How to flash TP 390E bios without a battery?

I recently acquired an old Thinkpad 390E, which I am using as a Linux firewall.

I downloaded the latest BIOS and burnt the floppy image to a CD and booted it but it complains that my battery is not fully charged, even though I'm on mains it wants me to have a battery as a backup power source.

This is a problem because the battery, well, she be dead

ANy suggestions?

 

I got this with a quick google, please don't quote me on this, but it seems like the right thing to do.
*** This is NOT a safe way to update the bios (disclaimer) ***

* First you need to make a BIOS update floppy disk (from the bios file from IBM - place disk in a: drive, run app and answer Y to the agreement) and then format another disk by right clicking on A: - format - make system bootdisk (assuming you have another machine spare)

* Copy all the files from the IBM Boot disk - in my case
$0029000.fl1
$0029000.fl2
FLASH2.EXE
PROD.DAT
UPDTFLSH.EXE
updtrom.exe
USERINT.EXE
UTILINFO.EXE
to the other clean bootdisk.

* Ensure that there is no config.sys and autoexec.bat so it just runs straight into DOS.

* Place the disk into the Laptop, reboot and allow the machine to load via the floppy

* At the command prompt, type "FLASH2.EXE /U" with no quotes then press enter.

The program will automatically search for the files *.FL1 & *.FL2 and load the bios first then the platform file.

The program will automatically update and perform erasing on the rom and then finish with "Update complete".

* Now reboot.

* Hold F1 down as you turn the laptop back on and go into Easy Setup under "Config" click on Initialize to ensure defaults and settings are error free.

* Save and exit...

 

Thanks, I've made a Bootable CD out of the floppy image which works, gonna dig out that ol' win98 boot cd..

Let's hope the power stays ON