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+<!DOCTYPE html>
+<html>
+<head>
+ <meta charset="utf-8">
+ <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
+
+ <style type="text/css">
+ @import url('../css/main.css');
+ </style>
+
+ <title>ThinkPad T500: flashing tutorial (BeagleBone Black)</title>
+</head>
+
+<body>
+
+ <div class="section">
+ <h1 id="pagetop">Flashing the T500 with a BeagleBone Black</h1>
+
+ <p>Initial flashing instructions for T500.</p>
+ <p>
+ This guide is for those who want libreboot on their ThinkPad T500
+ while they still have the original Lenovo BIOS present. This guide
+ can also be followed (adapted) if you brick your T500, to know how
+ to recover.
+ </p>
+
+ <p><a href="index.html">Back to main index</a></p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="section" id="cpu_compatibility">
+
+ <h1>A note about CPUs</h1>
+ <p>
+ <a href="http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Category:T500">ThinkWiki</a> has a list of CPUs
+ for this system. The Core 2 Duo P8400, P8600 and P8700 are believed to work in libreboot.
+ <b>The T9400, T9500, T9550 and T9600 are untested!</b>
+ </p>
+
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="section" id="switchable_graphics">
+
+ <h1>A note about GPUs</h1>
+
+ <p>
+ This guide currently assumes that you have an Intel GPU (non-switchable).
+ Some T500 have switchable graphics (ATI), which means that you can choose between ATI or Intel
+ in the <i>BIOS setup</i>. When switching to Intel, is lenovobios not enabling ATI
+ (where ATI is disabled by default and the system uses the Intel chip), or are they
+ disabling it (where the system uses the ATI chip by default)?
+ </p>
+
+ <p>
+ Basically, switchable graphics is untested, but it should be easy to get it working
+ (if it doesn't already work).
+ </p>
+
+ <h1>CPU paste required</h1>
+
+ <p>
+ See <a href="#paste">#paste</a>.
+ </p>
+
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="section">
+
+ <h1 id="flashchips">Flash chips</h1>
+
+ <p>
+ The T500 will use an 8MiB or 64Mb SOIC-16 chip (rare models
+ will use a 4MiB or 32Mb SOIC-8 chip).
+ </p>
+
+ <p>
+ <a href="#pagetop">Back to top of page.</a>
+ </p>
+
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="section photos">
+
+ <h1 id="macaddress">MAC address</h1>
+
+ <p>
+ On the T500, the MAC address for the onboard
+ gigabit ethernet chipset is stored inside the flash chip,
+ along with other configuration data.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Keep a note of the MAC address before disassembly; this is
+ very important, because you will need to insert this into
+ the libreboot ROM image before flashing it.
+ It will be written in one of these locations:
+ </p>
+
+ <p>
+ <img src="images/t400/macaddress0.jpg" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/t400/macaddress1.jpg" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/x200/disassembly/0001.jpg" alt="" />
+ </p>
+
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="section photos">
+
+ <h1>Initial BBB configuration</h1>
+
+ <p>
+ Refer to <a href="bbb_setup.html">bbb_setup.html</a> for how to
+ configure the BBB for flashing.
+ </p>
+
+ <p>
+ The following shows how to connect clip to the BBB (on the P9 header), for SOIC-16 (clip: Pomona 5252):
+ </p>
+<pre>
+POMONA 5252 (correlate with the BBB guide)
+=== ethernet jack and VGA port ====
+ NC - - 21
+ 1 - - 17
+ NC - - NC
+ NC - - NC
+ NC - - NC
+ NC - - NC
+ 18 - - 3.3V PSU RED
+ 22 - - NC - this is pin 1 on the flash chip
+=== SATA port ===
+<i>This is how you will connect. Numbers refer to pin numbers on the BBB, on the plugs near the DC jack.</i><br/>
+<img src="images/t400/0065.jpg" alt="" />
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ The following shows how to connect clip to the BBB (on the P9 header), for SOIC-8 (clip: Pomona 5250):
+ </p>
+<pre>
+POMONA 5250 (correlate with the BBB guide)
+=== RAM slots ====
+ 18 - - 1
+ 22 - - NC
+ NC - - 21
+ 3.3V PSU RED - - 17 - this is pin 1 on the flash chip
+=== slot where the AC jack is connected ===<br/>
+<img src="images/t500/0060.jpg" alt="" />
+</pre>
+
+ <h2>
+ The procedure
+ </h2>
+
+ <p>
+ Remove all screws:<br/>
+ <img src="images/t500/0000.jpg" alt="" /><br/>
+ It is also advisable to, throughout the disassembly,
+ place any screws and/or components that you removed in
+ the same layout or arrangement. The follow photos demonstrate
+ this:<br/>
+ <img src="images/t500/0001.jpg" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/t500/0002.jpg" alt="" />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Remove the HDD/SSD and optical drive:<br/>
+ <img src="images/t500/0003.jpg" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/t500/0004.jpg" alt="" />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Remove the palm rest:<br/>
+ <img src="images/t500/0005.jpg" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/t500/0006.jpg" alt="" />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Remove the keyboard and rear bezel:<br/>
+ <img src="images/t500/0007.jpg" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/t500/0008.jpg" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/t500/0009.jpg" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/t500/0010.jpg" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/t500/0011.jpg" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/t500/0012.jpg" alt="" />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ If you have a WWAN/3G card and/or sim card reader,
+ remove them permanently. The WWAN-3G card has DMA, and
+ proprietary firmware inside; the technology is identical
+ to what is used in mobile phones, so it can also track
+ your movements:<br/>
+ <img src="images/t500/0013.jpg" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/t500/0017.jpg" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/t500/0018.jpg" alt="" />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Remove this frame, and then remove the wifi chip:<br/>
+ <img src="images/t500/0014.jpg" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/t500/0015.jpg" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/t500/0016.jpg" alt="" />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Remove the speakers:<br/>
+ <img src="images/t500/0019.jpg" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/t500/0020.jpg" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/t500/0021.jpg" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/t500/0022.jpg" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/t500/0023.jpg" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/t500/0024.jpg" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/t500/0025.jpg" alt="" />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Remove the NVRAM battery (already removed in this photo):<br/>
+ <img src="images/t500/0026.jpg" alt="" />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ When you re-assemble, you will be replacing the wifi chip
+ with another. These two screws don't hold anything together,
+ but they are included in your machine because the screw
+ holes for half-height cards are a different size, so
+ use these if you will be installing a half-height card:<br/>
+ <img src="images/t500/0027.jpg" alt="" />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Unroute the antenna wires:<br/>
+ <img src="images/t500/0028.jpg" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/t500/0029.jpg" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/t500/0030.jpg" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/t500/0031.jpg" alt="" />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Disconnect the LCD cable from the motherboard:<br/>
+ <img src="images/t500/0032.jpg" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/t500/0033.jpg" alt="" />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Remove the LCD assembly hinge screws, and then remove the LCD
+ assembly:<br/>
+ <img src="images/t500/0034.jpg" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/t500/0035.jpg" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/t500/0036.jpg" alt="" />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Remove the fan and heatsink:<br/>
+ <img src="images/t500/0037.jpg" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/t500/0038.jpg" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/t500/0039.jpg" alt="" />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Remove this screw:<br/>
+ <img src="images/t500/0040.jpg" alt="" />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Remove these cables, keeping note of how and in what
+ arrangement they are connected:<br/>
+ <img src="images/t500/0041.jpg" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/t500/0042.jpg" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/t500/0043.jpg" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/t500/0044.jpg" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/t500/0045.jpg" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/t500/0046.jpg" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/t500/0047.jpg" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/t500/0048.jpg" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/t500/0049.jpg" alt="" />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Disconnect the power jack:<br/>
+ <img src="images/t500/0050.jpg" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/t500/0051.jpg" alt="" />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Remove the motherboard and cage from the base
+ (the marked hole is where those cables were routed through):<br/>
+ <img src="images/t500/0052.jpg" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/t500/0053.jpg" alt="" />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Remove all screws, arranging them in the same layout
+ when placing the screws on a surface and marking each screw
+ hole (this is to reduce the possibility of putting them
+ back in the wrong holes):<br/>
+ <img src="images/t500/0054.jpg" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/t500/0055.jpg" alt="" />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Also remove this:<br/>
+ <img src="images/t500/0056.jpg" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/t500/0057.jpg" alt="" />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Separate the motherboard from the cage:<br/>
+ <img src="images/t500/0058.jpg" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/t500/0059.jpg" alt="" />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The flash chip is next to the memory slots. On this
+ machine, it was a SOIC-8 (4MiB or 32Mb) flash chip:<br/>
+ <img src="images/t500/0060.jpg" alt="" />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Connect your programmer, then connect GND and 3.3V<br/>
+ <img src="images/t500/0061.jpg" alt="" /><br/>
+ <img src="images/t400/0067.jpg" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/t400/0069.jpg" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/t400/0070.jpg" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/t400/0071.jpg" alt="" />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ A dedicated 3.3V PSU was used to create this guide, but
+ at ATX PSU is also fine:<br/>
+ <img src="images/t400/0072.jpg" alt="" />
+ </p>
+
+ <p>
+ Of course, make sure to turn on your PSU:<br/>
+ <img src="images/x200/disassembly/0013.jpg" alt="" />
+ </p>
+
+ <p>
+ Now, you should be ready to install libreboot.
+ </p>
+
+ <p>
+ Flashrom binaries for ARM (tested on a BBB) are distributed in libreboot_util. Alternatively,
+ libreboot also distributes flashrom source code which can be built.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Log in as root on your BBB, using the instructions in <a href="bbb_setup.html#bbb_access">bbb_setup.html#bbb_access</a>.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Test that flashrom works:<br/>
+ # <b>./flashrom -p linux_spi:dev=/dev/spidev1.0,spispeed=512</b><br/>
+ In this case, the output was:
+ </p>
+<pre>
+flashrom v0.9.7-r1854 on Linux 3.8.13-bone47 (armv7l)
+flashrom is free software, get the source code at http://www.flashrom.org
+Calibrating delay loop... OK.
+Found Macronix flash chip &quot;MX25L6405(D)&quot; (8192 kB, SPI) on linux_spi.
+Found Macronix flash chip &quot;MX25L6406E/MX25L6436E&quot; (8192 kB, SPI) on linux_spi.
+Found Macronix flash chip &quot;MX25L6445E/MX25L6473E&quot; (8192 kB, SPI) on linux_spi.
+Multiple flash chip definitions match the detected chip(s): &quot;MX25L6405(D)&quot;, &quot;MX25L6406E/MX25L6436E&quot;, &quot;MX25L6445E/MX25L6473E&quot;
+Please specify which chip definition to use with the -c &lt;chipname&gt; option.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ How to backup factory.rom (change the -c option as neeed, for your flash chip):<br/>
+ # <b>./flashrom -p linux_spi:dev=/dev/spidev1.0,spispeed=512 -r factory.rom</b><br/>
+ # <b>./flashrom -p linux_spi:dev=/dev/spidev1.0,spispeed=512 -r factory1.rom</b><br/>
+ # <b>./flashrom -p linux_spi:dev=/dev/spidev1.0,spispeed=512 -r factory2.rom</b><br/>
+ Note: the <b>-c</b> option is not required in libreboot's patched flashrom, because
+ the redundant flash chip definitions in <i>flashchips.c</i> have been removed.<br/>
+ Now compare the 3 images:<br/>
+ # <b>sha512sum factory*.rom</b><br/>
+ If the hashes match, then just copy one of them (the factory.rom) to a safe place (on a drive connected to another machine, not
+ the BBB). This is useful for reverse engineering work, if there is a desirable behaviour in the original firmware
+ that could be replicated in coreboot and libreboot.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Follow the instructions at <a href="../hcl/gm45_remove_me.html#ich9gen">../hcl/gm45_remove_me.html#ich9gen</a>
+ to change the MAC address inside the libreboot ROM image, before flashing it.
+ Although there is a default MAC address inside the ROM image, this is not what you want. <b>Make sure
+ to always change the MAC address to one that is correct for your system.</b>
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Now flash it:<br/>
+ # <b>./flashrom -p linux_spi:dev=/dev/spidev1.0,spispeed=512 -w path/to/libreboot/rom/image.rom -V</b>
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <img src="images/x200/disassembly/0015.jpg" alt="" />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ You might see errors, but if it says <b>Verifying flash... VERIFIED</b> at the end, then it's flashed and should boot.
+ If you see errors, try again (and again, and again); the message <b>Chip content is identical to the requested image</b>
+ is also an indication of a successful installation.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Example output from running the command (see above):
+ </p>
+<pre>
+flashrom v0.9.7-r1854 on Linux 3.8.13-bone47 (armv7l)
+flashrom is free software, get the source code at http://www.flashrom.org
+Calibrating delay loop... OK.
+Found Macronix flash chip &quot;MX25L6405(D)&quot; (8192 kB, SPI) on linux_spi.
+Reading old flash chip contents... done.
+Erasing and writing flash chip... FAILED at 0x00001000! Expected=0xff, Found=0x00, failed byte count from 0x00000000-0x0000ffff: 0xd716
+ERASE FAILED!
+Reading current flash chip contents... done. Looking for another erase function.
+Erase/write done.
+Verifying flash... VERIFIED.
+</pre>
+
+ <p>
+ <a href="#pagetop">Back to top of page.</a>
+ </p>
+
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="section photos" id="paste">
+
+ <h1>Thermal paste (IMPORTANT)</h1>
+
+ <p>
+ Because part of this procedure involved removing the heatsink, you will need to apply new paste.
+ Arctic Silver 5 is ok. You will also need isopropyl alcohol and an anti-static cloth to clean with.
+ </p>
+
+ <p>
+ When re-installing the heatsink, you must first clean off all old paste with the alcohol/cloth.
+ Then apply new paste. AS5 is also much better than the default paste used on these machines.
+ </p>
+
+ <p>
+ <img src="images/t400/paste.jpg" alt="" />
+ </p>
+
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="section">
+
+ <h1 id="wifi">Wifi</h1>
+
+ <p>
+ The T500 typically comes with an Intel wifi chipset, which does not
+ work without proprietary software. For a list of wifi chipsets that
+ work without proprietary software, see
+ <a href="../hcl/index.html#recommended_wifi">../hcl/index.html#recommended_wifi</a>.
+ </p>
+
+ <p>
+ Some T500 laptops might come with an Atheros chipset, but this is 802.11g only.
+ </p>
+
+ <p>
+ It is recommended that you install a new wifi chipset. This can only
+ be done after installing libreboot, because the original firmware has
+ a whitelist of approved chips, and it will refuse to boot if you
+ use an 'unauthorized' wifi card.
+ </p>
+
+ <p>
+ The following photos show an Atheros AR5B95 being installed, to
+ replace the Intel chip that this T500 came with:<br/>
+ <img src="images/t400/0012.jpg" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/t400/ar5b95.jpg" alt="" />
+ </p>
+
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="section">
+
+ <h1 id="wwan">WWAN</h1>
+ <p>
+ If you have a WWAN/3G card and/or sim card reader, remove them permanently.
+ The WWAN-3G card has DMA, and proprietary firmware inside; the technology is
+ identical to what is used in mobile phones, so it can also track your movements.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Not to be confused with wifi (wifi is fine).
+ </p>
+
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="section photos">
+
+ <h1 id="memory">Memory</h1>
+
+ <p>
+ You need DDR3 SODIMM PC3-8500 RAM installed, in matching pairs
+ (speed/size). Non-matching pairs won't work. You can also install a
+ single module (meaning, one of the slots will be empty) in slot 0.
+ </p>
+
+ <p>
+ The following photo shows 8GiB (2x4GiB) of RAM installed:<br/>
+ <img src="images/t400/memory.jpg" alt="" />
+ </p>
+
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="section photos">
+
+ <h2>
+ Boot it!
+ </h2>
+ <p>
+ You should see something like this:
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <img src="images/t500/0062.jpg" alt="" />
+ </p>
+
+ <p>
+ Now <a href="../gnulinux/index.html">install GNU/Linux</a>.
+ </p>
+
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="section">
+
+ <p>
+ Copyright &copy; 2015 Francis Rowe &lt;info@gluglug.org.uk&gt;<br/>
+ This document is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International Public License and all future versions.
+ A copy of the license can be found at <a href="../license.txt">../license.txt</a>.
+ </p>
+
+ <p>
+ This document is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See <a href="../license.txt">../license.txt</a> for more information.
+ </p>
+
+ </div>
+
+</body>
+</html>