Re: Machine Type And Serial Number Are Invalid
Towanda Tuning
Machine Type and Serial Number are Invalid
Machine type and serial number are two important pieces of information that identify your computer model and warranty status. They are usually printed on a sticker or label on the back or bottom of your computer, or in the BIOS menu. However, sometimes they may become invalid due to various reasons, such as a motherboard replacement, a BIOS update, or a system corruption. In this article, we will explain what causes this problem and how to fix it.
What Causes Machine Type and Serial Number to Become Invalid?
Machine type and serial number are stored in a special memory chip called EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory) on the motherboard. This chip can be accessed and modified by a program called ThinkPad Maintenance Diskette, which is provided by Lenovo for certain models of ThinkPad laptops. The program can also update other information in the EEPROM, such as the system brand ID and the UUID (Universally Unique Identifier).
However, if the motherboard is replaced with a new one, the EEPROM may not have the correct information for your computer. This can cause the BIOS menu to show invalid machine type and serial number, or even prevent the computer from booting up. Similarly, if the BIOS is updated with a wrong version or corrupted by a virus or malware, the EEPROM may be overwritten with incorrect data. This can also result in invalid machine type and serial number.
How to Fix Machine Type and Serial Number?
The solution to this problem depends on the model of your computer and the availability of the ThinkPad Maintenance Diskette program. For some models, such as ThinkCentre and ThinkStation, you can download the program from the Lenovo support site [1] and create a bootable USB drive or diskette with it. Then you can boot your computer from the USB drive or diskette and use the program to update the machine type and serial number in the EEPROM. You can also update the system brand ID and the UUID with the same program.
For other models, such as ThinkPad X380 Yoga, you may need to contact Lenovo customer service or an authorized service provider to get the ThinkPad Maintenance Diskette program. You can also watch this YouTube video [2] for a step-by-step guide on how to use the program to update the machine type and serial number on a ThinkPad laptop.
Conclusion
Machine type and serial number are important identifiers for your computer that help you access warranty service and technical support. If they become invalid due to a motherboard replacement or a BIOS update, you can use the ThinkPad Maintenance Diskette program to correct them in the EEPROM. However, this program may not be available for all models of computers, so you may need to contact Lenovo or an authorized service provider for assistance.
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