Giving up on adding fingerprint to T42P

[richk]

I have a machine whose motherboard supports fingerprint reader, but the reader did not come on my model. I did a full system backup before I began. I changed out the two parts that were supposed to be different: the palmrest and the cage that holds the HDD and the optical drive. The cage is different in that it has a cutout right below the reader so there isn't the shiny metal cage to reflect the light. I could never get the BIOS option to enable the reader. I tried reinstalling the same BIOS by backing off one revision then reinstalling. No effect. I then changed my model number in the eeprom to be one that had the reader. I started out with 2373-N25 and changed to 2373-N2U. No effect. I reflashed the BIOS with the new model number. No effect. I then decided that maybe something in the initial software load would make whatever modifications that were needed in the eeprom. I used a set of factory restore CDs to restore to factory state. No effect. I have now given up. I have changed my model number back and have started to restore my disks with my backup.

[_erazor_]

interesting.

I was thinking of adding the reader too. And I do not even have a motherboard that supports it

[underclocker]

That sounds painful. I am surprised because many threads indicate that it should be possible. Has anyone actually done this before?

I suppose you could try IBM support, if you've got an hour to kill on the phone.

I was considering the "upgrade" on a T43, I wonder if anyone has modded a T43 successfully?

[mitchellst]

Hmmmm... I was about to try this on a friend of mine's T42, although he needs a new motherboard due to a spill, and I have to admit that I hadn't even considered that some of the boards might not support it.

I'm curious how this works out.

[richk]

I am guessing there is something in the eeprom that activates it. I can read and dump the eeprom. I have a reader I use for clearing passwords. If I can get my hands on a similar model with a reader I can look to see if I can figure it out.

[GomJabbar]

I am guessing there is something in the eeprom that activates it.

That is what rssb states in the following thread.

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=31345

[richk]

If I can get a model similar to mine with a reader, I'll try to figure out what is set in the eeprom.

[agarza]

I think it's a waste of time, If simply you didn't receive your laptop without the FPR then there's no point in trying to add one, independently if the mobo is supposed to work with the reader.

[rssb]

Richk, can you please tell the FRU number on the bottom of the motherboard, it should be under the memory below... that will help us to see if the model came with the right motherboard in the first place..

[rssb]

2373N2U, seems like a regular T42 with FPR and not a T42p as it lists only a 64MB Radeon 9600 as the video card..

If you are having a Fire GL T2 128MB video card, then propably there is something else going on.

[GomJabbar]

2373N2U, seems like a regular T42 with FPR and not a T42p as it lists only a 64MB Radeon 9600 as the video card..

If you are having a Fire GL T2 128MB video card, then propably there is something else going on.

I then changed my model number in the eeprom to be one that had the reader. I started out with 2373-N25 and changed to 2373-N2U. No effect. I reflashed the BIOS with the new model number. No effect.

The above seems to indicate that the actual model richk has is the 2373-N25. I believe he was trying to trick the system.

Product: ThinkPad T42p 2373-N25

Original description: Based on 2373-HTU: P M 745, 2GB RAM, 60GB 7200rpm HDD, 15 UXGA(1600x1200) TFT LCD, 128MB ATI FireGL T2, 24x24x24x/8x CD-RW/DVD(slim), Intel PRO 802.11b/g wireless(MPCI), Bluetooth/Modem(CDC), 1Gb Ethernet(LOM), UltraNav, Secure Chip, 9c Li-Ion, WinXP Pro

[richk]

The note above stating that the N2U has a different graphics chip is interesting. I didn't look at that. I am now certain that I was wrong about my motherboard, which is 39T5454, which I cannot find on the IBM site. I had 2 things to base my original statement on: the fact that the IBM repair manual says that all the models of the types 2373-N2X use the same motherboard, and the fact that sparepartswarehouse listed 39T5454 as having FPS support. The first part is obviously wrong, because the 2373-N2U, while it does have fingerprint, has a different graphics processor. I Believe that all the T42/P models with FPS end with the letters 'F' and 'U', so I looked at those and found there was no 'F' and the 'U' had FPS, but I didn't notice the graphics. I checked sparepartswarehouse, and in the past week, they have changed their description to eliminate the FPS reference. If anyone else wants to try, I know where you can get a good deal on a touchpad and guide rail.

[rssb]

so did you get this 39T5454 from sparepartswarehouse ? Is your N25 truely based on 2373-HTU, what is the original motherboard FRU number which it came with,

can you also give the manufacturing part number of the motherboard, it is present along with the 11S****** string....

Do you see anywhere 39T5249 ??? listed....

[richk]

The specs are similar to 2373HTU so I assume that info is correct. The N25 has b/g wireless and 2GB ram, instead of wireless-b and 1GB on the HTU. I did not replace the MB. It is the original. The machine had never been worked on. The original owner was a college kid whose parents just gave him a T60P. The T42P wouldn't run because it was full of viruses. The thing had pirated software and all sorts of crap. I just restored to a new image and the machine works great. The original sticker with the manufacturing number for the MB was covered over with a little sticker that just says FRU 39T5454*. I assume the numbering changed after the board was made and before the machine was assembled. The later sticker looked like it would come apart if I removed it so I left it alone. The machine still has a warranty for another year so I only did things that could be undone in a way that a service place wouldn't know someone was mucking around in there.

[rssb]

Below the FRU sticker, there will be another two labels, one is MB serial starting with 11S...... and MAC address, check if the 11S... has 39T5249 in it .

Also typically the 2373 came with 3 year warranty, and you say only 1 year is left. Which leads to the conclusion that it is 2 year old machine.

The 39T**** parts are relatively new, so for it to come out of factory with that sticker originally is relatively low. I suspect it is a 93P4158 refurbished , the 11S... number would tell you if it is or not..

[richk]

The number is 11S27R2159. I couldn't find a reference to that number either

Actually the whole number is 11S27R2159ZJ1XY64C70MM

After that is spaces followed by 412, which I assume is a date (Dec 04) The manufacture date of the machine is Jan 2005 and the warranty expires Jan 2008

[rssb]

I am assuming its a made in china board ? But still somehow the FRU is too new for that manufacture date. .... if you can figure out the original FRU number below the sticker somehow let us know.