Weird serial number (warranty)

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sevenw · #1 Post by **sevenw** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 7:08 pm

I have bougt an used thnikpad T40. It was a year ago, and now I have some problem with it, so I want to get it repaired.
The problem is, I do not heve any documentation about it, I connected to the IMB warranty site, I checked the automatical detection, and it recognized my TP, its type, serial nuber and when my warranty goes out (it is still under warranty) But the problem is, that the serial number automaticaly detected is differend from the serial number typed on the "sticker" on the bottom of my TP - type is same, but the other number are completly differend. When I type those nubers in the warranty site, it writes out that the serial number wasn't found.

So my question is, what's wrong? Is it a stolen TP?

The person from which i bougt it looked honest, he had I good car, daughter...He didn't looked like I thief...

#2 Post by **bill bolton** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 7:19 pm

If the system plannar (motherboard) has been replaced under warranty at some stage in the past, the electronic serial number may not match the one on the label. They are supposed to be synchronised when the planner is replaced, but it didn't happen when mine was replaced under warranty by IBM, and there are numerous other instances of similar occuraces that have been reported here.

If you have a floppy disk drive you can attach to the T40, you can use the Thinkpad Maintenance Tool diskette to change the electronic serial number to align it to the label serial number.

The process has been discussed in the T series forum a few times lately, so a search on "Serial number" or pehaps "S1" will turn up the description of the process involved.

Cheers,

Bill

sevenw · #3 Post by **sevenw** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 6:19 am

I have seen a tool to change the serial number in BIOS, but the problem is, that the number written on the bottom of my t40, is somehow wrong - when I type it to the warranty service site, they do not recognize it! So thats the problem, it is differned from the one that is automaticaly recognized, and that digital one (written in BIOS), have a warranty, but the pritned one doesn't have a warranty:(

Shoud I just remove this sticker with this wrong serial number?

andrey · #4 Post by **andrey** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 12:28 pm

sevenw wrote:I have seen a tool to change the serial number in BIOS, but the problem is, that the number written on the bottom of my t40, is somehow wrong - when I type it to the warranty service site, they do not recognize it! So thats the problem, it is differned from the one that is automaticaly recognized, and that digital one (written in BIOS), have a warranty, but the pritned one doesn't have a warranty:(

Shoud I just remove this sticker with this wrong serial number?

The serial that is in the bottom of your TP is actual serial number, this is the number which IBM will honor. Do not remove that sticker!

As far as another serial you see in your BIOS, that's from another TP from which motherboard was replaced. You can erase it if you want, but IBM will not honor it.

-- Andrey

sevenw · #5 Post by **sevenw** » Sun Nov 20, 2005 8:43 am

hmm.... but what does it mean that IBM could not recognize it???
When I type it in thos page:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... ubtype=Cat

it will write this message:
"
Our apologies

Information for Warranty was not found. Please click back and try again or you may navigate clicking on 'Warranty'. "

WHAT DOES IT MEAN???? and Im sure that I have typed it correctly - and I tryed all posible combination - eg small numbers, slash....

andrey · #6 Post by **andrey** » Sun Nov 20, 2005 10:29 am

sevenw wrote:hmm.... but what does it mean that IBM could not recognize it???
When I type it in thos page:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... ubtype=Cat

it will write this message:
"
Our apologies

Information for Warranty was not found. Please click back and try again or you may navigate clicking on 'Warranty'. "

WHAT DOES IT MEAN???? and Im sure that I have typed it correctly - and I tryed all posible combination - eg small numbers, slash....

This means the warranty has expired.

saddog · #7 Post by **saddog** » Sun Nov 20, 2005 3:22 pm

I have the same problem, i changed out the sysyem board, now I have no machine type or serial number. I called ibm support on this, no program they can send me and said take it to a service center. I read somewhere there is a program to update the info on the system board machine type and serial number. When you do this updates can be done.
If someone has this program. please send me a copy. Jim
jgfusco3@yahoo.com

andrey · #8 Post by **andrey** » Sun Nov 20, 2005 9:18 pm

The program is IBM Hardware Maintance Diskette, version 1.69. Do a search on google, you'll find it.

-- Andrey

AbsoluteRaleigh · #9 Post by **AbsoluteRaleigh** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 12:17 pm

Well, one thing is for sure, you can't send it in the way it is or else any chance of getting it fixed for free will be voided. Also, there is a decent chance someone replaced the board in it themselves with a used board.

Here is what I would do: Take the label right off the bottom of the laptop. Call IBM Service and when they ask for the s/n just give them the one from the BIOS. Send it in and see what happens.

I have seen them sent in this way before. They are going to do one of two things.

A- They'll say it has been tampered with and give you a quote to fix it.

B- They'll fix it and send it back, probably with a nice little label on the bottom of it.

As a side note: If it is stolen they'll keep it.

Weird serial number (warranty)

Weird serial number (warranty)

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