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
T500	6FET79WW 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
T500	6FET49WW 1.19	full	full	full	FL1 file only, replace in BIOS update from Lenovo
T500	6FET50WW 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.
T500/W500	6FET70WW 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.
T500/W500	6FET71WW 3.01	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
T500	6FET81WW 3.11 7VET80WW 3.10	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)
2008-12-07 NIN2001	T500 6FET49WW-1.19	DELL 5720 (Sierra) WWAN	no	yes	yes	no	Worked ike a charm!
2009-05-28 hihi79	T500 A69	mc5720	yes	yes	yes	no	Vista get bluescreen some times when shut down machine
2009-05-30 Teda	T500 A11	option GTM382	no	yes	yes	no
2009-06-03 BlackAdderDK	T500	Intel Wifi Link 5100	no	yes	yes	no	Used the Lenovo Windows BIOS update - Worked flawlessly... in fact I've experienced a better coverage after the Hardware upgrade! Thanks!
2009-06-22 VolshebNick	T500 6FET70WW 3.00 W500-4058-CTO	Intel WiMax 5350	no	yes	yes	no	Great work!!! You can move the files to tested list!
2009-08-04	T500 W500 4058-CTO	Atheros ABG	yes	yes	yes	no	Version 3.00
2009-08-05 dunji	T500 3.01 2082-53G	Dell DW 1390	no	yes	yes	no	Works! BootCD used to upgrade from BIOS 1.20. Had to connect the grey cable instead of the white. Thanks!
2009-08-07 gutmensch	T500 3.01 2055-A81	Standard Atheros AR9280 non branded	no	yes	yes	yes	After taping Pin 20 even LED works, upgrading worked flawlessly, thanks!
2009-10-16 2009-10-16	T500 2055A77	MC8775	no	yes	no	no	Light comes on when power on but then goes off and win XP does not see the card.
2009-10-29	T500 3.09	Intel 4965AGN	no	yes	yes	no
2010-01-29 Sadok	T500 2082-BBG	Intel 5150	no	yes	yes	no	Not worked with 6fuj34u.zip (Boot failed). 6fuj31u.zip - is OK
2010-02-08 Icemave	T500 7VET80WW	Sierra MC8775	no	yes	yes	no	Works, no pin taping needed. Can move to tested list
2010-03-28 ThinkRob	T500 2801 6FET79WW	Dell 5530 (Ericsson F3507g)	no	no	no	no	1804 error still occurs.
2010-05-09 hmarin	T500 2082-5BG	MC8781	no	yes	yes	no	All is fine! :)
2010-05-10 hmarin	T500 3.11! 2082-5BG	MC8781	no	yes	yes	no	update ok, error on boot, remote change ... to setup, exit, thats it.. all is fine..
2010-06-24 kleini72	T500 309	Gobi2000 WWAN	yes	yes	yes	no	Works
2011-03-19 Astronavt	T500 3.09	MC8790	no	yes	yes	no	works. I need new 3.17 bios for my machine...

Column "L." = Is Lenovo branded?