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How To Remove WiFi Whitelist on Lenovo Thinkpad T440 and T440S
On certain Laptops, the manufacturers add a whitelist for the network card which not only prevents from adding any other network card but also creates issues such as not booting unless the laptop accepts the card. If on Windows, any compatible card can work but on OS X/macOS, only compatible cards can work. And if the card is replaced, due to the whitelist, it will prevent the Laptop to boot.
Two workarounds for this issue.
Method #1
The first method is really easy to follow and has no risk involved. If talking about the downgrading process, the Official BIOS installer will always have an issue if an updated BIOS has been flashed already on the Laptop. The workaround is there.
For this method, you don't need the test clip or the programmer or the modified BIOS.
The BIOS v2.36 has no whitelist and can be flashed in order to install the Broadcom Card without any issues.
1. Download the BIOS
2. Boot to Windows and run the installer. By default, the C drive location will be used.
3. Once completed, it will ask you to update and continue with that. But it will throw an error saying "BIOS image file does not match this system." which is just crap. It's because the new version is write-protected and cannot be downgraded with the official installer. The changelog states "If the UEFI BIOS has been updated to version 2.36 or higher, it is no longer able to roll back to the version before 2.36 for security improvement."
4. Do NOT close the warning message yet.
5. Go to C:\DRIVERS\FLASH\gjuj23us\, this is the location where the flash utility gets extracted if you used the default location.
6. Open Command Promot and run it as Administrator
7. Type
8. The WinFlash64.exe file needs a BIOS file as an argument which is being done with the /sd /file options and it will initiate the flashing (downgrading) without any issue.
Method #2
The second method involves finding a modded BIOS with the whitelist removed and requires
You'll need to get a Bios Dump and submit it to the forum: https://www.bios-mods.com and ask for a whitelist removed BIOS. Once you get the BIOS, erase the EPROM and write the new BIOS and you're all done.
On certain Laptops, the manufacturers add a whitelist for the network card which not only prevents from adding any other network card but also creates issues such as not booting unless the laptop accepts the card. If on Windows, any compatible card can work but on OS X/macOS, only compatible cards can work. And if the card is replaced, due to the whitelist, it will prevent the Laptop to boot.
Two workarounds for this issue.
- Flash a modded BIOS (Whitelist removed).
- Downgrade the BIOS with no whitelist.
Method #1
The first method is really easy to follow and has no risk involved. If talking about the downgrading process, the Official BIOS installer will always have an issue if an updated BIOS has been flashed already on the Laptop. The workaround is there.
For this method, you don't need the test clip or the programmer or the modified BIOS.
The BIOS v2.36 has no whitelist and can be flashed in order to install the Broadcom Card without any issues.
1. Download the BIOS
2. Boot to Windows and run the installer. By default, the C drive location will be used.
3. Once completed, it will ask you to update and continue with that. But it will throw an error saying "BIOS image file does not match this system." which is just crap. It's because the new version is write-protected and cannot be downgraded with the official installer. The changelog states "If the UEFI BIOS has been updated to version 2.36 or higher, it is no longer able to roll back to the version before 2.36 for security improvement."
4. Do NOT close the warning message yet.
5. Go to C:\DRIVERS\FLASH\gjuj23us\, this is the location where the flash utility gets extracted if you used the default location.
6. Open Command Promot and run it as Administrator
7. Type
Code:
C:\DRIVERS\FLASH\gjuj23us\WinFlash64.exe /sd /file C:\DRIVERS\FLASH\gjuj23us\GJET86WW\$01DF000.FL1Method #2
The second method involves finding a modded BIOS with the whitelist removed and requires
- CH341a Flash Programmer
- SOIC8 Test Clip
You'll need to get a Bios Dump and submit it to the forum: https://www.bios-mods.com and ask for a whitelist removed BIOS. Once you get the BIOS, erase the EPROM and write the new BIOS and you're all done.
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