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ThinkPad X1 Nano (20UN) bricked

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    ThinkPad X1 Nano (20UN) bricked

    Hi guys,

    while trying to mod my ThinkPad X1 Nano (model 20UN) I got too impatient to hold the wires pressed to the SPI Flash contacts, so I soldered wires to it, but wasn't paying attention when connecting my programmer and, stupidly, swapped VCC and GND. Thus I fried the main SPI Flash, and I only have an incomplete/corrupt dump (u49_incomplete.bin). The secondary SPI flash on the board (W25Q256JVEIQ) seems to hold two redundant copies of the EC firmware (at 0x1000 and 0xc0000) as well as a redundant BIOS copy. I am fairly confident that the secondary Flash dump is correct (dumped 3 times with the same checksum).

    I replaced the main Flash with another of the same type and tried to reconstruct the BIOS region using the image extracted from the BIOS update, however the laptop still won't turn on. The power LED flashes when I plug in the power adapter (meaning the EC firmware is loaded successfully), but when the power button is pressed, there is no visible reaction (no power LED, no fan, no keyboard backlight).

    After hooking a logic analyzer to both SPI Flashes simultaneously, I see that the platform is trying to boot, but seems to fail at some point. This is what happens when power is applied and the power button is pressed:
    • SFDP is read from the secondary Flash (u89.bin)
    • EC FW is read from the secondary Flash at 0x1000
    • SFDP is read from the primary Flash (u49_incomplete.bin)
    • Flash descriptor region is read from the primary Flash (4k at 0x0)
    • Weirdly, the Flash descriptor region is erased and reprogrammed with the exact same data (confirmed by dumping the Flash again afterwards and comparing)
    • No more accesses on either SPI Flash. After a while, if power was applied from battery, the platform turns off. If AC power is connected, the laptop stays on indefinitely.

    Having done some research on the Intel boot process, but realizing I still don't know enough about it, I am turning to the experts as a last resort before giving up and buying a replacement mainboard. From what I can see, it seems that the process doesn't fail because of Boot Guard, because it doesn't even get far enough to validate anything. Nothing is read from the primary Flash apart from the Flash descriptor region, which matches with a BIOS dump of the X1 Nano I found online, so I'm pretty sure this is not the problem.
    I would be very grateful for any help with reviving this laptop.
    Attached Files

    #2
    Re: ThinkPad X1 Nano (20UN) bricked

    X1 Nano Gen 1
    Attached Files


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      #3
      Re: ThinkPad X1 Nano (20UN) bricked

      Thank you for the files. However, even after flashing it, the laptop still doesn't turn on... Any ideas?

      Comment


        #4
        Re: ThinkPad X1 Nano (20UN) bricked

        After replacing the diode between the 3V3 rail and the SPI Flash VCC, the power LED, fan and keyboard backlight turn on but I don't get any display output and the laptop turns off again after a while.

        Comment


          #5
          Re: ThinkPad X1 Nano (20UN) bricked

          Do you have two 32MB bios chips ?


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            #6
            Re: ThinkPad X1 Nano (20UN) bricked

            Yes, I only replaced the primary chip and flashed it with the image you posted. The secondary chip seems to be OK - I uploaded a dump of it in my first post, u89.bin

            Comment


              #7
              Re: ThinkPad X1 Nano (20UN) bricked

              u49_incomplete
              u89 keep the original bios
              This bios is so weird
              Attached Files
              Last edited by hoaca388; 04-28-2022, 09:18 AM.


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              Become a Badcaps supporter
              >>>>> click on this link to donate <<<<<
              Thanks to all supporters.
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                #8
                Re: ThinkPad X1 Nano (20UN) bricked

                Just wanted to let you know I managed to fix the laptop by taking the dump you posted first and replacing the individual ME partitions with the partitions from my secondary chip dump.

                I also reinserted the product key from the Windows registry into the BIOS NVRAM, so automatic activation should work again as well.

                Any idea which role the OA3 ID has regarding Windows activation? Is it tied to the product key?

                Comment


                  #9
                  Re: ThinkPad X1 Nano (20UN) bricked

                  You replace only ME region or all security partitions? ( ACM, IBB, KEY MANIFEST )

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Re: ThinkPad X1 Nano (20UN) bricked

                    Can you share the complete file of the 2 bios chips?


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                    >>>>> click on this link to donate <<<<<
                    Thanks to all supporters.
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                      #11
                      Re: ThinkPad X1 Nano (20UN) bricked

                      Hello,
                      Can you share the complete file of the 2 bios chips u49 and u 89. Thanks a lot in advance

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Re: ThinkPad X1 Nano (20UN) bricked

                        I have run into a similar problem with x1 Nano. I did not do anything with the laptop and it weirdly stopped doing anything. Now, when I connect the power cord the power led blinks and then nothing. Pressing the power button does nothing. Sometimes, the power led comes on and then goes off after few seconds. I am not sure what to do.

                        I am a newbie in flashing, and I don't know where to start. Can someone help please.

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Re: ThinkPad X1 Nano (20UN) bricked

                          Originally posted by duhaash View Post
                          I have run into a similar problem with x1 Nano. I did not do anything with the laptop and it weirdly stopped doing anything. Now, when I connect the power cord the power led blinks and then nothing. Pressing the power button does nothing. Sometimes, the power led comes on and then goes off after few seconds. I am not sure what to do.

                          I am a newbie in flashing, and I don't know where to start. Can someone help please.
                          upload your original bios we help to build it

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Re: ThinkPad X1 Nano (20UN) bricked

                            Thank you so much for replying.

                            I don't have my original bios. Actually, the laptop died on its own and I was not trying to update or flash it. How do I get my original bios?
                            I only have this screenshot of the bios screen with me.

                            How do I flash it to unbrick it? DO I need an eeprom programmer to do it and if yes which one would I need?

                            I am sorry for so may basic questions but I dont know where to start.
                            Attached Files

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Re: ThinkPad X1 Nano (20UN) bricked

                              Thank you so much for replying.

                              I don't have my original bios. Actually, the laptop died on its own and I was not trying to update or flash it. How do I get my original bios?
                              I only have this screenshot of the bios screen with me.

                              How do I flash it to unbrick it? DO I need an eeprom programmer to do it and if yes which one would I need?

                              I am sorry for so may basic questions but I dont know where to start.

                              Comment


                                #16
                                Re: ThinkPad X1 Nano (20UN) bricked

                                Originally posted by duhaash View Post
                                Thank you so much for replying.

                                I don't have my original bios. Actually, the laptop died on its own and I was not trying to update or flash it. How do I get my original bios?
                                I only have this screenshot of the bios screen with me.

                                How do I flash it to unbrick it? DO I need an eeprom programmer to do it and if yes which one would I need?

                                I am sorry for so may basic questions but I dont know where to start.
                                ch341a or svod

                                Comment


                                  #17
                                  Re: ThinkPad X1 Nano (20UN) bricked

                                  Thank you for your prompt response. Really appreciate it.

                                  one more question - Do I need to desolder the chip from the board or use an SOIC8 connector to program it onboard?

                                  Comment


                                    #18
                                    Hello, can someone tell me the number of q263 and q261, I received the laptop without those ICs. Thank you
                                    Attached Files

                                    Comment

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