Information and Software for the ThinkPad T40 / T41 / T42
System Types: 2373, 2374, 2375, 2376, 2378, 2379, 2668, 2669, 2678, 2679, 2686, 2687
The ThinkPads T40 / 41 / 42 are all closely related and parts can (for the most part) be seamlessly transferred between the different models assuming the screen size is the same, this is even indicated how Lenovo later merged the Hardware Maintenance Manual into a single one for all of the systems. The T40 was launched in 2003 and the other models followed, to when the T43 was ultimately released in 2005 (which had more differences than the aforementioned other three and does not use their BIOSes, but otherwise still borrowed a lot).
In 2004, the ThinkPad T42 was the first product to introduce a biometric fingerprint scanner; something that's taken for granted on laptops today. The ThinkPad T41 was the first to feature automatic hard disk parking via the IBM Active Protection System (although a feature that's obsolete with today's flash storage, and wasn't available under OS/2).
Manuals
--> T40 / 41 /42 Hardware Maintenance Manual
--> T40 Hardware Announcement (ATI models)
--> T41 Hardware Announcement (ATI models)
--> T42 Hardware Announcement (ATI models)
Software and Drivers
--> T40 / 41 / 42 modified TTAV BIOS
Removes the '1802' error message from the BIOS and adds SLIC tables. !!! WARNING: when you boot into the Phoenix Phlash16 utility, it will complain of an undefined error near the end and claim you need to insert the crisis diskette. You do not, it's a false positive. Simply restart the ThinkPad and it will boot up fine with the new modified BIOS. There is a 'soft' fix for the 1802 message on a T40/41/42 but this permanently fixes it even when the CMOS battery goes dead among other advantages; so this new BIOS really makes that fix obsolete.
OS/2 Support
OS/2 support was still advertised for the T4x series (and IBM tried to ramp down its presence finally when the T43 came to the scene), here are the listings as extracted from the Hardware Announcements:
The following operating systems support the ThinkPad T40 computer:
OS/2 Warp Convenience Package 2 V4.52 MCP2: XR_4502 16 with FixPak XR_F001, or later 16 , and XR_D003, or later
OS/2 Warp Convenience Package 1 V4.51 MCP1: XR_4501 with FixPak XR_C002, or later, and XR_D003, or later
OS/2 Warp Convenience Package 2 V4.52 Refresh MCP2 Refresh: XR_4503
OS/2 Warp V4.0 (with limitations)
*P4_FIX.ZIP is also available for those customers who install OS/2 Warp Convenience Package 2 for the first time.
The following operating systems support the ThinkPad T41 computer:
OS/2 Warp Convenience Package 2 V4.52 Refresh MCP2 Refresh: XR_4503 with FixPak XR_C003, or later, and XR_D003, or later
OS/2 Warp Convenience Package 1 V4.51 MCP1: XR_4501 with FixPak XR_C003, or later, and XR_D003, or later
OS/2 Warp Convenience Package 2 V4.52 MCP2: XR_4502 with FixPak XR_C003, or later, and XR_D003, or later
OS/2 Warp V4.0 (with limitations)
The following operating systems support the ThinkPad T42 computer:
OS/2 Warp Convenience Package 2 V4.52 MCP2 Refresh: XR_4503 with FixPak XR_C004, or later, and XR_D003, or later
OS/2 Warp Convenience Package 1 V4.51 MCP1: XR_4501 with FixPak XR_C004, or later, and XR_D003, or later
OS/2 Warp Convenience Package 2 V4.52 MCP2: XR_4502 with FixPak XR_C004, or later, and XR_D003, or later
OS/2 Warp V4.0 (with limitations)
As usual, only the ATI models were supported via the SciTech SNAP software, but this is mitigated with ArcaOS as you can now install OS/2 on an Intel-based laptop with usage of the generic Panorama driver. You do however lose hardware acceleration.
GPU Desoldering Issue
The T40 and T41 don't really suffer from the ATI GPU desoldering issue, so they're a good choice if you want to not have to deal with those issues.
OS/2 Wifi via Intel PRO/Wireless 2915ABG
One of the most usable Wifi adapters for OS/2 currently is the Intel 21915ABG which is supported via the Mutlimac driver. IBM's old webpages seem to infer that it's only supported on the T42+, this of course is false: "The Intel PRO/Wireless 2915ABG Mini-PCI Adapter originally announced in Hardware Announcement 105-371 , dated September 13, 2005, is not supported in ThinkPad X31/X40 and T40/T41 systems." After installing TTAV134's modded BIOS any wireless card will work without issue, assuming it's mini-PCI.
T41 Keyboard Variances
It appears that IBM never had ALPS to create 14.1" keyboards for the T41 for whatever reason. I also noticed there were different models of NMBs for the 14.1" units, under different FRUs. And yes, they do feel different apparently. Finding these keyboards is dramatically more difficult as there aren't many new-old-stock parts anymore and most of the good parts have been bought up--leaving mostly the lesser desired Chicony variants on ebay in other places.
English U.S. (ANSI), 15"
#1 FRU: 93P4780 (manufactured by NMB | Minebea)
#2 FRU: 93P4840 (manufactured by ALPS)
#3 FRU: 13N9893 (manufactured by Chicony)
English U.S. (ANSI) 14.1"
#1 FRU: 08K5044 (manufactured by NMB | Minebea)
#2 FRU: 13N9831 (manufactured by Chicony)
