Thinkpads Forum

Hi all

I have just replaced the motherboard in a T530 and now it needs the model number etc. of the PC. Of course, being Lenovo, it requires the user to have a charged battery in the PC - and the model and serial numbers are hidden behind the battery.

Anyways, when about to enter the model number, the window shows this: qqqq-______ (6 spaces). The model number of the PC is 2429-MY2...so NOT in that format. I'm not allowed to enter anything on the left side of the hyphen, and there's not enough space to enter the entire model number on the right.

So how do I get to enter the model number?

Welcome to the forum.
Check this out: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=45&t=114060
Please note: the software is proprietary Lenovo!

Thanks for the help - it got me 50% through. Using the bootable 1.75 version, I was able to at least set UUID on the board (was 000...)

But I wasn't able to edit any type/serial using the program from http://www.elvikom.pl/forum/viewtopic.php?p=40478 (bootable floppy / virtual CD-ROM)

If you don't exactly follow the given instructions there, you are doing something wrong.
OTOH: T530 and newer have a different BIOS (UEFI I think), where the HMD program probably no longer works...
Can't help you any further there.

According to the Hardware Maintenance Manual - ThinkPad T530, T530i, and W530 it these says (on page 68 of 122):

Restoring the serial number of the system unit

When the computer was manufactured, the EEPROM on the system board was loaded with the serial numbers of the system and all major components. These numbers need to remain the same throughout the life of the computer.

If you replace the system board, you must restore the serial number of the system unit to its original value.

Before replacing the system board, save the original serial number by doing the following:

1. Install the LENOVO ThinkPad Hardware Maintenance Diskette Version 1.76 or later, and restart the computer.
..
etc.

So, the HMD ver. 1.76 ought to work with the T530 (?).
Johan

Johan wrote:According to the Hardware Maintenance Manual ... Version 1.76 or later ... So, the HMD ver. 1.76 ought to work with the T530 (?).

No -- that reference is from an old/obsolete version of that manual.