This laptop's BIOS was damaged in a software upgrade

[keesesp]

I am looking at a Thinkpad T30:
This laptop was working perfectly before the BIOS upgrade failure, so I'm sure that once I get the BIOS working, I will have a very powerful, sturdy, and enjoyable laptop for a long time. Seller said the T30 is in great shape.

The price is right $100USDs, but if I cannot fix it, it would be just a boat anchore.

I have 5 days, before I see the guy.

[dsigma6]

Is that just a statement or do you have a question?

As far as I understood, if the BIOS is corrupted it can't be fixed, at least by simply updating it.

Either way, if all the other components are good, it's a steal.

[keesesp]

dsigma6:
Sorry, it was a Question..
How do I fix the BIOS??

It is a 2367-KU3:
P4-M 1.8GHz, 512MB RAM, 20GB HDD, 14.1 XGA(1024x768) TFT LCD, 8x-3.3x DVD-ROM, Modem(CDC), Ethernet(LOM), Secure Chip(TCPA), UltraNav, USB-FDD, Li-Ion batt, WinXP Pro

[Nolonemo]

Don't know about the BIOS.

Depending on how the T30 is configured, I would think you could to get your money back by parting it out on eBay (RAM, HD, CPU, fan, optical drive, LCD & lid, bottom plastic, keyboard, keyboard bezel, ultrabay enclosure, battery) $100 sounds like a safe deal to me (if you don't mind reselling on eBay, that is)

Alternatively, it looks like you can get a replacement motherboard on eBay for under $150 if you are patient (plus, you can resell the extra CPU you'll end up with). $250 for a T30 in good shape sounds like a deal I'd make in an instant.

[dmar]

keesesp, interesting. Was that listing somehow on Craigslist? That sounds surprisingly familiar. I contacted a guy in South San Jose in California that advertised pretty much the same deal "-a T30, but said his mom put a Bios password, and forgot it.

Are you talking about the same thing? If you get it, good luck! It's a steal.

[Dngrsone]

You would need a copy of the BIOS program and an EEPROM programmer to reload the BIOS. You would probably have to remove the EEPROM from the motherboard in order to reprogram it; I don't know how difficult that it on your model.

If it's just locked, that can be fixed much easier.