T43P - Incorrect serial number in bios (I assume)

[travs69]

I have had my laptop worked on and I think they replaced the motherboard. When I got it back I tried to use System Update but it shows a machine type and model of TP-1Y___ . I am assuming the serial number is wrong in the bios but I can't not find the correct serial number. The sticker that should list it on the laptop is gone. Is there any other way to fix this so that I can use system update? Can I use a serial number from any t43p? Is there an easy way to update the bios with the right serial if I can do this?

Thanks..

Travis

[richk]

You need to look for the maintenance disk. Search this forum for a link. You can change the model number (needed for system update) and the serial number (needed for warranty). You need to run it from a real floppy disk. A bootable CD will not work.

[travs69]

Will a bootable USB key work? I don't have a floppy drive.

[rkawakami]

If your system can boot from a USB key, it might work. I've never tried using the HMD so far so I can't say for sure. Want I can suggest is to take your system back to whoever swapped out your motherboard and ask them to fix it. Did they remove the serial number label from your system or was it like that when you obtained it?

[Johan]

You need to look for the maintenance disk. Search this forum for a link. You can change the model number (needed for system update) and the serial number (needed for warranty). You need to run it from a real floppy disk. A bootable CD will not work.

Check the thread: Setting S/N and TYPE on motherboard (need program)!? - there you'll find link to the necessary software.

Use caution...

Best regards,

Johan

[wackydan]

Who replaced the motherboard? Was it Lenovo/IBM service? An authorized Business partner that was service authorized?

If so, then they should remedy the issue.

The maintenance disk is not available to the public, and requires the use of proper syntax to even work properly.

[BillP]

Who replaced the motherboard? Was it Lenovo/IBM service? An authorized Business partner that was service authorized?

If so, then they should remedy the issue.

Do you really expect anyone would go through all that inconvenience when it takes five minutes to fix yourself with the maintenance disk?

The maintenance disk is not available to the public, and requires the use of proper syntax to even work properly.

The disk is publicly available since the link takes you right to the file. No logon and no password is needed for access. To me that is the definition of publicly available. None of the moderators here have chosen to delete the posted links to the maintenance disk. Compare that to how they react when Thinkpad password cracking is discussed. Also on ftp.thinkpads.com you can find maintenance disk 1.60 freely available. It seems that most on this forum do not share your concern.

The disk is easy to use (well I did have to turn on caps lock since entries are case sensitive). The 600e hardware maintenance manual tells how to set the serial numbers on page 20. Here is a sample from a 600e board I took out of service.

300 MHz CPU card 08 11S01K3004Z1N08094V0JT
System unit 20 1S2645JJ278YCM33
System board 40 11S07L5775ZJ17XL7111EM

[Johan]

The maintenance disk is not available to the public, and requires the use of proper syntax to even work properly.

I respectfully beg to disagree on this statement - with the same argument as given by BillP. If the "IBM Thinkpad Hardware Maintenance Diskette" was for some reason a commercial secret, then it would - of course! - not be publicly available (in contrast to what it definitively is! - and like it hopefully will remain being!), and in particular it would certainly not be provided by a large, capable IT-corporation by IBM.

If you (wackydan) have some precautions about its use to share, I am sure that it would be highly appreciated doing so. People tend to appreciate sharing helpful information more than hiding... Thank you in advance.

Is seems that someone with tight connection to IBM has offered to support the public (!) in the use of this utility; at least according to this thread where this statement is found:

Due to recent customers having problems with this disk I will now offer FREE TECHNICAL SUPPORT and help in any way possible in order for you to effectively use this disk. I will also supply if asked, any documentation such as maintenance manuals, user manuals, and set-up manuals for the entire IBM Thinkpad range, FREE OF CHARGE for one model only.

I don't know if this (very kind!) offer still is available, but it seems to point in the direction that this utility is not that secret...

Sharing public information is surely worldwide appreciated, if it may help someone; that's how e.g. this forum works, according to my impression! Sharing such information may potentially further support, expand and hence continue the success of IBM/Lenovo on the ThinkPad range of products - don't you think?

Best regards,

Johan

[travs69]

Wow.. I didn't mean to cause any issues The motherboard was replaced by a group responsible for such things at our corporate office. The problem is for them to fix it I have to ship them the laptop. Which normally means I'm without it for 7+ days. If it is something I can do myself I will give it a try (worse thing I can do is brick it then they have to fix it anyway). Thank you all for your help. I'll play around and see if I can get it to boot from a USB drive.

[carbon_unit]

No issues. as long as the HMD is available publicly on the IBM site I don't think you will see any moderation as long as it used for the intended purpose.
Supervisor password cracking is a whole different story. You don't see any supervisor password resetting tools on the IBM public site.

[wackydan]

Sorry gang... I was only stating what I know is Lenovo's stance on how that diskette is distributed. No need to attack me for sharing what is indeed fact.

If you can point me to where on a public Lenovo or IBM domain that you can download the current 1.75 release of the maint diskette, then I will eat my own words so to speak. I have yet to see anyone produce that. I've only seen non-IBM links to older versions that are naturally out there in the "wild" and most likely won't work on some of the newer systems.

[richk]

It doesn't work from a bootable CD. You cannot unlock the EEPROM.

[superboss]

If you can point me to where on a public Lenovo or IBM domain that you can download the current 1.75 release of the maint diskette, then I will eat my own words so to speak.

Tada!
ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/pc/pccbbs/mo ... tm23us.exe

[wackydan]

If you can point me to where on a public Lenovo or IBM domain that you can download the current 1.75 release of the maint diskette, then I will eat my own words so to speak.

Tada!
ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/pc/pccbbs/mo ... tm23us.exe

Well.. there you go.

I'm actually quite surprised.

[RichLang]

Currently (October 2009), the Hardware Maintenance Diskette (ver. 1.75) can be downloaded at:

http://download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub/pc ... tm23us.exe

For a discussion of all the steps one needs to perform in order to get the Hardware Maintenance Diskette file to function properly, see http://richlang.home.pipeline.com/TP-HWMD.html

Also discussed is whether you'll need instead the related "CE Utility Diskette." (Several earlier ThinkPad models require the CE Utility Diskette and not the "Hardware Maintenance Diskette"--despite what the Hardware Maintenance Manual may say.)

Rich Lang