Lenovo Thinkpad X13 Gen 3 AMD locked bios

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  • fulaphex
    Member
    • Jul 2025
    • 11
    • UK

    #1

    Lenovo Thinkpad X13 Gen 3 AMD locked bios

    hello friends - I have purchased a used Thinkpad X13 Gen 3 AMD variant and only after making the purchase I realised that the BIOS is locked. I have spent a bit of time browsing the forum and from what I understand it's possible the modify the BIOS that is currently on the machine and remove the password from that BIOS. For dumping the BIOS from the laptop I have ordered this ch341a programmer. Below is a photo of the password prompt:
    Click image for larger version  Name:	20250709_180908.jpg Views:	0 Size:	7.69 MB ID:	3678851

    I have taken the cover off the laptop and I found that "serial number" is "GM-0358MB" and "type number" is "21CN-S19U00".
    Click image for larger version  Name:	20250710_010407.jpg Views:	0 Size:	3.06 MB ID:	3678852 Click image for larger version  Name:	20250709_192756.jpg Views:	0 Size:	5.60 MB ID:	3678850

    While I'm waiting for the programmer to arrive I disassembled the computer and tried finding the BIOS chip on the motherboard - but I'm not entirely sure how to do that. My best guess would be that it is the 8 legged chip near the CPU - on the picture below it close to the left mount of the CPU cooler, a little to the right of it.
    Click image for larger version  Name:	20250710_013930.jpg Views:	0 Size:	8.70 MB ID:	3678854
    Attached Files
    Last edited by fulaphex; 07-09-2025, 07:11 PM.
  • fulaphex
    Member
    • Jul 2025
    • 11
    • UK

    #2
    I managed to take a better picture of the chip I suspect to be the BIOS chip:
    Click image for larger version

Name:	20250710_153656.jpg
Views:	55
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ID:	3679309

    I tried looking for that chip online and found this: https://www.digikey.co.uk/en/product...hJBch8Leh_0in8
    According to that spec sheet - it looks like it should be safe to read this with the 3.3V ch341a programmer? I am still waiting for the programmer to arrive - as soon as it does I'll try dumping the contents of that BIOS chip.

    Please do let me know if it looks like I'm about to burn this thing out somehow - it's going to be the first time I'm trying the whole chip programming business.

    Comment

    • m1ch43lzm
      Badcaps Veteran
      • Mar 2019
      • 389
      • Peru

      #3
      W25Q128JW is 1.8V chip, you need an additional 1.8V adapter if using the CH341A, or you can damage the BIOS chip or the motherboard/CPU, as all Ryzen PC/laptops use 1.8V BIOS chips

      The one you linked is W25Q128JV, a different 3.3V chip

      But I think the password is stored on the EC (not on the BIOS chip) like on other ThinkPads
      Attached Files
      Last edited by m1ch43lzm; 07-10-2025, 09:21 AM.

      Comment

      • fulaphex
        Member
        • Jul 2025
        • 11
        • UK

        #4
        I see - thank you for your answer! I guess the BIOS and EC chips could be on the other side of the motherboard? Or do you see something that resembles a BIOS/EC chip on the pictures I linked?

        In the meantime I disassembled the laptop further, took out the motherboard entirely, and found one more chip that could be BIOS/EC on the other side of the motherboard. It is W25Q128JW as well - but I will have the 1.8V converter for the ch341a programmer so I should be able to read both of them. I guess the next step is to read both those chips with the 1.8V reader and post the results?
        Click image for larger version

Name:	20250710_170136.jpg
Views:	43
Size:	5.85 MB
ID:	3679373

        Comment

        • m1ch43lzm
          Badcaps Veteran
          • Mar 2019
          • 389
          • Peru

          #5
          Check here for the schematics and boardview, NM-E422, it's the same as T14s Gen3 AMD
          https://www.badcaps.net/forum/troubl...gen-3a-nm-e422

          The EC (NPCX997) and the system BIOS are on the other side of the board

          You need a special programmer SVOD4 for this, that programmer is expensive, check this thread:
          https://www.badcaps.net/forum/troubl...-svod4-npcx997

          No way to erase password with just the CH341A, best to find a repair shop that will do that service

          Comment

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