Liberating a Thinkpad R61?

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Soon.to.be.Free
Hors ligne
A rejoint: 07/03/2016

I know this doesn't really fit here, but I can't find anywhere better, so...

I know Libreboot doesn't support the Thinkpad R61, but the following lines seem to suggest there is some hope (found at https://libreboot.org/faq.html#intel):

"Before version 6.0 (that is, on systems from 2008/2009 and earlier), the ME can be disabled by setting a couple of values in the SPI flash memory. The ME firmware can then be removed entirely from the flash memory space. libreboot does this on the Intel 4 Series systems that it supports, such as the Libreboot X200 and Libreboot T400."

Knowing that the R61 was released in 2007 with the very first ME-containing chipset (the Intel 965 mobile), it should fall into this category too.

How would one go about actually "setting [the] couple of values in the SPI flash memory"? Does it require device-specific code, or is the ich9deblob script the X200 and T400 use general-use? If the ME can be stripped, will replacing the BIOS with some 'open-source' boot firmware give 100% freedom, or are there still blobs to watch out for?

Sorry about clogging the troll hole with stuff that doesn't really belong- the only Libreboot contact details I can find are developer-specific, and I'm not sure whether they really want to have there mailboxes stuffed with novice's ignorance.

SuperTramp83

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Hors ligne
A rejoint: 10/31/2014

>are there still blobs to watch out for?

You will always have two of them, one for the hard drive and one for the embedded controller. Both of those can bend your system over with incredible ease and totally disastrous consequences if, and I'll repeat and stress, **if** they were programmed to do so, which is basically why I often indulge in overly easy-served puns over RYFM (respects your freedom **maybe**) certifications. :)

>Sorry about clogging the troll hole with stuff that doesn't really belong

AFAIK the only two things that don't belong in the TH are stuff that belong in the non-TH and the teletubbies. Well, those actually don't belong in no place at all, generally speaking, and the author of it all should be in prison, but that's another pair of shoes..

Soon.to.be.Free
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A rejoint: 07/03/2016

>You will always have two of them, one for the hard drive and one for the embedded controller.

What exactly do you mean by (later on) 'incredible ease and disastrous consequences'? Obviously it's not good things- definitely something to check before sticking an HDD in a machine- but apocalyptic non-fiction is always enjoyable, if tinged with schadenfreude.

>RYFM

Which FM- the laptop's, the hard drive's, or the radio's?

>and the teletubbies

But I grew up with them...

In all seriousness, if I weren't so busy being unjustifiably smug about WannaCry immunity and trying not to make other Troll Hole users wanna cry, I'd be developing a (world-first?) TeleTubbies spambot and directing it here. Or at your e-mail address- I presume your spam filter doesn't block all mail mentioning 'TeleTubbies'?

SuperTramp83

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A rejoint: 10/31/2014

>What exactly do you mean by (later on) 'incredible ease and disastrous consequences'?

This dude explains it very well -> http://hemingway.softwarelivre.org/fisl16/high/40t/sala_40t-high-201507111600.ogv

>RYFM

Respects your freedom maybe.. RYF is the cert given by the FSF to hardware that is 'open enough to claim it (might) respects the freedom of its users'. The idea is having hardware that is not backdoored. The precondition obviously being hardware that contains NO blobs at all. Now, the pun is meant to ridicule this situation: giving certs to hardware that contain proprietary blobs for 2 components (the librebooted laptops) while ignoring all along the obvious elephant (2 elephants actually) in the room is something I find quite funny. Surely I am aware of why they (the stuff of the FSF) do it - we don't have better options and they try to encourage companies that advance on a firm ethical ground (helping ethical business is good). Still funny though. :)

>teletubbies

I am sharpening my set of samurai knives. :))

EDIT: forgot to attach the image

JohnTeletubbicornMustDie.jpg
Mangy Dog

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A rejoint: 03/15/2015

Banzaiiee..........!

serveimageBanzai.jpeg
Soon.to.be.Free
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A rejoint: 07/03/2016

>This dude explains it very well

Thank you for the video- although I'll admit being reminded of the 15+ computers in my laptop and how unchangeable they are was not enjoyable. In any case, how does LibreBoot deal with those blobs? Anything it accepts will probably be free enough for me (until things get worse- then I might borrow your samurai sword).

>RYFM

Ah, OK- I though there were overtones of RTFM, hence the above comment. In any case, your point is a good one- the current name is rather misleading, and something like UROYF (unusually respectful of your freedom) would be more accurate.

>I am sharpening my set of samurai knives

This might be a good time to ask any children in the vicinity to leave hurriedly. Kids, don't ask why- you're still to young to learn about proprietary software developers and how we deal with them.

SuperTramp83

I am a translator!

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A rejoint: 10/31/2014

>although I'll admit being reminded of the 15+ computers in my laptop and how unchangeable they are was not enjoyable.

Well, I prefer the terrible truth to the delightful lie. I know..

>how does LibreBoot deal with those blobs?

It doesn't. The blobs are there and they must be fully operational in order for your hardware to be fully operational.

>RTFM

No.. Unless I skip my pill I'm usually a very sweet dude :))

I have a lot of dem samurai knives. I can borrow you a bunch :P

Soon.to.be.Free
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A rejoint: 07/03/2016

>Well, I prefer the terrible truth to the delightful lie.

Indeed, ignorance is bliss. Slowly counting down as the number of separate proprietary sub-computers drops is too, though.

>It doesn't.
>
OK then. It appears acceptance may be the best option for now, then, given that encrypting everything and storing it using somebody else's blobware isn't any better.

>I have a lot of dem samurai knives. I can borrow you a bunch

I might take some, but do you deliver via e-mail? If you do that, I'll pick them up once my RAM finishes downloading.

SuperTramp83

I am a translator!

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A rejoint: 10/31/2014

>I might take some, but do you deliver via e-mail? If you do that, I'll pick them up once my RAM finishes downloading.

Sure thing mate :)

Mangy Dog

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A rejoint: 03/15/2015

Here's not a pocket knife nor a "sudo'' sumo samourai blade, works out the box, don't walk on it though.. ;-)

Avanti tutti !

rateau-de-jardin-en-frene-de-premiere-qualite-1.jpg
SuperTramp83

I am a translator!

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A rejoint: 10/31/2014

Don't forget to download more ram, it's easy (and totally legit)! :P

http://www.downloadmoreram.com/

Soon.to.be.Free
Hors ligne
A rejoint: 07/03/2016

Don't get it from that site- it requires JavaScript, and doesn't give you great improvements anyway. The best RAM I've found so far is here:

https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/54237566/m%3D2048_k%3D1_a%3D1/2952ff9d3d110645c454833d03ebd268

loldier
Hors ligne
A rejoint: 02/17/2016

Dammit! Can't download more RAM as my Noscript plugin prevents me from initiating any nasties even for a good laugh's joke.

Soon.to.be.Free
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A rejoint: 07/03/2016

Do I need to install sumo first? My system says "sudo: sumo: command not found".

Mangy Dog

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A rejoint: 03/15/2015

Very nice RAM Soon.to.be.Free ;-)

More RAM for sale at hight altitude
http://www.balades-naturalistes.fr/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Bouquetin-des-alpes-3.jpg

Do I need to install sumo first? My system says "sudo: sumo: command not found"

I think you may have to compress it first, otherwise it will bloat your system entirely ;-D....

Wazzzzaaaaaaa....
...aiiie !

SuperTramp83

I am a translator!

Hors ligne
A rejoint: 10/31/2014

Those are surely some sexy RAMs. :)