Service Forum

[francesco]

Hello,

some times ago my good old A31p did not work any more (fan error, but the fan was OK - I have tested it temporarily in another MB). Via ebay I ordered a used and defective motherboard to compare and find out what was broken. When I tried to start the defective one I got 4 short beeps and the screen was dark (equal to security chip fault). Because there is a socket but no security daughter board on this MB I plugged in the chip from my old motherboard. Now the screen popped up with the error code 0192. By reading the maintanance manual of the A31p I found out that the security chip and the motherboard must be bundled together. So the obviously MB is not really defective, the problem is the missing original security chip.

Before my old MB died, I unlocked all passwords and the security chip too (I think so ). Is there any possibility to get the Thinkpad running agian? It would be nasty to figure out the hardware fault of the old MB, so I would prefer to use the board I bought from ebay.

francesco

[victor]

The BIOS code and the TCPA chip are "married", the solution would be to unsolder the BIOS from the old board and put it in the new one, since its using the old daughterboard

A hotair station is needed and a steady hand, of course

Keep us posted
_________________
Victor Voinea
ALLservice HQ, Romania.

[francesco]

Is the BIOS chip the IC with the identifier IBM 38L2890 and the 100 pins?

[victor]

No, it is a TSOP SST firmware flash, as I remember. I don't have a A31 here, but I will post a picture with the chip, no big deal.
_________________
Victor Voinea
ALLservice HQ, Romania.

[steve5214]

M50FW080 or equivelent...... but if you have the security problem then check the posts here ...there isnt much of an option
Cheers
Steve.