Thinkpads Forum

I just replaced the motherboard on my T61 and wondering if anybody had experience transferring UUID from dead MB to the new one. I believe there is a software by IBM Hardware Maintenance Diskette that can take care of writing UUID. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

peralex1 wrote: I believe there is a software by IBM Hardware Maintenance Diskette that can take care of writing UUID.

That is true, and it is what is needed to rewrite the UUID, however it is proprietary IBM/Lenovo software that is licensed to IBM Business partners and contracted repair outfits only. Therefor we're not allowed to discuss where to get it here.

That's quite understandable.

While holding to that policy, it might still be useful to discuss aspects of it. For instance, the exact name of the current version, or its FRU/OPT number. (I believe they did have these when available from IBM)

The hardware maintenance disk is only available to dealers. Having said that, it will only write a UUID if none exists, as it is in a new board, when it is set to zero.

AFAIK you can modify the Model/type while updating the BIOS from a floppy drive (never tried it inside Windows).
Don't remember (and don't think) if the UUID also gets a treatment.
You don't need that UUID for SystemUpdate anyway...

UUID is all set - I did not have to do it. So the next thing you said model/type, serial? So if my new MB is different FRU# than original (both are the cheaper ones with onboard video) - can it still use same serial, model/type?

If you change data like that, you should make it fit the description of your hardware, so that System-Update can work properly.

For argument's sake, if your machine originally was a 2468-AAA with ATI graphics and SXGA+ LCD, and you replace the mobo with a version with Intel integrated graphics, you need to set the Type to a matching 2468-CCC, which you can find in the HMM. To verify, try the new 'Type/model' on the Lenovo website to see if it corresponds with your 'new' hardware.
Nobody really cares about mobo serial numbers or CPU serial numbers, if the machine is out of warranty.

Firstly, continued thanks for allowing discussion within set guidelines.

Secondly, insofar as versions that exist, is v1.75 (i7tm23us.exe) recent enough for T6x series models? Beyond that, v1.76 (i7tm24us.exe) is the only version I've heard of.

There's already a newer one: V1.77 i7tm25us.exe
For T60 modifications, you need V1.73 or newer.

Interesting. Thanks for the info.

So even without system serial as long as Model/type matches hardware I would be all set?

So all I would need to do is find system with the same mobo on Lenovo web site and just use that model/type combination?

What are you trying to accomplish? Do you already have the systemboard and you're just trying to make System update work?

That's right. My system update threw error 95. I do not know what does that mean. Any suggestions?

I just purchased a my first used T61p that still has 18 months left of Onsite Warranty.

My other two ThinkPads (a T61 and T61p) were purchased new, and also have Onsite Warranty remaining on them.

A few weeks ago my T61 motherboard was replaced at my home by a warranty service tech and I watched while he explained that he was entering the new board's info into the BIOS after booting up from his own USB diskette drive at the end of the task (I also have a USB diskette drive).

Well, I received the used T61p today and it was advertised as having the motherboard replaced and it works fine except the System-unit S/N is blank in BIOS along with the UUID number being just a string of zeros. However, the System board S/N is listed okay.

My understanding is that Lenovo's online Sytem Update may not work until the blank System-unit S/N and the UUID zeros are resolved.

At this point, if I call Lenovo Warranty for this, can they retrieve all or some of the missing info?

I have to schedule a warranty service call next week for my other T61 that Lenovo Onsite recently repaired because the SD card reader in the front has now stopped working 3 weeks after they replaced the main board, plus the fan is also starting to whine.

Would that be a good time to also have them address the blank S/N and UUID on the used T61p I just bought, or is it too late for them to do anything about it?

On the bottom of the laptop you will find the Type/Model and S/N of your machine. Looks like TYPE 8897-CTO S/N L3-12345
There should also be a PRODUCTID underneath it, which is much more important, especially if you have a -CTO machine.
In the above sample the ProdID would read e.g. 889703U --> 8897-03U which gives you all the details.
Also, with just the Type 8897 and the S/N L3-12345 you could find all the original parts ex factory,
http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/product ... ookup.page
as well as the warranty status, which then also should give you the 'real' model (03U instead of CTO in above sample).
http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/product ... fault.page?

The UUID is not required for SystemUpdate and AFAIK the S/N is not needed for SU either.
But you need at least the ProductID 889703U in the BIOS.

As to your question: it would take the service rep no time at all to use his HMD to update your machine. I'm sure if you just ask him when he arrives, he'll do it.
I wouldn't start a series of emails about it, you are bound to run into a moron who could block/sidetrack your request.

EDIT 10/21/2011: updated the old IBM links to current LENOVO links

RBS ..... Thanks.

All the labels are intact ...... It's a 6457-D82 and the S/N and Product ID are also listed.

A manual Warranty Check with type and S/N comes up okay along with the parts check.

Just can't get it to Auto-Detect or run System update.

I like your idea about just asking the tech that's coming out to fix one of my other machines to help me out ..... that should work. If not, I'll then call it in as incompleted warranty repair when the previous owner had the mainboard replaced a month or so ago.

Thanks again.

If I remember correctly, when you update a T6x BIOS, it also gives you the option to enter the TYPE yourself.

RealBlackStuff wrote:If I remember correctly, when you update a T6x BIOS, it also gives you the option to enter the TYPE yourself.

Only the sub-type portion like the CTO part these days .... I just tried that on all my T6X units.

The good news is that the seller gave me the Lenovo Warranty ticket or Ref # from two weeks ago where he had Onsite Warranty Service at his home. I think the Onsite Tech was running late and simply forgot the last most east step of replacing a mainboard.

No worrys ...... I'll make sure the S/N and UUID get done next week when they show up to re-replace the mainboard in one of my other T6X units where the front SD Card reader failed on the replaced mainboard.

I manually updated the BIOS to the latest 2.29-1.08 on the newest addition to my T6X collection and ran a ton of tests on it, and otherwise it runs just fine.

Thanks for the help.