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Retaining serial numbers
This section includes the following descriptions:
v “Restoring the serial number of the system unit”
v “Retaining the UUID”
v “Reading or writing the ECA information” on page 61
Restoring the serial number of the system unit
When the computer was manufactured, the EEPROM on the system board was
loaded with the serial numbers of the system and all major components. These
numbers need to remain the same throughout the life of the computer.
If you replace the system board, you must restore the serial number of the system
unit to its original value.
Before replacing the system board, save the original serial number by doing the
following:
1. Install the ThinkPad Hardware Maintenance Diskette Version 1.73 or later, and
restart the computer.
2. From the main menu, select 1. Set System Identification.
3. Select 2. Read S/N data from EEPROM.
The serial number of each device in your computer is displayed; the serial number
of the system unit is listed as follows:
v 20: Serial number
Write down that number.
Note: The serial number of the system unit is also written on the label attached to
the bottom of the computer.
After you have replaced the system board, restore the serial number by doing the
following:
1. Install the ThinkPad Hardware Maintenance Diskette Version 1.73 or later and
restart the computer.
2. From the main menu, select 1. Set System Identification.
3. Select 1. Add S/N data from EEPROM.
Follow the instructions on the screen.
If the MTM and Product ID numbers differ from each other on the rear label, use
what is shown for the Product ID field. See example below:
MTM on rear label:
TTTT-CTO S/N SSSSSSS
Product ID on rear label:
TTTT-MMM (Use this number when setting Serial Number)
In the example, the Serial Number to be input is ’1STTTTMMMSSSSSSS’.
Retaining the UUID
The Universally Unique Identifier (UUID) is a 128-bit number uniquely assigned to
your computer at production and stored in the EEPROM of your system board.
The algorithm that generates the number is designed to provide unique IDs until
the year A.D. 3400. No two computers in the world have the same number.
ThinkPad T500 and W500 59