X61 Tablet : problem after motherboard replacement

[33!mport]

Hello !

i have an X61 Tablet 7763-CTO with SXGA+ screen. i have replaced my dead motherboard (43Y9032), with a used motherboard (42W7818) from Ebay : http://cgi.ebay.fr/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie ... 0696240770 (same L7500 CPU and wireless WAN & SIM slots).

On thinkpad startup, i have random resolutions problems : the display stuck in 1024x768 pixels:
lenovo boot logo : http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/80 ... 24x768.jpg
inside bios : http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/404/imag0593g.jpg
or in windows 7 : http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/853/windows7v.jpg/

I need to reboot 3 or 4 times to get my correct 1400x1050 resolution.

I tried to upgrade the bios and unplug & plug the extension cable card: but same problem.
My extension cable card (green card) : http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/84 ... ecard.jpg/

Does anyone have encountered this issue ? a X61T motherboard incompatibility ? I need to change another part of my thinkpad ?

Regards,
33!mporT

[RealBlackStuff]

From the looks of it you have the correct BIOS, but your TYPE 7762-BG6 in the BIOS is wrong for your LCD.
The 7762-BG6 from the 'new' motherboard belongs to an XGA 1024x768 model.
That 7762-BG6 needs to be modified to the same TYPE as on the sticker on the bottom of your laptop, which should match an SXGA+ 1400x1050 machine.
Since your machine is TYPE 7763-CTO, you need the info from the PRODUCT ID under it, something like 7763A67 or whatever.
If there is no PRODUCT ID, go here: http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/product ... fault.page?
and enter your TYPE 7763 and the S/N from the bottom sticker (without the - in it).
The resulting page should give you the correct info.
To change the TYPE/MODEL in the BIOS you need the (restricted) Hardware Maintenance Diskette 1.74 or newer.
We are not allowed here to give any further info, but do some deep digging on Google...

When done, go here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/lenovo- ... ost6501443
and get the improved Middleton BIOS for your X61T if you haven't got it already.
Reflash the BIOS so it will recognize the new type for SXGA+.
Good luck.

[33!mport]

Thanks you for your fast reply RealBlackStuff ! I didn't know this trick

I downloaded the Hardware maintenance diskette 1.76 but didn't work from bootable usb key (eeprom protection error), so i will get a real usb floppy drive.

[RealBlackStuff]

Hit the Esc key as soon as the screen comes up.
If you miss it, switch off completely (no restart!), then boot again from scratch..

[33!mport]

Hi RealBlackStuff,

I boot successfully from a usb floppy, When i read de S/N data from EEPROM :

Type Data
---------------------------------------------------------
40 11S42W7723Z2Y.........
20 1S7762BGL3A.............
38 11S42T5307Z.............

my rear sticker is :
TYPE: 7763-CTO SN: L3-xxxxx
PRODUCT ID: 7763WDK

I need to modify the 20 value with : 1S7763WDKL3xxxxx ?

Moreover, what is the difference between "System-unit" & "the System board" & "DC/DC Card" ?

Thanks you for your advice.

[RealBlackStuff]

Yes, you only need to change the 20 option.
You must first delete the 'old' 20 entry, then enter the 'new' 20 with the 1S7763... line.
System unit is the laptop ID-S/N
System board is the motherboard S/N
No idea about DC/DC card.
That was used in older machines, is probably a remnant of the past, and may be the powersupply card?
You don't change anything else.
When done with the 20 entry, exit that part, then select option 6, UUID.
It will tell it has already set it, but will also recalculate the BIOS checksum.
After that, you are done.
Now get the Middleton BIOS...

[33!mport]

then enter the 'new' 20 with the 1S7763... line.

But refering my rear sticker,
I need to enter this syntax : 1S<PRODUCTID><SN> or this one 1S<TYPE><SN> ?
= 1S7763WDKL3xxxxx or 1S7763CTOL3xxxxx ?

I will flash the bios tonight (currently i have no battery plugged).
Thanks !

[RealBlackStuff]

first one with WDK

[crashnburn]

Do let us know if this works successfully. Its an interesting scenario with replaced motherboard and model type.

PS: Oh wow! You're in MonPelr. My sister did a 1 year student exchange over there.

PPS: RBS -Is there or was there a version that was .ISO / Supported booting from a CD-ROM/ Optical drive?

[RealBlackStuff]

The HMD (Hardware Maintenance Diskette) is Lenovo proprietary software.
It's obvious what hardware that is, we can't say more about that.
Stop being a cheapskate. USB floppy drives are a dime a dozen.

[33!mport]

Yes, with the Lenovo hardware maintenance diskette i successfully changed the System Unit S/N. the bios show me the right SN now !

I upgraded bios with 1.25 middleton version, but i always have my resolution problem : stuck in 1024x768, but i have an SXGA+ screen...

[RealBlackStuff]

Contact Middleton and ask if he has (or can make) a BIOS for X61T with SXGA+...

Strange,
I had a few X61t machines here with SXGA+. I updated their BIOS with the Middleton 1.25/1.02 version.
All are working fine in SXGA+.

[33!mport]

Hello all !

The first motherboard I bought (FRU 42W7818) come from an X61T XGA model, so i think it's an incompatibility issue : stuck in 1024x768; and windows 7 wan install me a "multitouch device". (but SXGA+ screen doesn't have multitouch support).

Finally i bought a second motherboard, with the same FRU than my original : 43Y9032, and there is no problem ! all is working great !

[RealBlackStuff]

The SXGA+ seems to be hardwired into the motherboard's Northbridge chip (made by Intel).
That chip is probably different between XGA and SXGA+ mobos.
If not, it will be differently connected to the mobo.
Since you have both type boards, you may be able to confirm this.

[33!mport]

Unfortunatelly i can't compare, y returned the xga motherboard to ger refunded.

[bense]

The SXGA+ seems to be hardwired into the motherboard's Northbridge chip (made by Intel).
That chip is probably different between XGA and SXGA+ mobos.
If not, it will be differently connected to the mobo.
Since you have both type boards, you may be able to confirm this.

Do you really think that lenovo would want to change the manufacturing process on the motherboard, just to give it a higher res display?

[RealBlackStuff]

Why not?
They hardwire/solder different speed CPUs, which causes them to have SEVEN different mobos with Core Solo or Core Duo, and TWO more motherboards with Core 2 Duo (and a different chipset).
That's NINE different mobos just for the X60t and X61t (and there are SIXTEEN more mobos for X60/X60s/X61/X61s).
That is TWENTYFIVE changes in the manufacturing process
Theoretically, if they had used a CPU socket, just TWO to FOUR mobos would probably have done the trick.
Saying that, it is now obvious that SXGA+ is coded in the BIOS.

[bense]

Saying that, it is now obvious that SXGA+ is coded in the BIOS.

DSDT?

This is unfortunate. I was hoping that I could purchase a $180 LCD+Digitizer off of ebay, and upgrade my 1024x768 x61 tablet. I notice that the newer models are mostly 1366x768 16:9