
Guppy Apr 22, 2022
Quoting: g000h[...] There wasn't a .CAP file but I did spot a BIOS.fd file (18.1MB). I expect this file is exactly the same thing (just a different name).[...]

So, potentially, you could grab "that" file (for your specific model) and try out the idea mentioned earlier:
https://bladecoder.medium.com/flash-your-lenovo-ideapad-laptop-bios-from-linux-using-uefi-capsule-updates-a82e455ea29c
(using the fwupdate tool).

If you do try this, please post back and let us know how it went =P

Yeah I found that file my self - file claims it's a

BIOS.fd: MS-DOS executable PE32+ executable (DLL) (EFI application) x86-64, for MS Windows

poking around in the file it looks to be a file system of sorts - it contains among other things some plaintext config files for H2OFFT ( a windows based bios flasher aparently ), more PE files and a ton of debug symbols.

I've no luck extracting or mounting it. but I suspect it does contain a UEFI cap file in there somewhere

My laptop model isn't listed in the hw specs here as I though it's a Legion 5 Pro 16ACH6H and uses the GKCN53WW update at the time of writing

Last edited by Guppy on 22 April 2022 at 10:32 am UTC
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