Are T430 batteries compatible with T420 and T410 models?

[Hans Gruber]

When did the batteries change in the T series with regard to the T430/T420/T410 lines? Are the batteries compatible across all 3 models? I have a T430 on the way and if the battery is no good, I have half a dozen T410 batteries. Will they work in the T430?

[theterminator93]

A T430 battery will work in a 20 or 10 series, but not the other way around. The 30 series looks for a special security chip in the battery which the 10 and 20 series batteries don't have.

[Hans Gruber]

Is there a ready made bios that removes the security chip requirement? I don't want to ruin a thinkpad by screwing up the bios trying to cut and paste the correct file. Similar to the Middleton bios on the T61 where it's the jack of all trades bios mod?

[TankPad]

Is there a ready made bios that removes the security chip requirement? I don't want to ruin a thinkpad by screwing up the bios trying to cut and paste the correct file. Similar to the Middleton bios on the T61 where it's the jack of all trades bios mod?

You can use the ThinkPad-EC mod from here,
https://github.com/hamishcoleman/thinkpad-ec

In simple terms, it downloads a stock bios image, patches it and makes a bootable disk for you to flash on your machine.
You don't really have to do anything with the files, bar choosing your laptop from the list.

[theterminator93]

It's not actually a BIOS mod, but a revised EC chip firmrware.

[Hans Gruber]

Thanks for the help. I will update you on the update process. I have a T420s battery that works and charges in a T430s. But generic backup batteries will not charge. This is all pre-mod of course. I have added a T430 to my collection. My T430s is still under warranty so I will see if Lenovo gives me a free battery.

[TankPad]

It's not actually a BIOS mod, but a revised EC chip firmrware.

No, as I mentioned, its an EC mod. The bios itself isn't modded but the patch is applied to the bios image, which in turn is flashed to the embedded controller on reboot

Thanks for the help. I will update you on the update process. I have a T420s battery that works and charges in a T430s. But generic backup batteries will not charge. This is all pre-mod of course. I have added a T430 to my collection. My T430s is still under warranty so I will see if Lenovo gives me a free battery.

.
If you're in warranty then I'd definitely try for a new battery. In any case though, the mod mentioned above is easily reversible too.