T400 Recovery Disk questions

[tfflivemb2]

OK, so I have used Thinkpads for a very long time, and have restored my fair share of them over the years. Recently, I restored a Thinkpad Twist, and learned that the activation key for Win8 was stored in the BIOS. That one was a new one to me.

Now, I am working on several T400's that I picked up. I got Win7 recovery disks for them and restored three of them. However, only one of them had Windows activate?!?!?

I noticed all three used the same activation key, according to the activation page. I also noted that it was the first T400 that I restored. Could it be an IP based thing?

What am I missing? I'm really feeling like an idiot, and regretting my stepping away for too long.

[ajkula66]

What am I missing? I'm really feeling like an idiot, and regretting my stepping away for too long.

You're definitely not an idiot and it's not an IP thing.

Depending on what OS the machine originally shipped with, it may or may not have the proper SLIC in BIOS. You might need to look around for a modded BIOS for T400.

Good luck.

[theterminator93]

Before Windows 8, Windows used a different technology to activate on OEM systems.

There are several components for this process - there is a manufacturer certificate installed in the OEM Windows Image, along with the manufacturer's generic Windows product key. Then there's the manufacturer's specific software licensing code in BIOS, which is looked at by Windows during activation and is compared with the installed certificate/key. If everything matches up, it activates.

The T400 was a unique case in that it could have been configured with XP, Vista or 7 at some point during its production run. The earlier models (pre the Windows 7 release in early 2009) would not have the proper licensing tables in BIOS to activate with the newer Windows 7 keys. A BIOS update may fix that (I cannot say for certain although there's certainly a modified BIOS with the SLIC2.1 tables needed for 7 activation out there).

[tfflivemb2]

OK, banging my head against the wall. I updated to the latest BIOS, with no luck. It appears that they will need the SLIC 2.1, but there is nothing out there. Every link I have found is dead.

I've also learned that the T400 seemed to come out it waves. One with IBM/Lenovo and one with Lenovo only.

[Mchale]

Is there nothing on any official website on T400? How's that possible?

[MikalE]

The T400 & T500 series are now considered legacy systems and the Lenovo site now makes you hunt for any software you may need for these. It's there but it's not easy to find.

I believe there are still BIOS updates available there...if you can find them.

[RealBlackStuff]

(Only for Lenovo, not for us): End-Of-Life portal: https://download.lenovo.com/eol/index.html

T400 64-bit Slic/WL modded BIOS: https://www.sendspace.com/file/pmqjc1
Lenovo ThinkPad T400_3.23(7UET93WW)-3.24(7VET94WW)_Lenovo21__WL.zip
Make sure to read the included read file!

[MikalE]

The T510 and T410 have now been added. The T520 and T420 will be next.

[tfflivemb2]

T400 64-bit Slic/WL modded BIOS: https://www.sendspace.com/file/pmqjc1
Lenovo ThinkPad T400_3.23(7UET93WW)-3.24(7VET94WW)_Lenovo21__WL.zip
Make sure to read the included read file!

That's going to be a hard pass. They want credit card information, as part of the "free" registration process. No thanks.

I guess I'll have to keep looking...

[theterminator93]

I had no problem downloading it without any registration nonsense. I will put it in the folder link I sent to you before, with the T400 recovery you asked for earlier.

[tfflivemb2]

I had no problem downloading it without any registration nonsense. I will put it in the folder link I sent to you before, with the T400 recovery you asked for earlier.

I finally ended up getting it. I didn't see this message until now.

It was less BS on my work laptop, which prevents a lot of potential virus nonsense. Took me a while to remember how to create a darn DOS bootable USB. Man, this rust is terrible! LOL

Anyway, both the machines are now activated, so I am happy. Thanks for all of your help!