New generic battery sent with instructions to update BIOS? Virus?

rossyl · 2 Oct 2011 at 21:55

Hi,

I bought a generic battery for my Sony Vaio from a Chinese auction seller.

Packaged with the battery is a CD, this contains a BIOS update. The packaging states that the "driver" should be installed prior to battery use. I am most unsure about installing the BIOS update. Especially if they've accidentally sent the wrong type.

Is this normal? Should I install the BIOS update?
or
Should I try the battery without installing this driver/BIOS update.

Cheers
R

Kujo · 2 Oct 2011 at 23:52

I'd google to see if there's a BIOS recovery procedure for your Vaio first. If there is I'd give it a go. Seems to be common for these batteries to come with a BIOS update though.

needforspeed · 2 Oct 2011 at 23:53

What Sony Vaio is it anyway? You could go on the Sony Vaio website and download it from there?

alex24 · 2 Oct 2011 at 23:57

I would imagine it's purpose is to allow the 3rd party battery to work, so it must be a hacked BIOS of some sort. I wouldn't put it past Sony to lock that sort of thing out.

Flashing a BIOS is always a risk though. I can't see what harm the battery could do on the other BIOS, other than not charge or similar, unless it's really a bodge kind of 3rd party battery.

Perhaps another OcUK'er has tried something like this.

rossyl · 3 Oct 2011 at 09:52

Thanks all.

I guess the below really is the issue...

alex24 said:
I can't see what harm the battery could do on the other BIOS, other than not charge or similar, unless it's really a bodge kind of 3rd party battery.

If the battery/laptop won't be damaged by plugging in a 3rd party battery, then it's a better idea to try that first before the BIOS update.

The "hacked" BIOS "update" states that it is the correct BIOS for the labelled battery. However, the labelled battery model number is different from my laptop (Sony Vaio FZ11S) but I believe that it could be the US model number.

rossyl · 3 Oct 2011 at 11:11

So...having a Google. It appears that the 3rd party battery will be rejected by the Vaio.

Some of the websites selling the batteries aay that an update is available from Sony, to allow for 3rd party batteries. Having looked at the Sony website I cannot see that they provide any download for this.

http://genesis.sony-europe.com/instranet/ccil_sony/selfservice/index.jsp?m=VGN-FZ11S&l=en_GB

alex24 · 3 Oct 2011 at 11:38

I see none either. Do you have Vaio update installed? That will pick up any BIOS updates for your laptop.

Otherwise it seems that would be the risk you have to take with the 3rd party battery. I know the official ones are very expensive as they're the only consumable part and manufacturers inflate the price massively. Looks to me like it's a lot like buying 3rd party inks. It definitely voids the warranty (which may well be over), but it may also make it very difficult to claim a repair on your statuatory rights should it go wrong as it's effectively been tampered with in a way that it really shouldn't.

Not sure what I'd do in your situation. Depends how much the official battery is, how old the laptop is, how bad the old battery is, how much money I have ready to replace it if it goes wrong.