X220 and GOBI cards

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JPH · #1 Post by **JPH** » Sat Jul 09, 2011 5:13 am

Guys, your help is solicited once again.

I am considering moving away from my x201 to a new x220 but I wanted to know if the GOBI2000 which I am currently using will be a straightforward swap. I hear of all the whitelisted cards and that is scaring me. Anybody moved a GOBI2000 into an x220?

bgalakazam · #2 Post by **bgalakazam** » Sat Jul 09, 2011 5:17 am

A little search on the Lenovo forum and I found it gives a whitelist error 1802 for the GOBI 2000. Here is the thread.

Looks like you are out of luck without a custom BIOS. But that is just me, don't lose hope.

comnme · #3 Post by **comnme** » Sat Jul 09, 2011 11:54 am

That's my thread.

In several words - I've got x220 laptop on i5 and boxed Lenovo's Gobi 2000 (p/n 78y1399, for umts/hsdpa). Presently the wwan card works fine w/o any wl related issues. There is a BIOS 1.16 in laptop. Also I've taped pin #20 of modem as the BIOS doesn't recognize it after the laptop cold starts.

Fell free ask me additional information.

JPH · #4 Post by **JPH** » Sun Jul 10, 2011 12:40 am

So the GOBI 2000 will work straight out of the box with just the taping of pin 20?

comnme · #5 Post by **comnme** » Sun Jul 10, 2011 3:07 am

Yes, if you use a BIOS 1.04 which consists Lenovo Gobi 2000 in wl. But within a BIOS 1.16 there are much more smaller qauntity wireless devices in wl, just 12 in total. So, you've to avoide wl for the other WWAN/WLAN devices anyway. Or replace "new" short wl with "old" one (from 1.04). I'm using BIOS 1.16 with wl from BIOS 1.04.

The reason of taping in my case is just to avoid undetecting a card after cold start and isn't relaited to wl issues. I hope it's a problem of miniPCIe bus in WWAN slot which has to be resolved in new BIOS.

iakudi · #6 Post by **iakudi** » Tue Aug 30, 2011 11:41 am

Hi Comnme,

Could you please advise me how I actually "replace "new" short wl with "old" one (from 1.04)" as you suggested?

I'm completely stuck with the Gobi 2000 and I really need to get it to work. I currently have BIOS 1.19, so can I simply downgrade to 1.16 and will it work? Or do I need to go even further and go back to 1.04?

I'm a complete newbie so I would not know how to replace a wl... what is a wl?

Kindest Regards

Ismail

comnme · #7 Post by **comnme** » Wed Aug 31, 2011 5:10 pm

Hi, iakudi,

sorry for the delay with answer.

I'm afraid it's a problem for the most users to replace wl in BIOS themself. In order to do this work they have to be a programmer with some skils. I did not do that work with BIOS modifying too.

First of all read this page - http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Problem_w ... twork_card - about a very old IBM/Lenovo/HP feature which prevents of using an unauthorized network card in their computers. The numbers of authorized cards are stored in the white list (wl, shortly) in some BIOS module. That numbers for USB devices are VendorID (VID) and ProductID (PID). For PCIe/USB devices SubSYS is added.
For example, the numbers for Gobi 2000 are:
USB\VID_05C6&PID_9204 Lenovo Gobi 2000 Wireless Modem (QDL mode)
USB\VID_05C6&PID_9205 Lenovo Gobi 2000 Wireless Modem.

There are several methods to modify BIOS in terms of wl - add new VID/PID, delete wl, avoid completely - but all of them are unofficial and illegal. Some guy has found the most simple and safe method (but illegal too) - just to replace with the big wl from the factory initial BIOS of x220.

Presently I've got the BIOS 1.19 with wl from 1.04. In order to use the BIOS with replaced wl you have to flash the original BIOS from Lenovo's site, then just flash some BIOS module with new wl.

Note nobody can't give a warranty this BIOS will work on all types of x220 and there is a chance even to destroy the machine. I've got a i5 based x220.

Nevertheless, I'm happy with my Gobi 2000 as it's the very stable and reliable device.

fsabc · #8 Post by **fsabc** » Tue Sep 06, 2011 4:32 am

comnme wrote:Hi, iakudi,

sorry for the delay with answer.

I'm afraid it's a problem for the most users to replace wl in BIOS themself. In order to do this work they have to be a programmer with some skils. I did not do that work with BIOS modifying too.

First of all read this page - http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Problem_w ... twork_card - about a very old IBM/Lenovo/HP feature which prevents of using an unauthorized network card in their computers. The numbers of authorized cards are stored in the white list (wl, shortly) in some BIOS module. That numbers for USB devices are VendorID (VID) and ProductID (PID). For PCIe/USB devices SubSYS is added.
For example, the numbers for Gobi 2000 are:
USB\VID_05C6&PID_9204 Lenovo Gobi 2000 Wireless Modem (QDL mode)
USB\VID_05C6&PID_9205 Lenovo Gobi 2000 Wireless Modem.

There are several methods to modify BIOS in terms of wl - add new VID/PID, delete wl, avoid completely - but all of them are unofficial and illegal. Some guy has found the most simple and safe method (but illegal too) - just to replace with the big wl from the factory initial BIOS of x220.

Presently I've got the BIOS 1.19 with wl from 1.04. In order to use the BIOS with replaced wl you have to flash the original BIOS from Lenovo's site, then just flash some BIOS module with new wl.

Note nobody can't give a warranty this BIOS will work on all types of x220 and there is a chance even to destroy the machine. I've got a i5 based x220.

Nevertheless, I'm happy with my Gobi 2000 as it's the very stable and reliable device.

hello comnme,could you please tell me where i can find the BIOS 1.19 with wl from 1.04 of thinkpad x220i and download it ,i really need it,thank you very much!

comnme · #9 Post by **comnme** » Tue Sep 06, 2011 7:28 am

Hi, fsabc

Look at this link.
I know one guy who've confirmed that this tweak works on his i3 based x220 laptop also. But I don't know anything about AES support.

Do not forget to read instruction within the archive!

p.s.Please, let me know if your Gobi 2000 will work just after laptop coldstart w/o any tweak with taping of Gobi's pin #20.

fsabc · #10 Post by **fsabc** » Wed Sep 07, 2011 10:29 am

comnme wrote:Hi, fsabc

Look at this link.
I know one guy who've confirmed that this tweak works on his i3 based x220 laptop also. But I don't know anything about AES support.

Do not forget to read instruction within the archive!

p.s.Please, let me know if your Gobi 2000 will work just after laptop coldstart w/o any tweak with taping of Gobi's pin #20.

hi comnme ,thanks for giving me the link.Now i am facing a new problem afer flashing the bios 1.19 with wl from 1.04,that is my Gobi 2000 doesn't work after laptop coldstart ,you have to restart the laptop so that it can work .by the way, it works very well afer restarting the laptop with no taping pin #20

comnme · #11 Post by **comnme** » Wed Sep 07, 2011 11:33 am

Hi, fsabc,
and wellcome!
Just tape the pin #20 and you'll be happy completely.

On the other hand it's another a very big stone in the Lenovo's garden as Russians speak. I mean the explanations of Lenovo's staff about the reasons of Gobi 2000 exemption from the x220's wl.

fsabc · #12 Post by **fsabc** » Thu Sep 08, 2011 4:44 am

thanks comnme ,you mean that the gobi2000 works very well afer coldstart since you tape the pin #20

comnme · #13 Post by **comnme** » Thu Sep 08, 2011 8:16 am

Yes, fsabc

With this tweak the BIOS or embedded controller can't logically block the Gobi 2000 during hardware initialization even if they (controller or BIOS) don't recognize the modem card after laptop coldstarts. So the modem will be in visible state for firmware loader and applications. The only "issue" you'll get - the wireless LED on the bottom of screen bezel will be shine all the time too.

I am convinced this issue with Gobi 2000 unrecognition is the only reason why Lenovo has removed this card from white list in x220's BIOS versions later then initial 1.04 (1.06).

fsabc · #14 Post by **fsabc** » Thu Sep 08, 2011 8:37 am

get it! but could you please tell me where is the pin #20 on gobi2000

comnme · #15 Post by **comnme** » Thu Sep 08, 2011 9:03 am

Look at this picture. It's a backside of the card. Also mini PCIe pinout.

Note the width of the pin is about 1 mm

so here is another one tweak - you can tape it by scotch or nail polish.

comnme · #16 Post by **comnme** » Thu Sep 08, 2011 9:22 am

Again, after taping and coldstart the modem will not appear in Lenovo's application such as Access Connections Manager (Fn+F5 hiting). But will work in AC application itself as well as in Windows network connection applet (in tray).

fsabc · #17 Post by **fsabc** » Thu Sep 08, 2011 11:09 am

thanks comnme ,can Fn+F5 control it even if i flash ThinkPad Wireless WAN (UNDP) Boot Code?

comnme · #18 Post by **comnme** » Thu Sep 08, 2011 4:55 pm

sorry, fsabc, I dn't understand your question clearly.
Which boot code do you mean? Gobi 2000? The standard firmware of Gobi 2000 is loadeble by service after laptop cold starts.

fsabc · #19 Post by **fsabc** » Sat Sep 10, 2011 8:35 am

thanks comnme,my problem has been solved following your methods,thank you very much for your helping and your patience

comnme · #20 Post by **comnme** » Sat Sep 10, 2011 12:34 pm

You're welcome!

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