Thinkpad P53 'Discrete' selected in BIOS

[tuxstevo]

Hi,

I have a Thinkpad P53 that boots but doesn't show anything on the display since selecting 'Discrete' in the Display options in the BIOS.
My intention was to flash the BIOS with a dump from another P53 but the good machine has a Winbond chip and the broken one a Gigadevice chip. Does anybody know if the dumps are interchangeable or, if not, does anyone have a Gigadevice dump I could use or maybe fix my dump? I'm afraid i don't have the serial number as the labels are missing and I cant get the BIOS info up on the screen.
Thanks,

[SMDFlea]

Hi,

I have a Thinkpad P53 that boots but doesn't show anything on the display since selecting 'Discrete' in the Display options in the BIOS.
My intention was to flash the BIOS with a dump from another P53 but the good machine has a Winbond chip and the broken one a Gigadevice chip. Does anybody know if the dumps are interchangeable or, if not, does anyone have a Gigadevice dump I could use or maybe fix my dump? I'm afraid i don't have the serial number as the labels are missing and I cant get the BIOS info up on the screen.
Thanks,

Post a backup of the bios chip contents, even if it is corrupt, and post the laptop serial number as well.

Edit: . i see you posted in another thread https://www.badcaps.net/forum/troubl...57#post3687457 ,do you have it working now ?

[tuxstevo]

Hi,

No I haven't had any joy with this one. The other post was regarding the good machine I was hoping to use to flash this BIOS.
I'm afraid i don't have the serial number as i can't find any labels and can't access the BIOS. I have attached the BIOS dump.

Thanks,

[SMDFlea]

Hi,

No I haven't had any joy with this one. The other post was regarding the good machine I was hoping to use to flash this BIOS.
I'm afraid i don't have the serial number as i can't find any labels and can't access the BIOS. I have attached the BIOS dump.

Thanks,

What you`ve posted is the 1MB USB-C firmware

[tuxstevo]

Thanks for pointing that out. That looked like the most likely candidate for the BIOS but I’ll have to find the right chip. If you know which one it is, that info would be much appreciated.
Thanks,

[tuxstevo]

Hi,

I think this may be the right dump if you could have a look and let me know what you think?
I have also found the label with the serial number, it is PF-2BQB4X

Thanks,

[lertuares]

Thats funny I have the same issue with 2 of these, one started after updating to the latest bios and the other came in that way, no display and resetting CMOS doesnt fix it, not sure what to do, did any dump work for you?

[tuxstevo]

II haven’t got as far as flashing the BIOS yet. I was waiting to see if SMDFlea gets chance to look at my latest dump. If I have any joy, I will post back.

[SMDFlea]

Hi,

I think this may be the right dump if you could have a look and let me know what you think?
I have also found the label with the serial number, it is PF-2BQB4X

Thanks,

Oh dear, it`s the wrong one again, this time it`s the NVIDIA vBios firmware, keep looking you`ll find it eventually.

[SMDFlea]

Thats funny I have the same issue with 2 of these, one started after updating to the latest bios and the other came in that way, no display and resetting CMOS doesnt fix it, not sure what to do, did any dump work for you?

Post your bios backup, serial number (type as text please) and post a picture of the bios chip location

[tuxstevo]

Thank you again, I’ll keep trying….

[tuxstevo]

Hi,

Does this one look any more promising? This was a Winbond chip by the cmos battery.

Thanks,

[tuxstevo]

Actually I'm starting to see a pattern now. I think i am looking for a dump that is 16,384 kb so this isn't the one either

[SMDFlea]

Actually I'm starting to see a pattern now. I think i am looking for a dump that is 16,384 kb so this isn't the one either

No, it`s the thunderbolt firmware.. ,but what you posted so far will help others.

[tuxstevo]

I’m afraid I’m out of ideas with this one. The P53 must store its BIOS somewhere completely different to the other P5* laptops. I’ll have to concede defeat and change the motherboard.
Thanks for your help 🙂

[SMDFlea]

I’m afraid I’m out of ideas with this one. The P53 must store its BIOS somewhere completely different to the other P5* laptops. I’ll have to concede defeat and change the motherboard.
Thanks for your help 🙂

You give up too easy it`s gotta be there, somewhere. What`s the motherboard model number, there might be a boardview that will help locate it. Have you peeled back the black plastic sheets and looked underneath

[tuxstevo]

Hi

Yes I’ve looked under all the plastic. The number on the board is FP530 NM-C262 Rev 1.0.

Thanks,

[SMDFlea]

Hi

Yes I’ve looked under all the plastic. The number on the board is FP530 NM-C262 Rev 1.0.

Thanks,

The chip is at U9 in the boardview/schematic. It`s a WSON8 type chip, if you only have a SOP8 clip it will not fit. You will have to desolder it and put it in or on a WSON adapter board, use a WSON pogo adapter (less reliable) ,or solder wires between the programmer and exposed pads - traces - caps - resistors

[tuxstevo]

That’s great - thanks. I would never have guessed it was that one. I’ll have a go at reading it and come back, although it might take me a couple of days as I don’t think any of the clips I have will fit.