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How to change Model Type and Serial Number of Thinkpad

If you change a system board on a Thinkpad laptop, chances are you might encounter 2200, 2201 errors.
2200: Machine Type and Serial Number are invalid.

After ~8 hours of searching on Internet, trying different methods, I've finally successfully changed/added Model typle and S/N to my friend's X230.
The laptop had its system board or mother board replaced. The replacement came from ebay with model type & S/N blank.
It was a painfully long process to figure things out. And my windows 10 added a huge hassle to the would-be-easy process. The Internet doesn't have a very straightforward instruction on it. And they are all pretty old.
Basically you need to use a service utility calledThinkPad Hardware Maintenance Diskette (HMD) to make a bootable USB flash drive. It used to be on floppy disk but it can make bootable USB stick too now.

Preparation.

  • Windows 7 (both 32 and 64 should work). Haven't tried windows 8.
  • DO NOT use windows 10, won't work
  • USB flash drive
  • ThinkPad Hardware Maintenance Diskette, the newer the better.
  • Write down the Model Type & S/N from your label on the machine.

Steps.

  1. Download ThinkPad Hardware Maintenance Diskette (HMD). I have 1.83 attached here. You can certainly find other versions on the Internet somewhere.
  2. DO NOT use windows 10!! I've only tried windows 10 & 7, both 64 bit. Windows 7 worked with all my flash drives. But the application will not find your USB stick on windows 10.
  3. Unzip the TP HMD. Use 'usbfmtpw.exe' to make a bootable HMD USB. If it says 'Error: Drive not found to format', then it's very likely it can't run on your OS (Windows 10 for instance). Otherwise, you will see a format window. Make sure it's your flash drive. Don't worry about the size. You can always format it in windows, and the flash drive will turn back to normal.
  4. Boot your Thinkpad with the USB stick you just made. You might need to hit 'F12' to open the boot options to choose it. You will see a blue screen with some descriptions of the tool.
  5. Choose option 1, '1. set S/N.. ' or something like that. I can't remember now, but it's pretty straightforward once you are at this step.
  6. Follow the instructions. It's pretty easy. You will need to input the Model Type and SN together, with '1S' at the beginning. Say, model type 1234CTO, SN 56789AB, you will need to input '1S1234CTO56789AB'. It may vary depending on your machine.
  7. Then simply reboot.
i7tm31us_1.83.7z

Jan 22, 2010 - Does anyone know where I can get a copy of the ThinkPad Hardware Maintenance Diskette version 1.73? I have a T60 laptop that had the. Guys, please, help me. I cannot find LENOVO ThinkPad Hardware Maintenance Diskette Version 1.76 anywere!!!! We are authorized Lenovo service.

Also See for ThinkPad L412
Personal systems reference - 531 pages
Hardware maintenance manual - 167 pages
Product manual - 120 pages
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Retaining serial numbers

v 'Restoring the serial number of the system unit'
v 'Reading or writing the ECA information' on page 77

Restoring the serial number of the system unit

When the computer was manufactured, the EEPROM on the system board was
loaded with the serial numbers of the system and all major components. These
numbers need to remain the same throughout the life of the computer.
If you replace the system board, you must restore the serial number of the system
Before replacing the system board, save the original serial number by doing the
1. Install the LENOVO ThinkPad Hardware Maintenance Diskette Version 1.76 or
2. From the main menu, select 1. Set System Identification.
The serial number of each device in your computer is displayed; the serial number
v 20: Serial number
Note: The serial number of the system unit is also written on the label attached to
After you have replaced the system board, restore the serial number by doing the
1. Install the LENOVO ThinkPad Hardware Maintenance Diskette Version 1.76 or
2. From the main menu, select 1. Set System Identification.
If the MTM and Product ID numbers differ from each other on the rear label, use
what is shown for the Product ID field. See example below:
Product ID on rear label:
In the example, the Serial Number to be input is '1STTTTMMMSSSSSSS'.

Retaining the UUID

The Universally Unique Identifier (UUID) is a 128-bit number uniquely assigned to
your computer at production and stored in the EEPROM of your system board.
ThinkPad SL410, L410, L412, SL510, L510, and L512 Hardware Maintenance Manual
later and restart the computer.
TTTT-CTO S/N SSSSSSS
TTTT-MMM (Use this number when setting Serial Number)
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Also See for Lenovo ThinkPad L412

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Lenovo ThinkPad SL410 Hardware Maintenance Manual284 pages
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