Thinkpads Forum

Hello, first off, I'm a Lenovo Authorized Service Technician. With that being said, you would think that Lenovo themselves would be able to help out, but no.

The problem: I have four X131e ThinkPads that all have/need new system boards, which of course means updating the MTM/Serial# after the installation. Simple enough except that for whatever reason, the replacement motherboards they sent me won't remove write protection from the EEPROM. I'm using the same HMD 1.83 that I've used for 20+ other X131e's of the same specifications and same motherboard FRU #.

The key(?): I've only encountered this problem on one previous X131e, which I chose to send to the repair depot in Memphis, TN. On the repair sheet they sent back with the machine, the only listing is "Motherboard - Configuration Error" which means they didn't install any hardware and that the problem that's preventing the EEPROM from being written to is software sided.

I've tried any and all BIOS settings that may have any relation to this. I've researched for multiple days without any resolution and I've tried comparing the BIOS settings/version information of the repaired machine with my other problematic ones, but the only visible difference (Aside from the BIOS version, but I've tried updating/downgrading to no avail) is that "Windows Boot Manager" is listed in the Boot menu on the repaired machine.

Any ideas or input would be of use and is greatly appreciated.

P.S.....No, the HDD's are not encrypted. And no, I cannot seem to find a more recent HMD than 1.83, though I believe 1.86 may exist.

i'm sure you are NOT amused by this silliness..

there was, at one time, a key combination that could be used, which would allow changing the machine type and model number as well as the serial number..
in fact, i used it one time to blank those two fields, just for fun, on one of my thinkpads..
but this was back in the days of the 770X, 600 thinkpad days..
this might stoill be present in current bios's but i just can not recall at this moment what the key combo was..
if i can recall what it was i'll sure post a PM to you..

welcome to the forum..
sorry i don't have more for you biut i'm sure one of the furum members who does a lot of mods will have an answer..

Welcome to the Forum.
That machine has the wonky/crappy UEFI BIOS that nobody here thinks much off...
Latest HMD is indeed 1.86, and includes both floppy and USB-stick versions.
You should know where to get it...

You sure you press Esc in time at boot-up?
1 second too late, and it won't work.

Check that Security/UEFI BIOS Update/Flash is ENabled.
BIOS simulator here: http://service.lenovo.partner-managemen ... ulator.swf

RealBlackStuff wrote:Welcome to the Forum.
That machine has the wonky/crappy UEFI BIOS that nobody here thinks much off...
Latest HMD is indeed 1.86, and includes both floppy and USB-stick versions.
You should know where to get it...

You sure you press Esc in time at boot-up?
1 second too late, and it won't work.

Check that Security/UEFI BIOS Update/Flash is ENabled.
BIOS simulator here: http://service.lenovo.partner-managemen ... ulator.swf

Actually, I don't know where to get it as Lenovo/IBM has changed the location of all software downloads to support.Lenovo.com, but of course I can't seem to get any login credentials for that site...Quite frustrating. If I do actually need 1.86, why has 1.83 worked on all the previous systems?

I press "ESC" in the same manner that I have on all the others that I've repaired, but these ones just won't take. I've also tried the BIOS settings you mentioned, no change.

That fact that you have changed so many mobos probably means that those X131e machines are worth next to naught.
A laptop with an AMD or Celeron CPU? You must be joking!

You don't NEED 1.86 but it's always better to have the latest..
Check your new messages.

Well, I made myself a HMD 1.86 and tried to use it on one of the problematic machines, no luck.
Both the 1.83 and 1.86 diskettes work without problem on the repaired machine, but not the others.