T43 Corrupted Type-Model number

[jbthomson2]

I picked up a used T43 with no hard drive and spent today attempting to rebuild it with a Hitachi Travelstar 40GB drive and the full set of R&R Product Recovery CDs. Type 2668-49U is on the underside label.

It works, sort of. I am troubled by two things:

1) The reported Type-Model is always gibberish: TP-1-Y__
which looks to me like it was somehow set that way by previous owner.

2) Every time it boots, an error 2010 is reported: Hard drive you have installed is not qualified for this computer (or words to that effect).

Can these issues be overcome?

[Brad]

Welcome to the forum!

The model and type and serial number can be set with the hardware maintenance diskette so not to worry about that.

The 2010 error is just an annoyance. There is much written about this on this forum. This is caused by your hard drive not having the correct ThinkPad firmware. You can press any key to get by it or in the BIOS set it to automatically get by the error after a few seconds. If this option is not in the BIOS if you update the BIOS it should then be there.

So the one word answer is yes.

Brad

[jbthomson2]

Thank you for the information.

Is the Hardware Maintenance Diskette something I can download from the Lenovo site? I don't recall seeing it under that name on my first pass.

I did download and attempt to run Hard drive firmware update utility (Bootable CD ISO) - ThinkPad dated 2008/01/21 but as I recall, it did not report a need to update the firmware (or I didn't use it correctly).

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I found some references to the ThinkPad Hardware Maintenance Diskette, but it would seem to be available to qualified service persons only. How can one get access to a copy?

[Brad]

I can send you the HMD if you give me your email address.

I haven't updated any drive firmware because I have set the BIOS to continue automatically after the error so it is just a very minor annoyance. If you don't have that option in your BIOS I suggested updating your BIOS to the latest version.

Brad

[is]

The 2010 error is just an annoyance. There is much written about this on this forum. This is caused by your hard drive not having the correct ThinkPad firmware. You can press any key to get by it or in the BIOS set it to automatically get by the error after a few seconds. If this option is not in the BIOS if you update the BIOS it should then be there.

Well, not just an annoyance. There is a good reason for this error. Some ThinkPad models have SATA-to-PATA bridges. Hence a modified firmware is required on these drives. On the other hand, ThinkPad drives include two ATA commands used to both set the disk password and unload the drive in case the Active Protection System thinks the laptop has been dropped. These commands are not available in other brands. So, honestly, I would suggest looking for an approved drive for that laptop.

[jbthomson2]

Well, I created the HMD and booted from it, but when I try option 1 to Set system identification, the result is a Warning that the EEPROM is write-protected. Power OFF then ON and hit the ESC key when the IBM logo comes up.

That doesn't seem to do anything useful. What am I missing or what does this imply? Related to the POST 2010 error?

[Brad]

Try pressing escape a few times as soon as you seen the ThinkPad logo on your LCD. Once this logo disappears and you then see a detailed boot screen you should be in the EEPROM write mode that you need.

Brad

[jbthomson2]

OK, I got by the EEPROM Write protected problem, but which HMD option is appropriate for setting the Type-Model number? I looked at option 1 System Identification and read it, but that doesn't look like Type-Model:

Looks like this:

Type Data
40 11S39T9519ZVJ0D36C9F2N

Also looked at option 5 about ECA data and each of the Read options reports that the Target block does not exist.

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If one was to attempt to buy a "qualified" hard drive, is there a list of such or must one go direct to IBM?

[Brad]

Check item 20. You will be able to read what is there and then delete it and rewrite it.

You need to start with 1S then the 7 digit model and type and then the 7 digit serial number.

Brad

[jbthomson2]

Bingo! Thanks for your help, Brad. That problem is now resolved. I also noticed that the UUID had been cleared somehow, so I recreated that.
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The POST 2010 error remains, but since the Hard Disk firmware update utility reports that there is no firmware update applicable (within the utility) I was assuming the firmware was up to date and that the drive is simply "not qualified", whatever that means.

After rereading the ReadMe file associated with the Hard Drive Firmware Update Utility, i note that the specific Hitachi drive I installed is specifically mentioned, HTS5410xxG9AT00 where xx = "40" GB.

So, it would seem the drive is "qualified" except that something needs to tell the T43 about it. Some other EEPROM string/variable?

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Reading some of the other posts about the 2010 error, I get the impression that (1) the only solution is to buy an official ThinkPad option drive from Lenovo, not the same brand/model from some other source and (2) the Hard Disk Firmware update utility probably does nothing unless it is an IBM/Lenovo ThinkPad option drive.

I guess I can live with it if it doesn't cause other non-obvious problems.

[SteveS]

You can flash the firmware in this particular drive. Read the (long) sticky on the opening page of the T4x section and you will find the instructions on one of the pages.

The HD firmware utility keys on both the drive model number and the fw version. Your fw version is probably something like MCZOA51A, where the “O” signifies generic OEM. If it were a HGST drive sold to Dell, this character would be a “D”. The software is looking for an “I” signifying that this drive is a IBM/Lenovo model.

The instructions in the thread provide a way to work around this, using a two step process which first changes the reported current FW version, allowing the program to think it is an IBM drive.

Note the procedure uses strings of DOS command lines. Be sure to double check your typing BEFORE you hit return, as it is possible to program the incorrect model number into the drive. Recovery from this error may be impossible.