BIOS mod, Atheros 802.11abg PCI, bios error A31p, SOLVED!!

Message

gregpilot · #1 Post by **gregpilot** » Sun Apr 10, 2005 2:26 pm

Greetings all:

I just upgraded my a31p with an Atheros 802.11abg mini PCI card. I am looking for someone with programming expertise to modify my bios to eliminate the "too many ethernet controllers" POST bootup message.

I successfully eliminated the expected 1802 error with the no1802.com utility run from DOS. While I no longer get the 1802 error, on boot the BIOS reports "too many ethernet controllers". I can esc out of the message, however the bios then does a full "diagnostic" boot (memory test) which takes a long time with 1 gb of ram. Seems IBM bioses default to the full diagnostic POST if there was a previous boot error, regardless if "quick" boot is enabled in the BIOS setup. (In this situation if "quick" boot is enabled, the pc pauses on the bios logo screen, "esc" removes the logo and reveals the diagnostic boot text messages). I have not found a workaround for this.

When it does boot, the new card (atheros cm-9) works great, there are no
conflicts in device manager, the wired lan card also works. The only
downside is the loss of the modem (which I rarely used anyway) because
the old 802.11(b) card had the modem combined with it.

This link:[url] http://www.paul.sladen.org/thinkpad-r31 ... i-ids.html

covers modifying the BIOS to amend the whitelist of allowed network cards. However the no1802.com method is simpler.

However I think the paul sladen document is on the right track here. It is probably a simple mod to remove the checking which produces the "too many ethernet controllers" error. Since there are no conflicts in device manager (WinXP SP1) , and eveything works after bootup, I am convinced this is soley a BIOS issue.

Is there anyone here who has or can refer me to someone who could modify the latest a31p bios (1nuj07us) (1.07) to remove the code which produces this error message? I like the Atheros card, and am willing to pay a modest sum.

Please PM here and I'll reply to your email.

Thanks!

#2 Post by **daeojkim** » Sun Apr 10, 2005 3:18 pm

I have exactly the same symptoms after upgrading the wireless card.

But I am very very reluctant to touch the BIOS source. If something goes wrong there is no way of reverting the problem and your system board is toast. You will have to get it replaced because IBM will not flush your BIOS.

Even if you succeed in hacking into BIOS and prevent the extended memory test, what is going to happen when there is a new BIOS release? If you do an upgrade then you will have to hack into it again and again for every new BIOS release.

I am guessing that your notebook is used mostly as desktop replacement.

What I do is just log out instead of shutting it off. Then close the lid and let it go to sleep. When I open the lid you are in log on page instantly and you don't have to wait to boot up. I have not had any problem using it this way and I like it more due to its convenience.

The only time when I have to reboot is if I installed or remove a program tha requires reboot or windows update. That happens may be once a month.

gregpilot · #3 Post by **gregpilot** » Sun Apr 10, 2005 3:44 pm

As you can tell from my email, I am a pilot and do travel with my laptop a lot.

If I log off, go to standby mode, that works for short durations, however one time when I did that and placed the laptop in its case (metal, foam lined briefcase) it became quite warm. I much prefer hibernate when the laptop is in its case.

I am not afraid of warranty issues (the laptop is still covered, there is 1 of 3 years left) but I am rather a performance nut and really am dissappointed IBM makes this upgrade so difficult. I have already upgraded with the (unsupported) 7k60 7200 rpm HDD.

I should not (officially) have to buy a new laptop to get 802.11g support.
I like the Atheros card and see no reason why it cannot work without the bios bugs (feature?). In spite of the risks, I know its a simple code change to get what I want.

The problem is, while I (like most of us here) can find our way around a PC, I just don't have the level of expertise to write code and have the confidence it will work.

Thanks for your time and reply!

friedrich-eugen · #4 Post by **friedrich-eugen** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 8:00 am

Hello gregpilot,

I think I' have seen on ebay someone selling an sparklan-minipci-card with the atheros a/b7g-chipset, saying that he is prepared to add modifications /a patch to the bios, if the buyer wants to use the card with certain IBM-Notebooks.

It is

hebeda (1050)

an ebaypowerseller from Germany, that says:

Die Mini Pci Karte funktioniert in neueren IBM Notebooks mit dem Embedded Security System nur, nachdem das CMOS gepatcht wurde!
Das CMOS beinhaltet die im BIOS getroffenen relevanten Einstellungen. Bei jedem Start werden diese Daten vom BIOS aus dem CMOS ausgelesen.
Das CMOS kann die Daten (gespeicherte Einstellungen) nur behalten, solange die Batterie auf der Hauptplatine in Takt ist. Ist diese Batterie alle bzw. wird sie entfernt, "vergisst" das CMOS die Daten. Es besteht keine Gefahr, das Ihr IBM Notebook durch den Cmos Patch beschädigt wird.
Sie erhalten kostenlos eine Boot CD zum Patchen ihres IBM Notebooks. Alle weiteren Details erhalten Sie nach dem Kauf. Falls Sie ein IBM Notebook besitzen, kontaktieren Sie mich bitte vor dem Kauf.

In short he says, that he is able to add/send (CD) a patch for certain (it is not exactly said, for which ones (tpa? only)) IBM TPs and that anyone intending to buy a minipci a/b/g card (atheros chipset), should contact him before buying.

He sells "worldwide", so it should not be a problem contacting him and asking him (his email is on ebay, too

martin.hoehne at minipci.biz

), whether he would let You have (buy) his cmos patch for Your type of TP...

Good luck and, please keep the results/solution posted with thinkpads.com

JHEM · #5 Post by **JHEM** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 8:46 am

Greg,

gregpilot wrote:As you can tell from my email, I am a pilot and do travel with my laptop a lot.

We have quite a few metal pushers on the Forums, from Matt in Omaha who flies 172s, to your's truly (B200 and I get to ride along with my son in his new CJ2), to several 737, 747, 757 and AirBus drivers.

So, I've just got to ask, do you really carry your A31p around with you? Are you using it to implement some portion of a glass cockpit? Using it as a Jeppesen EFB? Online DUATS? Large screen GPS? Etc.?

Just curious.

Regards,

James

gregpilot · #6 Post by **gregpilot** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 11:11 am

James, you have PM.

Greg

a31pguy · #7 Post by **a31pguy** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 12:13 pm

If we cannot find a solution within a couple of months - I might take the dive and give the BIOS hacking a shot. I've got the mini-pci card you speak of and an a31p. I'm also a computer techie. I've held off installing the card - while I decide whether or not I really need it. But if there are a lot people interested in the hack - I might take some time to work it out.

gregpilot · #8 Post by **gregpilot** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 1:31 pm

Reply to friedrich-eugen:

Friedrich:

I just emailed the ebay seller of the 802.11abg card you mentioned. it is indeed the same card as mine.

Unfortunately he is staying clear of the issue, I suspect his CMOS patch is indeed the no1802.com.

He says the 01C9 "too many ethernet controllers" is a "warning" and not an "error".

I did find on another forum the diagnostic POST (which happens regardless of whether "quick" is enabled in BIOS in my case) with the 01C9 error can be CANCELLED by pressing the spacebar. So on boot, "space" + "esc" will
shorten the time for bootup.

But the error is annoying nonetheless and I still am looking for a cleaner solution.

Best regards.

Greg

gregpilot · #9 Post by **gregpilot** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 1:36 pm

From further research, more speculation:

Since the card which was removed to make room for the 802.11abg card was a IBM "high rate wireless" /modem combo card, is it possible its hardware ID returned to the BIOS was identifying itself as a "modem" therefore the 01C9 error is not returned?

If this is the case the BIOS mod would really make sense..just a case of switching hardware ID's

???????????????????

a31pguy · #10 Post by **a31pguy** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 1:59 pm

I've looked a little bit more into the web pages on the BIOS hack. It seems like there are some questions about hacking it. The BIOS checks for hardware with certain IDs. It seems that either disabling the check or subsituting the hardware ID is in order. However, it also seems that the BIOS has some security programs that might be disabled if one were to modify the BIOS.

Slashdot has a couple of areas where this issue has come up. Also are we sure that the BIOS in the A31p is a Pheonix BIOS?

gregpilot · #11 Post by **gregpilot** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 1:06 am

Yes, Phoenix bios. Ill get back tomorrow with the version info.

edit 4/12 19:40 MDT: Phoenix 4.0 release 6.0.

gm

a31pguy · #12 Post by **a31pguy** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 11:30 am

But I cannot estimate when I may be finished. I'm on several other projects right now. I'll try to post updates over time.

a31pguy · #13 Post by **a31pguy** » Mon Apr 18, 2005 6:52 pm

ndeans · #14 Post by **ndeans** » Wed Aug 24, 2005 10:59 pm

a31pguy wrote:EOM

Any more news on this??

I put one of these cards in my t30 and it works great, but the pressing esc every boot is getting old.

ElbertR · #15 Post by **ElbertR** » Fri Aug 26, 2005 12:53 am

Have installed the Intel 2200 B/G mini pci card in two different A31 laptops with no problem. 1 was a 'regular' A31 the other a A31P.

Both did not have a wireless card installed before (the mini pci slot was empty). Also installed the the wireless antenna in the screen (which required total disassembly of the computer).

Both also had separate daughter cards installed for Modem and Ethernet.

hebeda · #16 Post by **hebeda** » Tue Nov 01, 2005 2:41 pm

just a short note regarding the cmos patch, it seems that it doesnt work with the ibm T43

zone · #17 Post by **zone** » Tue Nov 01, 2005 3:29 pm

hebeda wrote:just a short note regarding the cmos patch, it seems that it doesnt work with the ibm T43

Any tip for A31p with Atheros, instead annoying space+esc?

ElbertR · #18 Post by **ElbertR** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 3:03 pm

zone wrote: Any tip for A31p with Atheros, instead annoying space+esc?

Install a Intel 2915 A/B/G instead, this card does not give you the error on booting.

cbcb3 · #19 Post by **cbcb3** » Fri Dec 23, 2005 8:41 am

maybe can modify and flash data in artheros card rom to make it an "IBM approved" fru to a31 bios?

LtTPfan · #20 Post by **LtTPfan** » Fri Dec 23, 2005 10:01 am

cbcb3 wrote:maybe can modify and flash data in artheros card rom to make it an "IBM approved" fru to a31 bios?

I believe it is possible to modifiy the eeprom on the card so that the bios recognizes it as an "authorized" card, rather than modifying the bios to ignore the 1802 error. A link to good info on this subject can be found here: LINK

danage · #21 Post by **danage** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 5:20 pm

I worked on the issue, and made a post in the T30-Forum, since that's the kind of thinkpad I have. Please feel free to contribute! This needs to get solved! http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... 518#123518

zone · #22 Post by **zone** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 8:09 am

danage wrote:I worked on the issue, and made a post in the T30-Forum, since that's the kind of thinkpad I have. Please feel free to contribute! This needs to get solved! http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... 518#123518

Good to hear, I have same issue with A31p with Atheros (Gigabyte) card, otherwise card works perfect.

To Admin/s; instead of having this thread in particular series forum I would suggest to move it in Thinkpad - General HARDWARE/SOFTWARE questions forum since issue is common for A/T/X/R/G/Z and probably for older series as well.

For now Im jumping on T forum.

gregpilot · #23 Post by **gregpilot** » Tue Feb 07, 2006 11:42 am

This has been solved, thanks everyone, Paul, Danage, everyone else!

I have run a pre-release of this code and it works great!!!!

See link:
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=20365

Gregpilot

BIOS mod, Atheros 802.11abg PCI, bios error A31p, SOLVED!!

BIOS mod, Atheros 802.11abg PCI, bios error A31p, SOLVED!!

Continued....

Re: Continued....

I would be interested in finding out more about this patch

A thought

BIOS Hack

ok downloaded the BIOS tools and I'm working on it.

still researching the problem.

Re: still researching the problem.

change id in artheros card

Re: change id in artheros card

01C9 POST issue SOLVED, Atheros CM-9 wifi card OK on boot!!!

Who is online