[ltp] Re: Identifying Thinkpads, was * * * WARNING * * * Red Hat 7.1 - seawolf * * * WARNING* * *

[Hans Henrik Moller]

phil@netroedge.com wrote:
[snip]
> Until then, we don't know how to test for Thinkpads.

Hi,
Just my 2c on the identification issue. I've done a tiny bit of
research for asset management purposes. The following works for all
IBM notebooks and desktops I've come across back to but not including
MCA based machines. Haven't any experience at all with other brands.

System Management BIOS equipped PCs should be identifiable by getting
mainboard Manufacturer, Product, Version data using SMBIOS calls. More
info and source code at
http://www.ibm.com/products/surepath/other/smbios.html.

Non-SMBIOS Thinkpads has their type info at real address F000:FFC8
(like 9546X9A for TP760ED). Additionally, location F000:FFB6 can be
checked for a valid IBM serial number (7 chars).

Here's a DOS DEBUG dump from my TP760ED:
F000:FFB0  54 36 30 57 57 20 35 35-38 48 31 31 59 32 4D 58   T60WW 558H11Y2MX
F000:FFC0  39 4B 33 30 30 38 36 39-39 35 34 36 58 39 41 AF   9K3008699546X9A.
F000:FFD0  00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00-00 00 00 00 2D B1 00 F0   ............-...
F000:FFE0  21 00 52 01 00 00 00 00-00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00   !.R.............
F000:FFF0  CD 19 E0 00 F0 31 32 2F-30 39 2F 39 39 00 FC DE   .....12/09/99...

I would like comments from anybody, who can find the above procedure 
not being able to identify a Thinkpad, or mistakenly identifying
some other brand as a Thinkpad.

Best regards,
Hans Henrik Moller


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