Service Forum

[p-k]

Hi Victor
Thank you for providing this resource. It is very interesting.
I used the R24RF08 and sucessfully unlocked a thinkpad T23 last week.

Sadly, today when I tried the same on a T21, the <<Error: Eeprom not available>> message appeared.

I have tried both simple/driven interfaces.
Regards from England

[victor]

Hi p-k,

t20-t23 are virtually the same machine. Check the eeprom connections, the circuit and so on.
Usually, I need some more info about your problem to discover what is wrong there. Better if you search the forum, you'll find the answear that I repeately gave it to other fellows or email to support-at-allservice.ro and I will try to help you as much as I can.

Welcome to the board!

[chacharero]

Does anyone know if this method works on ThinkPad T43: type1871

[bob]

That should do it if your laptop has 24RF08 or other I2C eeprom. Unfortunately t43 doesn't seem to have that eeprom.

[chacharero]

I didn't found on the motherboard any single chip has atmel or the numbers24RF08 how do I know if it has i2c eeprom, also where I can download 'HD Security Tools 1.0.' I'll try to extract the HD password maybe is the same for SVP

[p-k]

It's working now. One of the micro-clips I purchased was faulty.

I may be purchasing the writing software (W24RF08) - I am curious to know the answer to: is it possible to write an EEPROM while the chip is soldered in position. Or, must the chip be removed from the PCB.

Regards
Peter.

[victor]

Well, just for that I can tell you the writer works that way, with the soldered chip. If you can read the chip you can write as well, no need to unsolder.

Regards
Victor

[roberac]

Hello Victor and all who posted here. I would like to thank you for the information posted here, using it I successfully unlocked a T22 which, following the removal and replacement of the CMOS battery, required access to the bios to reset date and time.

Building the interface circut was failrly easy following the very clear diagrams included with the R24RF08 download.

I used the simple interface circuit and IBM Pass 1.1. Two points I thought are worth mentioning:

1. Soldering the wires on to the chip requires a VERY fine iron, magnifying glass/lamp, very fine wires, and a great deal of care - not a job for someone without any experience!

2. I used another Laptop (T23) at first as the host PC to connect interface on com1 and to run the eeprom reader SW - I got the 'eeprom not found' error....( which is what you also get without any circuit connected to com1) I then connected the interface to my desktop PC's com1 port, loaded and run the programme again and it worked OK first time. Maybe the power available on com1 on a desktop is higher.

Anyway thanks again and well done for making this available. I used to work for IBM and had a lot to do with Laptop repair - IBM did not and would not carry out procedures like this in any of their servicing locations, the motherboard would be changed. The chip might get changed later if the motherboard was then refurbished back in manufacturing or at an refurbishing supplier.

Regards roberac

[victor]

The SIPROG is powered by the COM port and needs +/- 5V or more to function, specially when CTS (COM #8 ) has a low impedance. A laptop usually provide 3.3V-5V on the port while a desktop PC has the standard 10V. But is not a rule, you know.

[m vagsh]

hello victor, someone else woh is kind to help.
i have gut together all the elements and connect them to my TP T41, the lock is on the BIOS STARTUP so i cant go in to the BIOS nor the HD!
when i use r24rf08 program all i get is that "ERROR: Eeprom not available"
all the connection seems to be o.k.!
i will be glad for help.

i have search this site and try to do your past responess, thanks alot in advance!

[victor]

To help you I need to know more details like the circuit you used, maybe some pictures of your work, etc.
Please contact me by PM or email at support-at-allservice.ro wtih details.

[patrick]

Hi Victor

First I want to thank you for your excellent tutorial and for your kindness in sharing this info.

I successfully retrieved the data from the Eprom but I cant figure out the password string when using IBMpass 2.0 Lite nor IBMpass 1.1.

The hex string from position 0x338 reads:
d6 39 f6 aa d5 ff 30 5d d6 39 f6 aa d5 ff 30 5d 48 34 d6 fb 42 32 d6 07
.. and that does not translate into anything understandable neither with classic nor alternate 1 scancode.

Is my eprom encrypted in some other way?

Its an X31
_________________
my laptop with dual 14.1" SXGA+ screens is really the best admin tool ever.

[victor]

I think is better to send me the dump to take a closer look. The email is displayed by the software

[patrick]

I sent it to the mailadress found in your R24RF08 readme.pdf
_________________
my laptop with dual 14.1" SXGA+ screens is really the best admin tool ever.

[batschi42]

Hi everybody,

Hi Viktor and all

Can You give me a link to the two pdf, i will build the interfaces
and i cant find the Pdf´s.

Thanks for your help.