If your X61 does not match the images above then continue on this page

In the Hardware Maintenance manual  scroll down to System Board, follow the instructions in the manual to remove all the other FRUs to gain access to and remove the System Board.

You need to access the pads of the ATMEL 8356908 chip illustrated below.

Note: SCL is the 3rd pin back from right hand the end, SCL pin is marked RED in the photo below.

A different System board, ATMEL 8356908 - no need to butcher the black plastic as it can be easily lifted up out of the way, stick the black plastic back down when you are done.

ATMEL 8356908

The blue object is NOT part of the X60s System Board, was used to prop up the board during scan

I receive many emails asking about the GND connection, in reality it is very simple, you use some kind of a clip so that you don't have to hold it in place, you DON'T HAVE 3 HANDS and there are 3 connections, GND SDA and SCL, so have a clip for GND, then you can use the 2 hands YOU DO HAVE to hold your SDA and SCL probes in place.

Almost any large piece of metal or the screws for the external connectors of any ThinkPad are a good GND connecting point.

Anyway a picture is worth a thousand words

Click here for pictures of GND Connections

Basically you make the System board functional outside of it's case [IF you had to remove the System Board] which includes mounting heat sink and fan on CPU. Basically you make the System board functional outside of it's case [IF you had to remove the System Board] which includes mounting heat sink and fan on CPU. Basically you make the System board functional outside of it's case [IF you had to remove the System Board] which includes mounting heat sink and fan on CPU. Basically you make the System board functional outside of it's case [IF you had to remove the System Board] which includes mounting heat sink and fan on CPU. Basically you make the System board functional outside of it's case [IF you had to remove the System Board] which includes mounting heat sink and fan on CPU. Basically you make the System board functional outside of it's case [IF you had to remove the System Board] which includes mounting heat sink and fan on CPU.

Once you have taken care of the GND connection.

You push the sharp probes onto SCL SDA , this is the reason you need 2 persons, not enough hands to hold the probes and run the software.

This is not easy, you will need to have the Keyboard [and optionally the LCD] plugged into the system board in such a way that none touch any contacts on the system board, use paper as an insulator to keep things from electrically shorting out, later you will need to plug in the AC adaptor and switch ON the TP, then you will need to hold 2 probes in place to the SCL and SDA points on the system board.

See my page on Options for Clips and Probes including making your own probes.

This page ONLY describes how to connect the KeyMaker Interface to the EEPROM.

The instructions on how to Recover or clear a Supervisor password are in The "User's Guides" click here

Assembling your TP - AFTER - you have finished.

Follow the Hardware Maintenance Manual [FRU System Board], very carefully, double check screw type and size for each individual module.  Assemble the TP in the reverse order used to dismantle it.

If you have any questions, email Joe at