Thinkpads Forum

I just replaced the motherboard on my W510 and now when it boots up I get the following errors:

2200: Machine Type Invalid and Serial Number are invalid.
2201: Machine UUID is Invalid

After that, it goes on to boot "normally". My research suggests that a it is possible to "Fix" this issue with software that's only obtainable by Lenovo field techs. Are there truly no copies of this software anywhere? I can live with it as long as it boots, but it is worrying. I'd rather fix it if possible. Any guidance will be appreciated.

If that is a new mobo, you need the HMD (Hardware Maintenance Disk) to set the MTM, S/N and UUID in BIOS.
FYI: this is a Lenovo proprietary program, so search deep...

It must be easier to find the current nuclear launch codes! Sheesh! With that out of the way, I was able to find version 1.83 and, with Rufus, (thanks for that too) create a bootable usb drive to with which I made the invalid uuid go away. However, I can't seem to get around the EEPROM write protect error. Pressing escape while the Lenovo logo wes showing had no effect, and when I disabled quick boot and enabled diagnostic boot the Lenovo logo went away altogether. I'm dumped again. What's supposed to happen when I press escape anyway? And what's IBM/Lenovo trying to accomplish by making what should be routine so difficult?

You need to switch off completely (not restart/reboot), if you don't manage to press Escape in time.
You should start hitting the Esc button the very moment you press the Power button.
If you hit it in time, you should see some messages on your screen, after which it should boot into the HMD program.
This Esc is done to remove the write-protect of the BIOS.

Geez! Here I thought that replacing the mobo was going to be the hard part! Do you hit "esc" one time or multiple times; or do you hold it down continously? The following is going to really date me: As you probably know, making a bootable usb with the utility provided with the HMD doesn't work; it isn't bootable. If you make it with Rufus it's bootable but when it boots, it can't find "command.com". That's usually a problem with the MS-DOS "PATH" command in "AUTOEXEC.BAT", but "fixing it" has no effect. I have to manually enter the path to "COMMAND.COM" which is right in the root directory and shouldn't be necessary. Howeever, when I do, it boots straight into the utility.

However, the "COMMAND.COM" supplied with HMD is only 9kb, while the "COMMAND.COM" supplied with Rufus is 90kb?? If I copy over Rufus' COMMAND.COM the AUTOEXEC.BAT fix "works" but it boots to a C:\ prompt. A "DIR/W" command reveals a bunch of files with the two most interesting for my purposes are "SERUPDT.EXE" and "SERUPDT2.EXE", both of which have reasonably clear instructions for updating system EEPROM data. Unfortunately, the error messages I get still suggests that the EEPROM is still write protected. Stay tuned.

RealBlackStuff wrote:You need to switch off completely (not restart/reboot), if you don't manage to press Escape in time.
You should start hitting the Esc button the very moment you press the Power button.
If you hit it in time, you should see some messages on your screen, after which it should boot into the HMD program.
This Esc is done to remove the write-protect of the BIOS.

I'm happy to report I finally got Machine Type/SN replaced. It took the purchase of a USB Floppy and finding V. 1.75 of the Hardware Maintenance Diskette, as V. 1.83 simply didn't work. V. 1.83 wouldn't make either a bootable Flash Drive or a bootable Floppy.

Thanx, RBS, and everyone else who tried to help. It is, in fact, easy when you have the right tools.

Hello, i have same problem with my Lenovo Edge. I tryed with Hardware Maintenance Diskette 1.83 - from USB, after inputing serial number , there was EROR, EPROM OVERALL. Can you advice me, what can i do? Tnx a lot in advance. Sorry for my bad english...

I got the same issue on a board for a W520 with Quadro 2000m. I don't want to send the board back.

I have been using HMD V1.86 on a 64MB USB-stick since 2013.
The most current version is V1.89 from program i7tm37us.exe but I haven't needed it yet.

RealBlackStuff wrote:I have been using HMD V1.86 on a 64MB USB-stick since 2013.
The most current version is V1.89 from program i7tm37us.exe but I haven't needed it yet.

Hi where did you that? I cant find it, also I found a problem that my battery doesn't recharge.