I wanted an NV41, but it was too expensive, so I purchased a T430. I would like to build a NitroPad T430, so if anyone has already done this, please share how you did it.
I would really appreciate it if you could kindly explain how to physically disassemble and remove the sensor, as well as how to install Heads in a simple way.
Until someone who actually knows what they are talking about.
Avoid 1vyrain if you ever intend to flash CoreBoot, which leads to Heads.
You may read these websites:
https://medium.com/@n4ru/the-definitive-t430-modding-guide-3dff3f6a8e2e
Nitrokey may have some on sale…
I did this exact project successfully. You need to buy a CH341a v1.6 programmer with adjustable voltage to 3.3V.
Buy a Nitrokey from them. Get the precompiled binary from the linuxboot/heads GitHub.
Update the T430 original firmware from Windows or a bootable USB stick you can make with the geteltorito tool, before you take the computer apart. This is to get the latest firmware for the embedded controller which cannot be flashed later.
Take the computer completely apart and perform necessary service while you are at it. Flash the binaries (there are two if I remember correctly?) to the flash chips and assemble just enough to test the machine, then assemble fully.
Read up on the Heads wiki and join the Heads Matrix room if you have questions.
When you get into Heads there are an excellent video on YouTube of a guy doing the installation on a X230. Then install Qubes and get familiar with the Heads system.
Good luck!
Where did you find information on which version to upgrade the original firmware to?
If you’re flashing Heads, I’ve done this several times now. All you need is the CH341a programmer and a SOIC8 clip. Just open it up and flash the binaries (which you can download or build). There are plenty of YT videos (I personally recommend Invidious for watching them, if you are okay with occasional service interruptions) on how to disassemble and flash the T430.
I will warn that it is one of the more complicated ones for beginners. Just don’t force anything and you should be good.
If possible, could you please provide more details? I previously installed Skulls on a ThinkPad x230 using a Raspberry Pi. There was a clear and detailed tutorial for installing Skulls, but I can’t find one for Heads. I have downloaded heads-t430-hotp-maximized-v0.2.0-2281-gd9e5087.rom, but I’m not sure what to do next.
Let me ask a few questions to determine what you already know:
flashrom?I feel embarrassed writing this. I know nothing at all, and you might tell me to just stop, but everyone has to start somewhere, so please be understanding.
You will have to disassemble the T430 for this to work, so find an online guide and familiarize yourself with where the 4mb and 8mb BIOS chips are.
When you find them, you can just follow the setup guide from skulls here, and when it says ‘continue’, continue here.
You’ll run it once per chip with the corresponding binaries (you chould have downloaded 4mb and 8mb, so go back and get thise instead if you didn’t). You’ll run this:
sudo flashrom -p linux_spi:dev=/dev/spidev0.0,spispeed=512
It will respond something about a chip. Whatever name it gives, rerun the program like so:
sudo flashrom -p linux_spi:dev=/dev/spidev0.0,spispeed=512 -c <chipname without <> here> -w </path/to/corresponding/4mb/or/8mb/binary/without<>/here>
Repeat last two steps for other chip.
There should be a top and bottom .rom file that is already split for you where you download the file (i guess CircleCI build artefacts linked from GitHub?). Or else you can split it yourself.
Don’t forget to verify the hash.
Then you just flash it exactly like you do with a coreboot binary with your distros version of flashrom or preferrably the fork flashprog built from source.
Regarding the Lenovo stock bios/EC update process, just use the latest downloadable bootable disk you get from Lenovo’s website and move it to a USB stick using geteltorito.
This video contains the step: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQ8k79yNH2A
Here is a comprehensive video on how to flash and setup Heads.
XMachina, Startle5908. Thanks to your answers, I was able to install heads. I really appreciate
Awesome! Good luck with your new system.
I have a T430, someone suggested I should use a bus pirate instead. As described in Dangerous Prototypes,
http://dangerousprototypes.com/blog/
I have been delaying because I felt it would be more reliable to use either a Raspberry Pi or the aforementioned Bus Pirate because I am short of money to buy either.
Also, I am not clear which version of Pi to purchase, or which version of Bus Pirate to purchase. Using a CH341A, with a voltage selector switch, I would have to use an older T480, as the device. I fear the voltage might not be stable when the flash begins.
Which suggests that a Raspberry Pi, from a respected manufacturer (??who be that??) would be a more reliable flashing tool.
Any suggestions? Comments? Thanks for any advice.
I just use a CH341a. Regardless of what some places say, I’ve never had a problem, and I would recommend it for anyone using it for low-volume, simple flashing*. I haven’t used anything else, so I can’t comment.
*It may very well cause damage for medium- or high-volume flashing on a single chip; I don’t know. The most I’ve flashed one is ~10 times. And by ‘simple’, I just mean that there are no advanced capabilities with the CH341a.