Service Forum

[DanijelMil]

First I would like to thank you for the great job you have done with 24RF08 reader and IBM Pass Lite - it helps a lot.
This time I need to purchase writer software and TCPA unlock, but I have a few questions regarding actual writing to the eeprom:

Notebook is T500 - hardware is driven I2C programmer based on MAX 232 chip with stabilised external VCC. I have dump of the eeprom but without obvious password (I have tried all the variations with scandodes - this is not the first time I use pass lite), so it is probably TCPA locked.

My first question is regarding soldering additional wires (beside SDA and SCL - ground is connected with clip to mem. socket) - do I have to unsolder the eeprom off the board for the actual programming and connect additional VCC, WP and PROT or it is possible to program it on main board - if it is possible - what wires needs to be connected and is there a need to power on the laptop? What is the right procedure that you suggest?

Second question is regarding HDD lock - I assume that it is locked with same pass - is it possible to unlock it also? Should I put the drive in laptop while programming the eeprom or not - what is the correct procedure for this case?

Looking forward to read your answers.
With best regards,
Danijel

[victor]

Hello,

Programming the eeprom will be done in system, using the same hardware interface and same signals. There's no need to unsolder the chip or to use additional circuitry.

In case of TCPA lockdown the HD passwords are also encrypted. Normally, when the SVP = HDP(one of the two) we could unlock the drive with KeyON using the SVP certificate, but for T500 is not possible anymore - HDP encoding algorithm differs from SVP's .

You may programm the eeprom with the HD in place, but you have to remove it eventually, otherwise it won't let you access the BIOS when typing in the SVP.

Kind regards,
_________________
Victor Voinea
ALLservice HQ, Romania.

[DanijelMil]

Just to confirm that writer and TCPA unlock works great - simple and fast.

Thank you Victor