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zomi · Nou Venit Joined: 14 Feb 2007 Posts: 9

Also found some more info here http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=19561&highlight=bios+dump

appears the bios is encyrpted in parts ...

steve5214 · Membru Activ Joined: 07 Jan 2006 Posts: 61

Zomi,
One step at a time.
In theory, first you need to dump your T40 bios, thats the easy part, next you need to find a way to decompress it (easy) but you need to decompress all of it not just bits of it. Analise and edit it, easy if you have the right modules decompressed correctly. Then rebuild it.
Not as easy as you may think.

Excersise 1 - take the bios update from leveno, extract the bios to its modules then rebuild the bios.
You need to have a working bios when you finish.
Cheers
Steve.

steve5214 · Membru Activ Joined: 07 Jan 2006 Posts: 61

Tried various ways to rebuild the bios, but not found any that will do it successfully. Anyone had any luck ?

zomi · Nou Venit Joined: 14 Feb 2007 Posts: 9

I'm trying a new strategy, i have a working board and no tcpa chip but i have a donor board with the tcpa chip.

Do I simply need to swap the bios chip and the security chip over ?

steve5214 · Membru Activ Joined: 07 Jan 2006 Posts: 61

Zomi,
According to earlier posts by TPguy -

The T40s ALL have a removeable TCPA and you can correct one that has gone missing by using the BIOS chip and TCPA chip from a scrap T40 as they are the core of the marriage. Occasionally, the NIC isn't happy but you can change the NIC from the donor board too.

Allthough I personally am not sure of this, maybe, maybe not.

I do know that a non TCPA bios will not work on a TCPA board as suggested.
Cheers
Steve,

steve5214 · Membru Activ Joined: 07 Jan 2006 Posts: 61

Zomi,
Without stating the obvious ,,if this does work then it means that obviously the chips contents arent the problem.
Steve.

zomi · Nou Venit Joined: 14 Feb 2007 Posts: 9

Not sure I understand your last statement.

The bios chip on the t40 board is this the actmel chip the one you need to solder to unlock the bios password ?

or is it a different chip , if so whats the location of the chip ?

steve5214 · Membru Activ Joined: 07 Jan 2006 Posts: 61

Zomi,
The bios code is stored in another chip, not the 24rf08. could be M50fw080 or equivelent. Totally different chip to the one you meant.
Cheers
Steve.

zomi · Nou Venit Joined: 14 Feb 2007 Posts: 9

Is around the pcmcia slot,
Theres a few around there.

I think its the ST chip ?

Staff's note: Picture link edited to make it visible. Victor

steve5214 · Membru Activ Joined: 07 Jan 2006 Posts: 61

Yes thats the one...

zomi · Nou Venit Joined: 14 Feb 2007 Posts: 9

aN UPDATE

swapped the tcpa chip and the bios chip out of another board and now get the 0192 error ...

bob · Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 4:19 pm Post subject:

I think because you should swap the EC too, but that is too much already.

zomi · Nou Venit Joined: 14 Feb 2007 Posts: 9

Sorry whats the EC, its kinda of fun messing with the board.

Also on a side note does anyone know what transitor gets dammaged if you connect a lcd to the board that has a different pin out.

bob · Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2007 11:53 am Post subject:

EC is Embeded Controller.

TP LCD uses the classic LVDS 20 pin array. If the connector size is the same, the LCD should work from another brand like HP, for example.

Here is a list of signals:

Pin no Symbol Function Etc.
1 VCC +3.3 V power supply
2 VCC +3.3 V power supply
3 GND Ground
4 GND Ground
5 RxIN0-
6 RxIN0+
LVDS receiver signal channel 0
7 GND Ground
8 RxIN1-
9 RxIN1+
LVDS receiver signal channel 1
10 GND Ground
11 RxIN2-
12 RxIN2+
LVDS receiver signal channel 2
13 GND Ground
14 CKIN-
15 CKIN+
LVDS receiver signal clock
16 GND Ground
17 NC No Connection
18 NC No Connection
19 GND Ground
20 GND Ground

If you do not follow this layout you may short GND to Vcc and burn out a fuse. The power mosfet in this case could be in the power controller area.

steve5214 · Membru Activ Joined: 07 Jan 2006 Posts: 61

Zomi,
The embedded controller shouldnt really be a problem.
Did you find the chip dump you were looking for ?
Cheers
Steve.