Lenovo 3000 G430 Wireless not working

My friend bring me that laptop saying that did not using the laptop for almost a year because he cannot make the WIFI adapter works. I do some checkup and found out that all required software driver is install, and there is no problem what so ever stated anywhere in the system.

Levono Wireless Device Setting

I then, search thru Lenovo website, and found some utility software that did not exist in the laptop. One of is is Lenovo Power Management (LPM) . Install LPM then the wireless button will work. To download the driver, got to http://support.lenovo.com, or you might try this LN1EGC3WW1.exe ( Lenovo Energy Management for XP)

Compaq Presario CQ40 Blinking LED

Compaq Presario CQ40 come in several model which is I divided into to chipset class which is Intel and ATI. Model with Intel chipset did not having much problem since I start servicing this model but ATI is in contrast. The most common problem is for ATI chipset model is POWERED ON with NO POST but with CAPS/NUM Lock blinking.

Before you do any servicing or taking your CQ40 apart, do visit the HP page on details about CQ40 blinking code -- link at bottom of this page. Here is the list of the blinking code (taken from HP.com). I suggest you do hard reset and re-seat RAM module. On two occasions, on two units of this model, I just re-seat RAM module, and it works fine. So, sometime, 4x blinking not actually cause by graphic controller problem.

Heat IS your computer WORST enemy

Yesterday I solved notebook with auto shutoff problem. It is a Acer. I believed it is a heat problem. So, I disassemble the unit and found out that the base of the heatsink screw has broken. It is loose from the mainboard.

I place the had modified the screw base, and screwed back the heatsink. I tested the notebook and it work perfectly event after 24 hours of burn-in test.

It save the notebook owner a lot of money (if I didnot modified the base, he may be need to change the mobo).

Next time if I encounter the same problem, I will take some photos.

IBM ThinkPad R40 Supervisor Password Recovery

NOTICE:
I did not take responsibility for any loses due to the usage of the information from this blog post. Please take extreme precaution while following this procedure. Thank You.

[Lihat Bahasa Melayu]

IBM / Lenovo save password (POP and Supervisor Password) in a EEPROM Chip call ATMEL 24RF08. These password couldn't be remove simply by resetting any jumper or unplugging any battery or backup battery. The only way is to read the password stored in the chip. To achieve this, you have to send in the laptop to the manufacturer together with prove of ownership.

But, we can hack this (by reading the EEPROM chip using homebrew EEPROM Reader and reader software from ALLservice.ro.

Thing we need:

1. EEPROM Reader (homebrew)
   
   Parts:
   1. D-Sub 9pin female COM header,
   2. 2 units 5.1v Zener Diod
   3. 2 units 2.2 Kilo Ohm Resistor
   
   
2. Software
   Get the software from http://www.allservice.ro/ iaitu r24rf08_setup.zip and setup_ibmpass21.zip
   
   details as follow:
   http://www.allservice.ro/forum/viewtopic.php?t=61 – r24rf08 - Reader http://www.allservice.ro/forum/viewtopic.php?t=56 – IBMpass 2.1 Lite

Build the EEPROM Reader

EEPROM Reader schematic.

Figure 1: EEPROM ATMEL 24RF08 Reader Diagram.

Attach the Reader to ATMEL 24RF08 EEPROM

From the site where I first get the information about hacking this BIOS password, it is suggested that we solder two wire to EEPROM pins to connect the reader. I thought it will be disasterous and would void the warranty.

Photo #1: EEPROM Reader,
all component soldered to d-sub female connector

Installing Windows XP on Toshiba Satellite L40

[Lihat Versi Bahasa Melayu]

Serial ATA has become common bus on all new computer system, like the Toshiba Satellite L40 notebook machine has using the "Intel(R) 82801HEM SATA RAID Controller" chipset.

To install Windows XP on this system, you have to press F6 to supply the SATA driver to windows XP setup. I manage to get the driver by searching the net and put in on floppy disk. Then I start to install Windows XP onto this L40, with USB Floppy Drive and NO LUCK, the installation was failed.

During the installation, pressing F6 will instruct Windows XP setup to read additional driver from floppy disk. Setup will ask to select the correct driver by pressing 'S'. Setup will display the list below;

Intel(R) ICH9 SATA AHCI Controller (Desktop/Server/Workstation)
Intel(R) 82801HEM SATA RAID Controller(Mobile ICH8M-E)
Intel(R) 82801HEM/HBM SATA AHCI Controller (Mobile ICH8M-E/M)
Intel(R) ICH8R/ICH9R SATA RAID Controller (Desktop/Server/Workstation)
Intel(R) 82801HR/HH/HO SATA AHCI Controller (Desktop/Server/Workstation)
Intel(R) 631xESB/632xESB SATA RAID Controller (Server/Workstation ESB2)
Intel(R) 631xESB/632xESB SATA AHCI Controller (Server/Workstation ESB2
Intel(R) 82801GHM SATA RAID Controller (Mobile ICH7MDH)
Intel(R) 82801GR/GH SATA RAID Controller (Desktop ICH7R/DH)
Intel(R) 82801GR/GH SATA AHCI Controller (Desktop ICH7R/DH)
Intel(R) 82801GBM SATA AHCI Controller (Mobile ICH7M/DH)
Intel(R) 82801FBM SATA AHCI Controller (Mobile ICH6M)

Then, I choose

Intel(R) 82801HEM/HBM SATA AHCI Controller (Mobile ICH8M-E/M)

from the list. Windows Setup can detect SATA harddrive and can continue to create partition and formatting until to state where Windows Setup 'forgot' the USB floppy disk and keep asking you to insert the Intel Matrix Storage Manager driver diskette into floppy A:, (the disk still in the drive, but Windows setup could not recognise the drive)

INSTALLATION must be abort, failed!

Then, I try other method, which is required me to put the SATA driver to the Windows XP Installation Disk. It is called Setup Disk Streamlining. I'm using nLite to do the job and toast a installation cd.

Steps of nLite process;

1. run nLite, Welcome Screen appear, click Next.
   
2. Locating the Windows installation .. insert you original Windows XP Installation CD (which I use OEM version of Windows XP Home with Service Pack 2) to you optical drive, and click Browse.
   
3. Pick a location on your harddrive (or make a new folder) to store your Windows XP Installation files befoe making ISO file. Click Next.
   
4. Preset. delete all preset (if exist).. click Next
   
5. Task Selection, Only select to options, Driver and Bootable ISO, then press Next
   
6. Drivers. click Insert, Single Driver, then Choose any INF file... appear, choose iastor.inf from folder where you extract the Intel SATA driver. click Open...
   
7. Storage Device Textmode Driver, click on Textmode Driver and, while pressing CTRL button, click all the driver from the list with the word 'mobile' There is 5 of it. Click OK
   
8. then click Next
   
9. Apply Changes? click Yes. nLite now preparing files to make the bootable ISO image file. When this process is done, press Next.
   
10. Bootable ISO, in General, Mode section, choose appopriate format that suite you, either make a CD or ISO image. I suggest you make ISO image.
    
11. Create a CD from the ISO, using your favorite ISO software.

I use the CD created in step 11 to install the Toshiba Satellite L40 with success.
good luck...
download Serial ATA di sini (Intel Matrik Storage Driver)

Installing Windows XP on Acer Aspire 4920

Lihat Versi Bahasa Melayu

The easiest way to install Acer Aspire 4920 with Winodws XP is to setting the SATA Mode to IDE Mode rather then AHCI Mode. Here is how to set the bios.

1. To enter the BIOS, press F2 as stated in the Acer welcome screen.




2. Use your Arrow Key to move the screen to Main section. At the bottom, the is a option to set the SATA Mode. Press key, the select IDE Mode




3. Save you setting by pressing F10. Exit the BIOS, system will reboot.

Now, you're ready to install Windows XP without any SATA driver.




Hope this info will help.