Hardware Maintenance Diskette from T520

[wsalomon]

It's been a while since I've needed to use the HMD (mine is 1.83 on USB drive), and this is my first experience with a UEFI BIOS (migrated up from T61's).

My problem is that I just can't get the HMD to "catch" when at the Display screen to put this in "write" mode. I've tried doing this multiple ways - one tap (early, late?), multiple taps when at the display screen. Is there some I need to do with the Start-up method for Win 10 1809 to get this work on subsequent reboots. Or is this even the right version of the the HMD to use?

Also, is there a way to completely change a model number - meaning the first 4 numbers, not just the last 3 configuration characters?

Thanks!

[RealBlackStuff]

Check in the BIOS if that USB-HMD is recognized.
Then set BIOS to boot first from that HMD.
From USB, there should be no need to press Esc to set the HMD to write-mode.

[wsalomon]

I tried it.

The USB HMD was identified at "USB HDD 'drive_name'" (it was some generic one). I set it as the boot drive, and it did indeed boot, but still gave the "Press Esc at IBM screen" message, both on the Lenovo/ThinkPad boot screen, and on the blue HMD "ThinkPad" flash screen before the 5 item menu when selecting the Read/Write option.

I created theUSB drive some time ago, and can't remember whether I did it with or without Rufus, if that makes a difference.

Any thoughts?

[RealBlackStuff]

I have my HMD on an old 64MB USB-stick.
Made it with Rufus.
I have "only" used it about a hundred times, without ever having to press Esc.
Maybe yours is getting old?
Current one is V1.90

[wsalomon]

Thanks!!!! Something must have significantly changed since v. 1.83.

I used an old flash drive (118 MB), did simple quick format over the old v.1.83, ran the usbfmtpw.exe file, and voila! it works perfectly as you described with no pressing of <Esc> as I remember.

Interestingly, when the HMD opened, it said was version 1.89.

[wsalomon]

That was an almost "perfect" for T-61, even when the USB-HMD is first in the Boot order.

Randomly (apparently) I can still get the <Esc> key message, but it seems much less persnickety about the timing of the Escapes. It is still not clear to me when it wants them - during the BIOS screen or when the blue DOS ThinkPad is loading, so I do the Escapes during both.

Another interesting thing. The EEPROM entries for 40 (Mainboard Serial Number) and 08 (CPU serial number) now Read out starting with "8S" instead of "11S". They can still be Written starting with "11S" (21 characters), but will then be displayed upon Read as "8S".