Got a strange g40/41, with a bios problem

[fangtastic]

I recently recieved a IBM thinkpad g40 from my uncle in Taiwan. This model seemed strange because on the back of the laptop it said "BF4 DV2 Not a customer ship level system", and it went on about it not being fcc approved yet. On the lcd screen it says its a model g40, however after checking the bios revision (IXET26WW, dated 2004-05-14) and discovering it had hardware proprietary to the g41, I discovered it was infact a g41. So I try to update the bios of the g41 with the latest revision (1XET47WW, v1.06). After the upgrade, my battery charge light remains a blinking yellow, and when I boot, it gives me the error "1804: Unauthorized battery is detected- Replace it with a battery of the correct model." and wont let me into windows. I can only get in if I unplug the battery, and just use AC operation. I tried to downgrade it with the v1.04 bios, and I get the same error. Now, the thing is, no where on the IBM website does it have a file for the original IXET26WW bios, nor does anywhere i can find on google. Infact, ibm states that the bios
v 1.03 (1XET44WW) is the Initial bios Release for ThinkPad G41, while my bios revision predates that. I guess i got some sort of testing/prototype 41. Have I screwed myself over with this bios update, or does anyone have any ideas on where to get this bios file, or any other ideas to fix this problem?

[egibbs]

Reminds me of the story I saw in Car and Driver about 10 years ago. Guy found a Mercedes Gullwing covered in pigeon poop in a garage in Texas. Bought it, started restoring it, every part he bought would not fit right. Got so frustrated he called Mercedes in Germany and asked them what the heck was going on - thought he'd bought a fake.

He described the car and gave them the serial numbers from the engine and chassis, they said they'd check it out and get back to him. A few days later he got a call from Germany.. "Hallo - this is Mercedes Benz in Germany. Ve have determined that you have the fourth factory prototype. It won LeMans. Ve vould very much like to have it back."

He didn't sell it to them - he restored it himself and it looked very nice.

I have no clue what you've got, other than it obviously shouldn't be out of the development lab. Not sure what would happen if you called IBM either - they might help, they might offer you a new one for it, or they might just send some lawyers around to reclaim their property.

My guess is the BIOS in it when you got it was a hacked development version built on a production BIOS. By loading a production BIOS you lost the secret sauce recipie. What happens if you stick a production battery in it?

Ed Gibbs

[fangtastic]

I have called ibm, and the guy I talked to was just rude. He had no idea what i was talking about(which i dont blame him for), but told me to search for a g40 bios and just hung up on me. Also, im not sure what would happen if I put a production battery in there, I dont have access to a spare at the moment. Anybody know a good place to buy one?

[fangtastic]

After purchasing a new battery for the g41 series, the problem was solved. Found out the model number on the battery was also different from g41 models today. Now, does anyone know anywhere this extra 08K8186 battery can fit?

[jparrot427]

Fang, hello.


The BIOS for the G-41 is now at 1.08. Might be the way to go !

I also have a G-41 and I am looking for the LAN antenna in the LCD cover. If you do not use yours, could we barter for them ?

jparrot427@aol.com