Modified BIOSes for Thinkpads

Please do not post link to this page anywhere public! Feel free to send it to anyone through PM/e-mail/similiar means. Else it will need to be taken down. Thank you.

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
X60	7BETD7WW 2.18	full	full		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
X60	7BETD3WW 2.14	skip	full
X60	7BETD6WW 2.17	full	full		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
None as of now.

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)
2008-03-21 chumsam2g	X60 X60s 1705DBK	Intel 4965 a/g/n (non-Lenovo-branded)	no	yes	yes	yes	Before blocking pin 20, it could not find any APs and WiFi LED was not working. After blocking, everything work perfect. Thanks.
2008-05-11 DavidZh	X60 X60s 1702HAC	HPQ BCM4311	no	yes	yes	yes	Works well in WinXP except hardware swith, and a little defect in Leopard: LED light weakly, hardware switch and Fn+F5 cannot control it.
2008-08-05 Anonymous	X60 X60s 1702-xxx	Sierra Wireless MC5725 for Verizon EVDO Rev. A	yes	yes	yes	no	Works perfectly, including Fn+F5 to control card.
2008-09-04 Anonymous	X60 1702-xxx	MC8775	yes	yes	yes	yes	Fn-F5 works; hardware switch not operational.
2008-11-17 silkworm32	X60 1706-BV7	Intel 4965AGN	yes	yes	yes	yes	Works fine after pin 20 is taped. Fn+F5 works as expected but hardware switch doesn't.
2008-11-28 lexicon	X60 1709-97U	Sierra MC8781 from 881U	no	yes	yes	yes	Works well with 3G Watcher. LED works.
2008-12-07 adileonardo	X60	Intel 5300 533AN_MMWW2	no	yes	yes	no	7buj26uc booted CD, ran flash2 /u waited for beep, done! X60 works perfectly as of now. Wifi n @ 130mps will test 5GHz later
2008-12-21 x60_user	X60 1706-8DU	intel 4965 AGN	no	yes	yes	no	Downgraded, flashed using Windows tools from lenovo. Works like a charm
2009-01-19 azara	X60 1705-CTO	Sierra MC8755V	no	yes	yes	no	Works without any trouble (on Linux, Windows untested). LED ok, power/on off untested.
2009-01-29 transputer	X60 1706-GMG	Intel 4965agn	no	yes	yes	no	Works fine without pin 20 taped
2009-02-28 thanan	X60 1706-BQ	intel 5100N WLAN	no	yes	yes	no	Worked fine. Flash via USB flash drive. Thanks.
2009-03-16 vsicth	X60 1704-69U	Intel 4965AGN	no	yes	yes	no	Works perfectly! Very happy.
2009-05-05 GKurt	X60 1705-44U	Intel 5100N	no	yes	yes	no	Works like a charm! Because of boot-cd driver issues, I had to copy/paste Zender's boot-disc into Lenovo's window's based update utility, first to downgrade, then to upgrade back to where I was. Also, the 5100 card does not have Lenovo branding, but came out of an x301 (still would not work in x60 without modded BIOS). Thanks Zender!
2009-05-16	X60 1702-68u	MC8775	yes	yes	yes	yes	TAPE PIN20. Fn+F5 works, HW switch not
2009-07-10 wshwang	X60 2.18 1706-BG9	Atheros	no	yes	yes	no	does not work with Fn+F5 but apart from it everything seems working perfectly.
2009-07-26 silkworm32	X60 1706-BV7	Intel 4965AGN	yes	yes	yes	no	Upgraded from 2.17 to 2.18. Everything works fine including F5 toggle and h/w switch
2009-09-07 rek	X60 1702-64M	MC8775 Lenovo	yes	yes	yes	yes	Used Lenovo WWAN driver intended for X300. Needed to tape pin 20. LED works. Fn-F5 works. Hardware switch doesn't disable WWAN. Sierra Watcher can control radio power.
2009-11-02 dima	X60	Atheros X-SPAN - non lenovo branded	no	yes	yes	no	worked fine for me did with flash2 /u - 7BETD7WW 2.18 did not brick system
2009-11-09 morkli	X60 1709-CTO	Ericsson F3507g	yes	yes	yes	yes	Everything works, except HW switch, Fn+F5 and GPS does not seem to work
2009-11-17 eje	X60 h6u	sierra 8781	no	yes	yes	yes	Fn+F5 & HW switch not work (on/off radio in AC not showing) is this normal? what if i didn't tape pin-20 instead?
2009-11-22 adachij2002	X60 1709-Q6J	Apple AirMac Extreme / Atheros AR5BXB72	no	yes	yes	no	Works fine. At first, downgraded older, and updated modified newer by BIOS Setup Utility.
2009-12-01 sbmart	X60 1702	Intel 5150	no	yes	yes	no	Works fine, but after reflashing it wont boot from USB Flashdrive
2010-01-20 ed9reen	X60 s 1704-3DU	Intel WiFi Link 5100	no	yes	yes	no	Worked flawlessly. Thank you!
2010-01-27 jammer	X60 1707-5DG	Azurewave AW770 with AR5008x	yes	yes	yes	no	Works perfectly ! Many Thanks !!
2010-02-06 Tschensie	X60 2.18 1706-W3Q	Ericcson F3507g	yes	yes	yes	yes	works perfect incl. FN/F5 and LED. GPS found, but no signal cause of missing antenna
2010-02-12 nemojdamesmaras	X60 BIOS 2.18	Atheros AR5BXB63	no	no	no	no	Still get 1802 error when booting
2010-03-04 Fordwrench	X60 1707V81	4965abgn	no	yes	yes	no	Could not get to work with 2.18 bios but others work. Only 2 antennas connected to 1 and 2. Have not tried N-connections yet.
2010-03-25	X60 1702w5s		no	no	no	no
2010-04-09 y20	X60	Intel Link 5100 AGN	no	yes	yes	no	not work with Fn+F5 other works perfectly
2010-04-24 emlaso0	X60 1709-97U	Ericsson F3507g (Dell 5530)	no	yes	yes	yes	everything's great except Fn+F5 to switch the card on/off. Thank you so much!
2010-04-25 Anonymous	X60 1709-97U	Intel 4965 a/g/n	yes	yes	yes	no	works just fine
2010-07-13 JHDoe	X60 1706W3Q	Intel 4965AGN	no	yes	yes	no	Zender, you are great !! this card work perfect !!
2010-06-10	X60 X60s 1702-xxx	Intel WiFi5100 - 43Y6493	yes	yes	yes	no	Works perfectly, including Fn+F5 to control card. No Pin tape
2010-07-17 Dare	X60 X60s 1704-5UG	Intel 4965AGN	yes	yes	yes	no	Works perfectly.
2010-07-31 sagat1961	X60 1706-AJ2	Intel WiFi Link 5100 AGN	yes	yes	yes	no	Replaced from 3945ABG Can Avoid 1802 error and works fine. But a little hotter at palm rest than 3945.
2010-08-21 vga-zipfel	X60 1707-CTO	Alps Atheros 5008x	no	yes	yes	no	No probs. Works very well. My advice for the X60 when you need n-draft
2010-10-23 alroar	X60 1706W3Q	Intel 4965 AG	yes	yes	yes	no	worked like a charm. update with usb stick and HP tool
2010-12-14 marYn	X60	Apple Atheros AR9280 AR5BXB92	no	yes	yes	no	With MS drivers leads to BSOD, but Atheros drivers ver.9 are OK. Also in Ubuntu 10.10 works fine. LED light doesn't show up, Fn+F5 and Lenovo Access Connection work fine.
2011-02-07	X60 s		no	no	no	no

Column "L." = Is Lenovo branded?