ThinkPad BIOS whitelist (error 1802/1804) *READ 1st MSG*

[googly_eyes]

OK, I've searched the thread, but haven't seen any answer to this one. Perhaps I missed it, but I'm hitting a brick wall

My BIOS (1.24) is the same version as the "fixed" BIOS, so it refuses to install. I have tried several things to use the .FLI file, but have come up short.

I tried downgrading to the 1.18 version, and then upgrading to the 1.24, but got a 1901 error, and then my TP-Link is not seen.

I'm hoping there is a way to use the windows BIOS installer or find some way to force the BIOS to install from the boot CD.

Any thoughts?

Oh, I have a Z60m

[djremix]

reporting success installing an intel 5300 N mini pci wireless card in a T61 7659-cto
working fantastically at 300mbs.

Thanks a million Z!

[googly_eyes]

OK, I figured out that it was my virtual floppy program that was messing me up.

I was able to downgrade the BIOS, and then flash it with a boot CD I created that uses the .FL1 file.

First boot gives a -1901 error, but if you go into the BIOS setup as prompted, and then save it, it boots without an error.

Only issue is that the Wi-Fi light on my laptop doesn't light up, but hey, small price to pay

This is with a TP-LINK TL-WN861N card. Windows is reporting a 300Mb link, but I'm pretty sure it's running at 104Mb

Thank you Zander!

[boba23]

Hey zender,

i am using your modded bios on my T60p for several months now and it works great with a intel 5100.
any chance you might integrate SLIC 2.1 into your bioses? or maybe share a howto ...?

thanks

boba

[andy2000]

I'm happy to report complete success with 2.23 on my T60. Now I can use any wireless card. The wi-fi light, switch, and Fn-F5 all work fine.

Does anyone know if the BIOS for the T43 does anything about the hard drive white list?

[ahlip]

Hi all,

Anyone had success installing a Lenovo branded Ericsson F3507g WWAN card into the T61? I understand that by default, it will not give a BIOS error during bootup, but T61s will not see new devices in Windows.

I am curious if the modified BIOS from zender will enable to usage of this card. I had no luck getting a Lenovo Sierra Wireless 8775, so now pinning my hopes on the superior and more widely available Ericsson card.


thanks for any response.

Sin Lip

[servgrup]

hi zender
I have a t60p 20077kg please send me the modified bios at office(at)servicegrup(dot)ro

[vishnuneri574]

Hi All
here is procedure of modifying ... but I'm stuck in the middle. I can not put modified module back to bios

1. PhComp.exe /D $01B8300.FL1 to decompress
Ok. I have now $01b8300.flh
2. phnxsplit .exe $01b8300.flh to decompose the BIOS to individual modules
Ok. I have now a lot of files and BIOSCODE06.rom
3. PhnxPatch.exe <patch_dir> <individual_modules_dir> to remove whitelist check
BIOSCODE06.rom:
patch wlan1 matched and applied 1 time(s);
patch wlan1a not matched, not applied;
patch wlan2 matched and applied 1 time(s);
patch wwan1 not matched, not applied;
patch wwan1a matched and applied 2 time(s);
patch wwan2 not matched, not applied;
Ok. I have an info that some wlan and wwan patches applied to BIOSCODE06.rom and new file is BIOSCODE06.rom.patched. fc /b BIOSCODE06.rom BIOSCODE06.rom.patched

4. Rename BIOSCODE06.rom.patched and BIOSCODE06.rom to biosc6p.rom and biosc6.rom to fit 8.3 filename size.
prepare rom.scr to lzint back both original and patched file BIOSCODE06
Rom.scr with following parameters
COMPRESS LZINT
MODULE BIOSC6.ROM -C:V1

prepare rom.scr
Prepare v2.04 05/27/98
(c) Phoenix Technologies Ltd.
1 Files Processed 1 Files Compressed.
Prepare Completed with 0 Errors.

Now I have to different size files biosc6p.mod and biosc6.mod
5. phnxmod $01b8300.flh biosc6.mod biosc6.mod to replace original module with patched one
And here I stuck because of
Loading data...Old module (without header) not found in the ROM file. Quitting.

Something wrong maybe with prepare.exe

Pls. HELP.

[yak]

Hi all.

I am thinking about putting a case-stripped USB HSDPA stick into my 1952 T60. This particular model came with no WWAN option so (as usual for T60) the second miniPCIe connector is missing. I would like to connect the stick directly to the USB signals of the miniPCIe by soldering the wires. I'm still not sure where to get the +5V from (there's only 3.3V on miniPCIe) but that shouldn't be a big problem.

Some googling on the topic got me wondering. As far as I could tell from what I have read, the WWAN modules are mostly USB devices (don't use the PCI-Express lane). If that is true, it means the BIOS does a check on the USB device found in the second miniPCIe slot and I won't be able to connect a generic USB stick there without a modified BIOS.

Am I correct?

If yes, anyone know if there are active USB signals in the first miniPCIe connector (WLAN)? Because WLAN on the other hand, uses PCI-Express lane, not USB.

[Zender]

Hello yak,

miniPCIe does not need +5V, USB devices ought to use PCIe 3.3V and report as self-powered.
As far as I know, at least in *60/*61 series, WLAN slot does not have USB signals - some people reported that their Intel 5350 Wifi/Wimax failed to utilize the Wimax part in first slot.

Yes, the BIOS checks for an USB device in the second slot. If you put PCIe device there and tape disable pin, it actually works without patching BIOS (reported working with some Wifi card and no modification in BIOS).

[yak]

Thanks for the reply Zender. This would mean that simply taking the USB signals from the WWAN miniPCIe port should not initiate the BIOS check.

I'm not sure what do you mean about the voltages. I know that miniPCIe devices don't need +5V but an USB stick does. I guess internally the +5V that the stick gets from the USB connector is probably converted to 3.3V so I might be able to skip the conversion circuit but it may be too much for my electronic skills. How would you connect it?

[Peak2Peak]

Depending on your soldering skills, you could get the +5V from the single USB port near by - but will mean removing the MB to solder flying leads on the pins of the USB connecter block, back to your "case-stripped USB HSDPA stick" pcb/connector.

[yak]

Yes, that would draw some of the power available on this port for external devices but it would work.

[Peak2Peak]

Good point & quite correct - noted!

[ahlip]

Just like to report that I got my Lenovo branded Ericsson WWAN card working on a T61 14"wide. There was no need to change BIOS (thanks Zender for providing the modififed BIOS although ultimately not used), only needed to tape pin 20. Since this is a Lenovo branded card, all ThinkVantage functions such as Fn-F5, LED, Access Connections work fine.

[bmwman91]

I shot a PM over a week ago...just in case...I am after the latest "fixed" BIOS for a T60p 2007-94U. 2.23 is currently loaded. I really really want to rock an Intel 5350 WiFi card!

Thanks a million.

[freshbt]

Hi Zender,

Thanks for your great contribution to help us bypassing whitelist check.

Since my friend tried to upgrade "QX9300 QGNG" CPU into various thinkpads 300, T400, T/W500 model but only success in W700.

Do u know is there any similar BIOS's whitelist mechanism to prevent W500 using CPU (i.e. QX9300) out of Lenovo's specification even when hardware seems compatible (Socket P) with temp. ~85'C ?

Please also reply my PM and correct me if anything wrong.

Many thanks.

[yak]

Yes, the BIOS checks for an USB device in the second slot. If you put PCIe device there and tape disable pin, it actually works without patching BIOS (reported working with some Wifi card and no modification in BIOS).

Today I did a test. I used a simple 4-port passive USB hub and soldered its signal lines (D+ and D-) to the mini PCIe pads on my T60's system board. The power lines (+5V, GND) remained connected to the hub's cable which was plugged into the side port of the T60.

Upon startup, the T60 beeped and a 1804 error (unauthorized WWAN card installed, turn off the system and remove the card) was shown.

No other mini PCIe port pad was connected, just the USB data lines. I thought that the disable pin in active low by any chance and that the mini PCIe cards drive it high which is used by the BIOS to detect them. Unfortunately, it seems that it simply checks the USB bus so I won't be able to connect anything there without a modded BIOS.

Zender, have you managed to disable the check altogether or are you adding specific IDs to the whitelist? Have you any other idea that would make it work without a BIOS mod?

[moduda]

I tried to move a working MC5725 (Sierra Wireless Verizon WAN mini pci card) from T61 into T500 but got Error: 1804 Unauthorized WAN Card.... Tried to flash latest BIOS per Lenovo's recommendations but did not help. Is there a way for me to use this card in the T500 (no Error: 1804)?

[fuxxi]

Looks like Zender is gone, since he does not reply PMs.

So im asking here if anybody could PM me please the links to MOD Bios-Files for IBM T43 18xx and 26xx models, I need them urgent.

Thanks for any help!

[parleyp]

I too have pm'd with no response probably because he is on holiday as is customary in Europe in August. (He last posted here on the 15th.) Can anyone pm me a link to the mod bios for both the t60p and t61? I really need to get these two upgraded.

Update---Thanks for the PM. I am writing this from my flashed t61 using a gigabyte card with everything working in windows 7. The t60 is next.

Parley

[rannahmias]

Looking for the X61 mod BIOS download link... group policy updated my BIOS and the old link doesn't work. Please PM me with new location.
TIA.

[Kanedo]

I also have a T61 6459-CTO. If anyone has a modified BIOS, please pm me as well.

[vanitka]

Hi.
I have T61 6458-6qg and X61 7669-3jg.
Can someone, please, PM me modified BIOS for this models.

[fitzcarraldo]

Hi there,

I'm in need of the modded BIOS for the T400 for my R400 (according to Lenovo the T400 BIOS is fully compatible with those R400-models, that have a firewire connector and my R400 has such).

Could anyone please send me a link?

Thank you very much!

[leghost]

Hi.
Does anybody use a modified bios version 1.23 for x61 tablet? The last tested firmware is 1.22 as stated on Zender's page.

And another question. I have install mc8781 extracted from 881U USB modem. Works perfectly with generic Sierra 3g Watcher, LED works too, turning on/off by 3g Watcher. The problem is i can't make work Fn-F5 (AC not installed). How? Modifying tpfnf5.exe does not help. Using Hotkey Features from this page. Windows is 64-bit.

Thanks in advance.

[bobbytan]

Reporting success with Lenovo Ericsson F3507G on X61 Tablet. Tapping pin 20 and everything works fine

[spacecase320]

Hi all im new here and lookin for a modded bios for the x61s 7667 ay6 so i can install my serria wwan card in my lappy.any help would be much appreciated as i dont unterstand enough about it to try and mod one my self and wreck my thinkpad

[EOMtp]

spacecase320: Check if anybody has sent you a PM (Private Message).

[spacecase320]

Thanks for the help EOMtp much appreciated