secondhand R40 - catch 22?

[JoolsM]

I've searched as best I can but I havent seen any mention of my problems so here goes:

I bought the R40 from secondhandlaptops.com - a UK company - be warned. As someone familiar with Macs but not PC's I've had unbelievable problems on a machine that was supposed to come "ready to go" - they had not even bothered to install basic drivers like those for the modem, network and videocard -

I must have spent literally dozens of hours downloading drivers and utilities from the IBM site - the hard way as I cannot use the new Software Installer because it says I have an "Invalid Machine Type" - this means that the BIOS is missing some vital information I gather. The IBM site says to return the computer to a service centre - not easy when you live in rural Spain!

Because of this I don't know if I'm missing essential drivers that might explain why I cannot shut down the PC except by using the power off button. I choose "shutdown" from the XP start menu and I get a blue screen which does not go away until I press and hold down the power button. Though not hugely inconvenient this must surely mean that something is not right with the machine?

I checked the BIOS information and there is a blank space next to "System-unit serial number" and a series of zeros next to UUID as follows

00000000-0000-0000-000000000000

I assume thes are the numbers that the software installer can't find and which lead to it saying "Invalid Machine Type"?

Is there anyway of putting in the correct numbers into the BIOS so I can use the software installer utility and make sure I have all the current drivers?

Sorry if this is a dumb question! Any advice very welcome!

cheers
J

[egibbs]

If you can get the Hardware Maintenance Diskette you can fix that. The HMD is theoretically only available to authorized IBM service centers but I think there are people on here with copies (not me).

A more basic question though - given the serious problems, the fact that the BIOS has been hosed, and the possibility that it might be stolen (a wiped BIOS is possibly a warning sign) why would you not just return it and demand a refund?

I assume it has Windows on it - is it a legit copy? Have you run the Windows Authenticity check on it? In a month or two you will need to pass the authenticity check to even download Windows updates.

It sounds like that machine is a big mess o' trouble - why bother?

Ed Gibbs

[JoolsM]

Ed - thanks for the excellent advice. Unfortunately I bought it in the UK (from a high street store so I assumed it was at least legal) and moved to Spain the next week. I haven't been back since or I most definately would have returned it as you suggest.

Now I'm just trying to make the thing work as best I can - doesn't mean I won't be returning it when I'm next in the UK - but for now that's not an option sadly.

Anyone help me out with the Hardware Maintenance Diskette? PM me perhaps? TIA

cheers
J

PS It has a COA sticker on the bottom next to the IBM machine type.

[JoolsM]

I've been doing some more reading and I think I understood from one thread
(http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php
t=9303&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=hardware+maintainance+maintenance+diskette&start=60)

that there may be an opportunity to fill in the missing BIOS information when I do a BIOS update?

I also had a "invalid machine type" on my t41p refurbished (xqx). I downloaded and ran the bios update utility http://www-3.ibm.com/pc/support/site.ws ... MIGR-50273 and used that to change my machine type to GEU.

After doing that, the IBM software update program works!

Obviously the above link goes to the wrong BIOS update for my R40, but does the same principle apply? I'm presently using Version 1.20 and an update is available for my R40 too.

I'd like it to work properly but other than not shutting down and not being able to use the software installer to make sure I'm up to date as I should it IS working and I'm scared of ballsing something up.

Any advice gratefully received!

UPDATE: Well I managed to upgrade the BIOS without any problems but didn't see any opportunity to enter the missing information so I guess I still need that Hardware Maintenance Diskette if anyone can help?

I don't think this machine is stolen - just a very poor job of refurbing it - I for one certainly paid FAR too much money for it to a supposedly reputable high street secondhand laptop store.