How to get a full list of installed hdw (with MPN & FRU)

[Andrew1984]

Hi all,

(I'm trying to buy used Thinkpad with orig. warranty - so I need to be sure that all installed hdw is supported by the warranty - this is the goal)

I think that one might need a complete list of hardware installed in a Thinkpad, preferably with "Marketing part numbers" AND/OR "Field Replaceable Unit part numbers".

Is there a simple prog which is capable of doing this, and, more,

1. can be run from boot CD, not floppy (no Win, of course)
2. isn't as heavy as 46+Mb like the ToolBox for Win

I've got no Thinkpad at hands and can't test the progs I've found at Lenovo.

This maybe a stupid question but is there a way to get the list online, like the warranty info:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... -WARNTY#sw

Here is all what I've found:

Lenovo Systems ToolBox for Windows - Desktops / Notebooks http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-67520

PC Doctor for DOS - ThinkPad R61, R61e, R61i, T61, T61p, X61, X61s, X61 Tablet http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-67910

[rkawakami]

Welcome to thinkpads.com!

This is not really what you mainly asked for (a bootable CD), but you can get the parts list (with FRUs) of a recent system by supplying the system type and serial numbers at this site:

Parts Lookup

PC Doctor for DOS for the latest system that I have (T4x) does not seem to have any means of listing the system's FRUs. Not sure if the R6x/T6x/X6x version does or not; maybe somebody here that has those systems can answer this question for you.

[Andrew1984]

Thank you for the reference!

It helps to determine what was shipped under certain P/N & S/N.

But there might be at least two possibilities when an actual hdw doesn't correspond to given P/N & S/N combination:

1. S/N has been changed
2. some hdw has been replaced

Maybe the most correct question is "How the IBM/Lenovo checks whether the hdw is the one originally shipped".

Then this IBM/Lenovo procedure could be applied to a used ThinkPad, and a buyer could decide whether the warranty covers the actual hdw.

I'm not paranoid, I'd just like to know what exactly am I buying

[ajkula66]

That's quite tricky...

Lenovo could've replaced the parts under warranty, and you wouldn't be able to find that out...

What ThinkPad specifically are we discussing here?

[Andrew1984]

Lenovo could've replaced the parts under warranty, and you wouldn't be able to find that out...

My (paranoidal ) concern isn't about Lenovo's replacement but about someone's else...

What ThinkPad specifically are we discussing here?

R61*, T61*, and possibly T60*

[ajkula66]

To be completely on the safe side, you'd have to gain access to Lenovo's database, which is not likely to happen...

All three models that you are considering are fairly new machines, and most repairs would be covered under warranty, unless someone spilled something and fried the planar or broke the LCD...

Chances are, you'll never be able to be 100% certain unless you personally know the owner and the machine's full history. The link that Ray has given you is the closest you're likely to get to answering your question without someone actually putting their job on the line and running serials for you through IBM/Lenovo/Solectron database...

Take it from someone who has owned hundreds of ThinkPads and has been in various forms of retail and wholesale for over 25 years: follow your gut. If something rubs you wrong, just walk away from the deal. You're not buying a Tucker, but a ThinkPad, and there are thousands of them on offer...

Good luck.

[Andrew1984]

Take it from someone who has owned hundreds of ThinkPads and has been in various forms of retail and wholesale for over 25 years: follow your gut. If something rubs you wrong, just walk away from the deal. You're not buying a Tucker, but a ThinkPad, and there are thousands of them on offer...

100% agree... I've got 15+ yrs of tech experience in desktops, both hdw/software. But a little trick is that this time I can't look into the eyes of seller (across the Atlantics) so my guts will remain silent. Trying to get a reliable laptop for personal use and save some money.
And all that I can do is a sort of remote control and telemetry

Anyway, what can be recommended to get a complete list of an actual hdw for an R61*,T61*,T60* laptops?

[ajkula66]

Complete list of hardware, short of downloading every single HMM, would be a tough thing to locate...

My suggestion, given your location, would be to follow the forum's Marketplace which maintains a very high standard for transactions that take place...and, no, I don't have a machine to sell you...
Generally, it is probably the safest place to buy a used ThinkPad from..

Good luck.

[Andrew1984]

Generally, it is probably the safest place to buy a used ThinkPad from..

Thank you, George, I'll be considering this... I like the athmosphere here