Mystery: Wrong machine type auto-detected

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WPWoodJr · #1 Post by **WPWoodJr** » Sun Nov 12, 2006 11:55 pm

I'm trying to run System Update and it is getting an error. On further examination I found this file C:\Program Files\Lenovo\System Update\egather\sysrecomin.XML that is created by egather2.exe. In it is the line:

<ASC ID="System Model" W="16">2278ezu</ASC>

Now I have a T42p and its model number is 2378EZU, not 2278EZU - that's why System Update won't work, and neither will software installer.

Why does the software that auto-detects my system model number return the wrong result? Can I over-ride it somehow with the correct value?

pianowizard · #2 Post by **pianowizard** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 10:23 am

Perhaps the previous owner swapped the original system board with one from 2278EZU?

#3 Post by **GomJabbar** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 7:06 pm

If you boot up into BIOS setup (by pressing F1 at the beginning of the boot sequence), what is the System-unit serial number displayed? Is it the wrong one? If so, you need the Hardware Maintenance Diskette to change the serial number. Unfortunately you have to be an IBM business partner to purchase it. If you can somehow get your hands on Hardware Maintenance Diskette version 1.69 or later, you should be able to change the serial number yourself. However 1.69 doesn't seem to be available on the web anymore, so you will probably have to bring it or send it to an IBM service center to get the serial number corrected.

christopher_wolf · #4 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 7:27 pm

This is model number, right? Not serial number?

As it is the model number, then you can indeed change it via the BIOS re-flash utility for your system. There is an option there, shoulc be fairly evident as there are only three, to change the model number stored in the EEPROM and it doesn't actually have to reflash the whole BIOS.

For any serial numbers, you would have to have the IBM HMDs.

#5 Post by **GomJabbar** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 8:00 pm

That appears to be a good tip Mr. Wolf gave. Let us know how it all works out.

WPWoodJr · #6 Post by **WPWoodJr** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 11:09 pm

pianowizard wrote:Perhaps the previous owner swapped the original system board with one from 2278EZU?

I don't think there ever was a 2278EZU

WPWoodJr · #7 Post by **WPWoodJr** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 11:11 pm

GomJabbar wrote:If you boot up into BIOS setup (by pressing F1 at the beginning of the boot sequence), what is the System-unit serial number displayed? Is it the wrong one? If so, you need the Hardware Maintenance Diskette to change the serial number. Unfortunately you have to be an IBM business partner to purchase it. If you can somehow get your hands on Hardware Maintenance Diskette version 1.69 or later, you should be able to change the serial number yourself. However 1.69 doesn't seem to be available on the web anymore, so you will probably have to bring it or send it to an IBM service center to get the serial number corrected.

I assume by serial number you mean type/model number. The BIOS says its a 2278EZU. The sticker on the bottom of the laptop says its a 2378EZU.

I called Lenovo today and they said they would have to replace the system board! Hardly worth it. I doubt I'll do it.

WPWoodJr · #8 Post by **WPWoodJr** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 11:13 pm

christopher_wolf wrote:This is model number, right? Not serial number?

As it is the model number, then you can indeed change it via the BIOS re-flash utility for your system. There is an option there, shoulc be fairly evident as there are only three, to change the model number stored in the EEPROM and it doesn't actually have to reflash the whole BIOS.

For any serial numbers, you would have to have the IBM HMDs.

I tried this already and it won't let me change the numeric portion of the type/model number, only the "ezu" part. Argh!!! Is this normal that the numeric part can't be changed or is it just this machine?

#9 Post by **GomJabbar** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 11:20 pm

I believe the person you spoke to at Lenovo is wrong. With the Hardware Maintenance Diskette, you can change those numbers. Read the appropriate section in the Hardware Maintenance Manual.

Hardware Maintenance Manual - ThinkPad T40/p, T41/p, T42/p

There are some threads on this. When I find them, I'll post them.
EDIT: Here, look at these.....
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=12263
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=21361
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=32085

#10 Post by **bill bolton** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 11:52 pm

GomJabbar wrote:I believe the person you spoke to at Lenovo is wrong. With the Hardware Maintenance Diskette, you can change those numbers.

You can change the model numbers that display from the BIOS using the HMD, as that's what I did on my T41 when it had the motherboard replaced and came back with a different model number from the original configuration...... however, various other IBM tools seemed to pickup the model ID from another location, as they still recognised the replacement motherboard for its actual configuration, not the number I had changed in the BIOS display.

In the end I observed that in practice it didn't seem to make any real difference, as SI seemed to find the right stuff for my T41 configuration anyway, even before I changed the number in the BIOS.

Cheers,

Bill

WPWoodJr · #11 Post by **WPWoodJr** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 2:49 pm

I can't find the IBM Hardware Maintenance Diskette on the web. If someone would like to email it to me I'd appreciate it.

- Bill
William.Wood@gsk.com

wmdunn · #12 Post by **wmdunn** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 1:19 am

Bill . . . you've got mail.

WPWoodJr · #13 Post by **WPWoodJr** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 5:48 pm

wmdunn wrote:Bill . . . you've got mail.

Thanks very much!

Mystery: Wrong machine type auto-detected

Mystery: Wrong machine type auto-detected

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