2021-05-18 12:21:48 +00:00
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---
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title: Flashing the ThinkPad R400
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x-toc-enable: true
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2023-04-21 01:09:40 +00:00
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**If you haven't bought an R400 yet: the [Dell Latitude
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E6400](../../news/e6400.md) is much easier to flash; no disassembly required,
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it can be flashed entirely in software from Dell BIOS to Libreboot. It is the
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same hardware generation (GM45), with same CPUs, video processor, etc.**
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2021-05-18 12:21:48 +00:00
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Initial flashing instructions for R400.
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2022-11-14 02:31:12 +00:00
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This guide is for those who want libreboot on their ThinkPad R400 while
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2021-05-18 12:21:48 +00:00
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they still have the original Lenovo BIOS present. This guide can also be
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followed (adapted) if you brick your R400, to know how to recover.
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2022-11-14 02:31:12 +00:00
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Before following this section, please make sure to setup your libreboot
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ROM properly first. Although ROM images are provided pre-built in
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libreboot, there are some modifications that you need to make to the one
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you chose before flashing. (instructions referenced later in this guide)
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Serial port {#serial_port}
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-----------
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EHCI debug might not be needed. It has been reported that the docking
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station for this laptop has a serial port, so it might be possible to
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use that instead.
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A note about CPUs
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=================
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[ThinkWiki](http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Category:R400) has a list of
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CPUs for this system. The Core 2 Duo P8400 and P8600 are believed to
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work in libreboot. The Core 2 Duo T9600 was confirmed to work, so the
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T9400 probably also works. *The Core 2 Duo T5870/5670 and Celeron M
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575/585 are untested!*
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Quad-core CPUs
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--------------
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Incompatible. Do not use.
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A note about GPUs
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=================
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Some models have an Intel GPU, while others have both an ATI and an
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Intel GPU; this is referred to as "Dual Graphics" (previously
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"switchable graphics"). In the *BIOS setup* program for lenovobios,
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you can specify that the system will use one or the other (but not
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both).
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2022-11-14 02:31:12 +00:00
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libreboot is known to work on systems with only the Intel GPU, using
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native graphics initialization. On systems with switchable graphics, the
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Intel GPU is used and the ATI GPU is disabled, so native graphics
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initialization works all the same.
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CPU paste required
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==================
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See [\#paste](#paste).
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Flash chip size {#flashchips}
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===============
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Use this to find out:
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2024-01-27 22:35:38 +00:00
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flashprog -p internal
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NOTE: Libreboot standardises on [flashprog](https://flashprog.org/wiki/Flashprog)
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now, as of 27 January 2024, which is a fork of flashrom.
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MAC address {#macaddress}
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===========
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Refer to [mac\_address.md](../hardware/mac_address.md).
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External flashing
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=================
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Refer to [spi.md](spi.md) as a guide for external re-flashing.
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Disassembly
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-----------
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Remove all screws:\
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\
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Remove the HDD and optical drive:\
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\
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Remove the hinge screws:\
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Remove the palm rest and keyboard:\
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Remove these screws, and then remove the bezel:\
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Remove the speaker screws, but don't remove the speakers yet (just set
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them loose):\
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Remove these screws, and then remove the metal plate:\
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Remove the antennas from the wifi card, and then start unrouting them:\
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Disconnect the LCD cable from the motherboard:\
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Remove the hinge screws, and then remove the LCD panel:\
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Remove this:\
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Remove this long cable (there are 3 connections):\
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Disconnect the speaker cable, and remove the speakers:\
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Remove the heatsink screws, remove the fan and then remove the
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heatsink/fan:\
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Remove the NVRAM battery:\
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Remove this screw:\
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Disconnect the AC jack:\
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Remove this screw and then remove what is under it:\
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Remove this:\
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Lift the motherboard (which is still inside the cage) from the side on
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the right, removing it completely:\
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Remove all screws, marking each hole so that you know where to re-insert
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them. You should place the screws in a layout corresponding to the order
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that they were in before removal: 
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Remove the motherboard from the cage, and the SPI flash chip will be
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next to the memory slots:\
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2022-11-14 02:31:12 +00:00
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Now, you should be ready to install libreboot.
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2021-05-18 12:21:48 +00:00
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Read [this article](spi.md) to learn how you may flash the chip, which is near
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to the RAM.
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Thermal paste (IMPORTANT)
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=========================
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Because part of this procedure involved removing the heatsink, you will
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need to apply new paste. Arctic MX-4 is ok. You will also need isopropyl
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alcohol and an anti-static cloth to clean with.
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When re-installing the heatsink, you must first clean off all old paste
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with the alcohol/cloth. Then apply new paste. Arctic MX-4 is also much
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better than the default paste used on these systems.
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NOTE: the photo above is for illustration purposes only, and does not
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show how to properly apply the thermal paste. Other guides online detail
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the proper application procedure.
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Memory
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======
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In DDR3 machines with Cantiga (GM45/GS45/PM45), northbridge requires sticks
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that will work as PC3-8500 (faster PC3/PC3L sticks can work as PC3-8500).
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Non-matching pairs may not work. Single module (meaning, one of the slots
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will be empty) will currently only work in slot 0.
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NOTE: according to users reports, non matching pairs (e.g. 1+2 GiB) might
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work in some cases.
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Make sure that the RAM you buy is the 2Rx8 configuration when buying 4GiB sticks
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(In other words: maximum of 2GiB per rank, 2 ranks per card).
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[This page](http://www.forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?p=760721) might
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be useful for RAM compatibility info (note: coreboot raminit is
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different, so this page might be BS)
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The following photo shows 8GiB (2x4GiB) of RAM installed:\
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Boot it!
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--------
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You should see something like this:
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2023-04-09 21:57:42 +00:00
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Now [install Linux](../linux/).
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