ThinkPad T60p

Some ThinkPads were equipped with an ATI GPU for higher graphics performance, especially the SXGA Flexview models and all T60p models. Unfortunately, ThinkPad T60/T60p laptops with an ATI GPU require proprietary VGA blobs (extracted from the stock Lenovo BIOS) for the display to work with Coreboot.

You have three options:

• Install Coreboot with proprietary blobs, using the VGABIOS blob from the Lenovo BIOS.
• Replace the ATI Motherboard with an Intel Motherboard. Not to worry, though; T60 Intel GPU boards go for only $15-30. It's not easy, but as long as you follow the steps, everything will be fine.
• Help reverse engineer the proprietary blob and ATI microcode - This is not as impossible as it sounds, a similar process was done for the Intel GPU of the Libreboot ThinkPads. That said, it does require some advanced skills far beyond that of a layman.

Patching/Installing Coreboot

• T60p Extract VGABIOS - Using Linux, dump the VGABIOS straight from memory.
• T60p Backup Factory BIOS - Back up your current Lenovo BIOS just in case.
  • T60p Extract VGABIOS From Backup (optional) - Alternatively, extract the VGABIOS from a BIOS backup.
• T60p Build Coreboot (With SeaBIOS) - Inject the VGABIOS into Coreboot source code and create your custom ROM, with SeaBIOS.
  • T60p Build Coreboot with GRUB2 (Optional) - If you prefer to use GRUB2 from Libreboot instead of SeaBIOS, follow this method.
• T60p Flash Coreboot - Finally, install Coreboot.
• Phoenix BIOS Crisis Recovery - If your ATI board was bricked and you have no VGABIOS dump, or you accidentally deleted the Lenovo BIOS; use this software recovery method to reconstruct the Lenovo BIOS from scratch.

Replace ATI Motherboard with Intel Motherboard

If you do not want any proprietary blobs on your T60, the only option (at the moment) is to replace motherboard with an Intel board. This is a long process that requires complete disassembly.

It's not easy for beginners, but as long as you take caution and read the guide, it will be ok.

Note: If the Intel motherboard you're replacing your ATI motherboard with has an old version of the BIOS, it may not be compatible with certain components (e.g. a newer wireless card or Core 2 Duo processor), so you may need to flash a newer version of the BIOS to the motherboard while using older components before swapping it out. This older BIOS is likely if your screen does not power on.

Follow the Hardware Maintenence Manual to completely dissassemble your T60.

Lenovo may also offer an online video tutorial showing exactly how to disassemble and reassemble the ThinkPad T60 safely and carefully.

Build Coreboot with the Blob

Next, we must inject this VGABIOS into Coreboot source code (with all proprietary blobs), and build a custom ROM.

We must use Coreboot instead of Libreboot source code, since ATI proprietary microcode is required for GPU acceleration.

Note: Coreboot should not execute the VGA BIOS, the file should only be added. You may need to change the defaults for this.