Modified BIOSes for Thinkpads

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Always check the link to Lenovo's website and make sure the BIOS is meant for your machine. Though it shouldn't let you flash it if it isn't. The second column in tables is for this, that's not the modified BIOS!

All downloads are bootable CDs (exceptions noted), follow instructions from Lenovo's website on using bootable ISO BIOS updates.

Patch types:

skip – will only avoid displaying the error 1802/1804/1805 and allow booting; but BIOS will probably send disable signal over disable pin (miniPCIe pin 20) so you'll have to tape it or you won't get it to transmit anything
full – further modified that not only error 180X is avoided, but all (to my knowledge) calls for detecting whitelist presence will succeed; this will proabably spare you from taping over the disable pin and might get the hardware wireless switch working; if your card isn't supported by AccessConnections/Hotkey driver (and only Lenovo-branded ones are), then you still won't be able to control on-off state using Fn-F5

Access Connections support (for non-Lenovo cards, this easy way only works for cards from already supported manufacturers)

If you don't have AC installed, but use Fn-F5 with Hotkey driver, you just need to open TpFnF5.exe in some hexeditor, search for some ID of supported card and replace it with ID of your card. You can see your card ID in device manager, in properties of your device, called something like Hardware ID. If should be in form of VEN_1234&DEV_5678, search the TpFnF5.exe for DEV=5678 (in plaintext, not hex) and replace it with correct ID.
If you have AC installed, AcFnF5.exe takes over and will use AC libraries to detect supported cards. Specifically WWAN card IDs seem to be located in AcAdaptersInfo.dll and Acon.dll, there's more for WLAN. One added problem for easy replacing is that the strings here are in unicode, so it will look like this in hex editor. Again need to replace some supported card with the one you have, as in previous paragraph.

Recommended section – these modified BIOSes have been tested on at least one machine and did not brick it:

Machine	Based on BIOS	WLAN	WWAN	WUSB	Note
T400	7UET79WW 3.09	full	full	full	contains either two .FL1 files which you should replace in BIOS update from Lenovo (in appropriate folders, both must overwrite some file), or bootable CD, which boots to command line, type `command` and hit enter to use Lenovo's update tool. Type `flash2 /u` to force update when you already have this version.

These modified BIOSes have been tested on at least one machine and did not brick it, but are obsolete now:

Machine	Based on BIOS	WLAN	WWAN	WUSB	Note
T400	7UET49WW 1.19	full	full	full	FL1 file only, replace in BIOS update from Lenovo
T400	7UET50WW 1.20	full	full	full	FL1 file only, replace in BIOS update from Lenovo; if you want to use WinPhlash, here is the uncompressed form - WARNING, WinPhlash WON'T CHECK whether it's for your machine - and if it's not, you might get bricked.
T400	7UET70WW 3.00	full	full	full	contains either two .FL1 files which you should replace in BIOS update from Lenovo (in appropriate folders, both must overwrite some file), or bootable CD, which boots to command line, type `command` and hit enter to use Lenovo's update tool. Type `flash2 /u` to force update when you already have this version.

These BIOSes have NOT been TESTED on any machine yet, potential BRICKING RISK:

Machine	Based on BIOS	WLAN	WWAN	WUSB	Note
T400	7UET81WW 3.11 7VET81WW 3.11	full	full	full	contains either two .FL1 files which you should replace in BIOS update from Lenovo (in appropriate folders, both must overwrite some file), or bootable CD, which boots to command line, type `command` and hit enter to use Lenovo's update tool. Type `flash2 /u` to force update when you already have this version.

Obsolete and NOT TESTED on any machine, potential BRICKING RISK:

Machine	Based on BIOS	WLAN	WWAN	WUSB	Note
None as of now.

Don't forget general BIOS flashing safety: never flash from Windows, remove the computer from dock, have charged battery and also connect AC power.

2008-03-05: Please report success/problems here! (editing records fixed)

Your Nick/Name	Machine / BIOS Model	Card	L.	Avoids boot error?	Connects?	Taped pin 20?	Comment (issues...)
		is Lenovo-branded					Contact: (I might try to resolve issues you report, not public)
2008-12-25 mrramek	T400 T400	sierra wireless mc7881	no	yes	yes	no	Works perfect with 3g watcher!. Led blinks durring connection. AC 5.02 das'nt detect card. Thanks for very good job!!!
2009-01-13 turantelle	T400 1.19	Intel 5300	no	yes	yes	no	Works fine, only had to disable the security chip
2009-01-24 ness	T400	Intel WiFiLink 5300	no	yes	yes	no	Works, however, must set security chip to inactive (not disabled) to boot.
2009-02-28 tihab	T400 2767-R9U	Sierra MC8775	no	yes	yes	no	Works great. There is an updated BIOS version 2.03 available at Lenovo now though.
2009-03-05 darioosz	T400 6473-TBM	hp hs2300 / MC8775v	no	yes	yes	no	Works great, no problems - only some beeps after first restart, next one with no beeps.
2009-03-20 d	T400	intel 5300	no	yes	yes	no	wireless works but can\'t shut the fan down completely
2009-04-13 fauxmight	T400 2764-CTO	Atheros AR2425	no	yes	yes	no	No LED (don\'t care) linux/bsd haven\'t tried windows. Works. Thanks, Zender!
2009-04-23 hansi	T400 2765-21G	Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Mini-PCI	yes	yes	yes	no	Works perfectly. Testet with XP Pro and Vista Ultimate
2009-11-01 mrdrewniak	T400 7417-cto	sw881U	no	yes	yes	no	bios 3.0,9 Everything works OK!. Best regards :)
2009-05-19 jeans_yu	T400 2765	mc 5720 with FRU	yes	yes	yes	no	I have flashed the modified t400 3.0 bios,sometimes I receive bluescreen that tell us something like hardware drvier error or not complitiable. basically speaking, everything is ok.
2009-05-24 arnd	T400 6474	Dell 5530 (Ericsson f3507g)	no	yes	yes	no	Firmware upgrade worked perfectly. Boot error 0191 on first boot, following boots ok. Card works on openSUSE 11.0 including LED. Thanks Zender!
2009-06-13 hoshjash	T400 3.00 2768-CTO	DELL 5530 (Ericsson F3507g)	no	yes	yes	no	Windows XP: Working perfectly with extracted DELL driver and Sony Ericsson Wireless Manager 5
2009-07-31 nong1	T400 CTO	intel wimax 5350	no	yes	yes	no	update bios from 1.19 to 3.0 work great thanks only have sleep/hibernate problem (can't wakeup)
2009-08-03 afran	T400 3.00 2764-CTO	MC8775 HP OEM	no	yes	yes	no	Works great. Thanks a lot!
2009-09-20 duhwane	T400 7UET70WW	Dell 5520 Cingular 3G Broadband	no	yes	yes	no	Worked perfectly. Had to hack the Dell .msi to get the XP drivers, but runs nicely now.
2009-11-12 deckert_za	T400 3.0 6474-B85	Novatel EU850D	no	yes	yes	no	Used the ISO, worked perfectly. The LED works and the WWAN radio switches off when I toggle the wireless switch on the front of the machine. Also works under Linux (tested with slackware 13, kernel 2.6.24.5 and up). Excellent work Zender!
2010-01-04 Vietnamese	T400 7417-A32	HP hs2300 - Sierra MC8775	no	yes	yes	no	Works great! Thanks you very much!
2010-02-17 ramek	T400 7417-cto	SW AirCard 881U	no	yes	yes	no	Everything works OK!
2010-02-14 polkathinker	T400 3.11 6474-DW1	Intel 5300	no	yes	yes	no	Works fine - fantastic!
2010-04-02 zocka	T400 3.11	sierra wireless mc5725	yes	yes	yes	no	Many thanks!!! Your work is great!
2010-04-16 waliak	T400	GN-WI07T	no	yes	yes	no	Works perfect! Tested on Vista x86
2010-06-12	T400	dell 5530	no	no	no	no
2010-06-29 2010-06-29 priitcce	T400	Gobi 2000	yes	yes	yes	no	Needs new thinkpad powermanagement features, hotkeys, access connections and mobile broadband connect installed
2010-07-03 Eliyahu	T400 2767-14U	MC8775	no	yes	yes	no
2010-08-30 ajair	T400 2764-CTO	Atheros AR-5008X	no	yes	yes	no	Works great, the wireless switch doesn't turn it off but the thinkvantage software does so no big deal
2010-08-19 kendo_06	T400 2768-AS7	Gobi 2000	yes	yes	yes	no	Works perfect with Windows 7 Ultimate x64 ! Thank you :)
2010-09-14 rotarymike	T400 7417-CTU	Dell 5720	no	yes	no	no	Just using for GPS funct. - still looking for Win7x64 driver
2010-11-24 lucks	T400 2764-cto	Atheros AR9280	no	yes	yes	no	Works perfectly on Linux-based systems. LED works as well without any problems. Old Intel wifi card is plugged into WWAN slot with taped pin-20 - works fine as well!
2010-12-03 SnoopyII	T400 2768-BN2	3945abg	yes	yes	no	no	Windows 7 Ultimate 32 identifies card. Drivers install. will not connect. FN+F5 does nothing. LED not lit. Card may be bad.

Column "L." = Is Lenovo branded?