Service Forum

Miles2Go · Nou Venit Joined: 23 Nov 2010 Posts: 6 Location: USA, PA

I have a lenovo/ibm x61t. the bios is asking for a password, passphrase is set to enabled, password reset says in process. what do I need to reset/read password so i can enable options in bios for booting to something other than HD? I want to wipe hard drive and install win7

Thanx in advance,

Miles2Go

victor · S.F. Boss Joined: 07 Mar 2004 Posts: 2581 Location: Staff

Hi,

Basically you need to read the eeprom. Then buy W24RF08 ($30) and TCPA unlock service ($25) and email us the eeprom dump.

www.allservice.ro/store/utils/ - software here. Needs an interface to read/write the eerpom.

X61:

This is using a small factor PS08 eeprom (24RF08 clone), its position is below the "M" key. It requires the keyboard, front bezel and the modem sub-board to be taken apart.

X61 eeprom here:
http://www.allservice.ro/forum/images/X61.jpg
_________________
Victor Voinea
ALLservice HQ, Romania.

Miles2Go · Nou Venit Joined: 23 Nov 2010 Posts: 6 Location: USA, PA

With this type of MB, do you recommend that I solder the connections to the eprom directly or solder (or use needles) in the area shown in the link?

Thanks,
Miles2Go

victor · S.F. Boss Joined: 07 Mar 2004 Posts: 2581 Location: Staff

No matter the type, probing is higly recommended.
_________________
Victor Voinea
ALLservice HQ, Romania.

Miles2Go · Nou Venit Joined: 23 Nov 2010 Posts: 6 Location: USA, PA

I have the battery pack, keyboard and palm rest (I assume this is what you meant by front bezel) out. Where is the sub modem board located on my X61 tablet?

Miles2Go · Nou Venit Joined: 23 Nov 2010 Posts: 6 Location: USA, PA

It actually looks like the eeprom is actually located under a module near the front of the x61 tablet

victor · S.F. Boss Joined: 07 Mar 2004 Posts: 2581 Location: Staff

Yes, that is the MDC sub-board and there is the eeprom underneath. Have fun reading it.
_________________
Victor Voinea
ALLservice HQ, Romania.

Miles2Go · Nou Venit Joined: 23 Nov 2010 Posts: 6 Location: USA, PA

I sued a breadboard to assemble the circuit, soldered the wires to the db9 connector, used 2 micro grabbers for ground (on eeprom) and SDA. I used a pin to connect SDL. Tried running the program and got error: eeprom not available. Tried tester and got "0" and "1" matching (not sure if I am reading the tester right. I found no directions). What should I try next?

victor · S.F. Boss Joined: 07 Mar 2004 Posts: 2581 Location: Staff

Itester has a pull-down "help"

If the circuits it's working then connections to the eeprom are faulty, I can't just guess what's goin on, I don't even know what circuit you have built..
_________________
Victor Voinea
ALLservice HQ, Romania.

Miles2Go · Nou Venit Joined: 23 Nov 2010 Posts: 6 Location: USA, PA

my apologies. after I sent the reply I saw and went into the help for itester. seems to be working fine. am using the simple curcuit. can you comment on if I can use a different ground as opposed to the one on the eeprom?

victor · S.F. Boss Joined: 07 Mar 2004 Posts: 2581 Location: Staff

I say everywhere (well, apart from the tutorial that is written years ago) that is easier to use the ground on VGA out connector.
I also suggest you to use two sewing needles for SDA and SCL and just put the probes(needles) at those two yellow spots in the X61 picture.

"..seems to be working fine. am using the simple curcuit." Yeah, sure.
_________________
Victor Voinea
ALLservice HQ, Romania.