Lenovo: Difference between revisions

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==Controversies==

===Hardware Lockout for Changes===

Lenovo has, on various occasions and for various models, locked the hardware through BIOS in order to prevent unauthorized parts from being used. This can prevent a user from changing to a better wireless card, or using an aftermaket battery or even a battery for a different model of Lenovo computer. Hacks are available to workaround this limitation on certain models, such as the T430, but Lenovo has never offered an OEM method of removing this lock.

Lenovo has, on various occasions and for various models, locked the hardware through BIOS in order to prevent unauthorized parts from being used.{{CitationNeeded}} This can prevent a user from changing to a better wireless card, or using an aftermaket battery or even a battery for a different model of Lenovo computer. Hacks are available to workaround this limitation on certain models, such as the T430, but Lenovo has never offered an OEM method of removing this lock.{{CitationNeeded}}

=== '''AB 1043: Age verification signals''' '''- California Bill''' ===

==='''AB 1043: Age verification signals''' '''- California Bill'''===

Assembly Bill 1043, known as the '''Digital Age Assurance Act''', was supported by several technology companies, including '''Lenovo, Inc.''', which formally expressed support for the legislation on '''September 10, 2025'''. The bill establishes a framework requiring operating system providers and app stores to implement an '''age-verification signal''' during device or account setup.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-10-13 |title=AB 1043: Age verification signals: software applications and online services |url=https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260ab1043 |access-date=2026-03-10 |website=almatters.digitaldemocracy.org}}</ref>

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In 2020, The Intercept made headlines showing how Chinese manufactures like Lenovo have suppliers accused of forced child labor in Uyghur regions of China.<ref>[https://theintercept.com/2020/08/21/school-laptops-lenovo-chromebooks-china-uyghur/ "Kids may be using laptops made with forced labor this fall"] - theintercept.com - accessed 2025-02-01 ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251205195726/https://theintercept.com/2020/08/21/school-laptops-lenovo-chromebooks-china-uyghur/ Archived])</ref> The company later said it was ending relationships with these suppliers.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/ap-exclusive-us-faces-back-to-school-laptop-shortage/2020/08/22/13281908-e4eb-11ea-82d8-5e55d47e90ca_story.html "U.S. faces back-to-school laptop shortage"] - washingtonpost.com - accessed 2025-02-01 ([http://web.archive.org/web/20230831111126/https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/ap-exclusive-us-faces-back-to-school-laptop-shortage/2020/08/22/13281908-e4eb-11ea-82d8-5e55d47e90ca_story.html Archived])</ref>

===Disabling third-party batteries===

A common issue where third party batteries were working perfectly fine but without being allowlisted they are just got suddenly disabled, and as a result do not charge or function. There is no error messages and the only way to know is to install Vantage software to see non-genuine battery warning. This is critical as perfectly working hardware that is slightly outdated by a couple of years is basically turned into e-waste because of this, and original parts are getting harder to come by with every passing day.

A common issue where third party batteries were working perfectly fine but without being allowlisted they are just got suddenly disabled, and as a result do not charge or function.{{CitationNeeded}} There is no error messages and the only way to know is to install Vantage software to see non-genuine battery warning. {{CitationNeeded}}This is critical as perfectly working hardware that is slightly outdated by a couple of years is basically turned into e-waste because of this, and original parts are getting harder to come by with every passing day.{{CitationNeeded}}

===X1 Carbon series problems===

The '''X1 Carbon series''' of laptops exhibits hardware durability issues and will fail to '''POST''' (Power-On Self-Test) if their '''WWAN Broadband card''' is replaced with one that is not included in Lenovo's vendor whitelist.

The '''X1 Carbon series''' of laptops exhibits hardware durability issues and will fail to '''POST''' (Power-On Self-Test) if their '''WWAN Broadband card''' is replaced with one that is not included in Lenovo's vendor whitelist.{{CitationNeeded}}<!-- READ THIS!!!

citations for this section:

https://www.bios-mods.com/forum/Thread-GUIDE-Removing-Wi-Fi-WWAN-whitelist-on-Lenovo-Insyde-BIOS

https://notthebe.ee/blog/removing-the-wifi-whitelist/

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/62059163/getting-around-the-lenovo-bios-whitelist

- Left4Code -->

===Wording in their FAQs; "Is it safe to buy a used laptop or computer?"===

@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 ==Controversies==
 ===Hardware Lockout for Changes===
-Lenovo has, on various occasions and for various models, locked the hardware through BIOS in order to prevent unauthorized parts from being used. This can prevent a user from changing to a better wireless card, or using an aftermaket battery or even a battery for a different model of Lenovo computer. Hacks are available to workaround this limitation on certain models, such as the T430, but Lenovo has never offered an OEM method of removing this lock.
+Lenovo has, on various occasions and for various models, locked the hardware through BIOS in order to prevent unauthorized parts from being used.{{CitationNeeded}} This can prevent a user from changing to a better wireless card, or using an aftermaket battery or even a battery for a different model of Lenovo computer. Hacks are available to workaround this limitation on certain models, such as the T430, but Lenovo has never offered an OEM method of removing this lock.{{CitationNeeded}}
-=== '''AB 1043: Age verification signals'''  '''- California Bill''' ===
+==='''AB 1043: Age verification signals'''  '''- California Bill'''===
 Assembly Bill 1043, known as the '''Digital Age Assurance Act''', was supported by several technology companies, including '''Lenovo, Inc.''', which formally expressed support for the legislation on '''September 10, 2025'''. The bill establishes a framework requiring operating system providers and app stores to implement an '''age-verification signal''' during device or account setup.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-10-13 |title=AB 1043: Age verification signals: software applications and online services |url=https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260ab1043 |access-date=2026-03-10 |website=almatters.digitaldemocracy.org}}</ref>
@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
 In 2020, The Intercept made headlines showing how Chinese manufactures like Lenovo have suppliers accused of forced child labor in Uyghur regions of China.<ref>[https://theintercept.com/2020/08/21/school-laptops-lenovo-chromebooks-china-uyghur/ "Kids may be using laptops made with forced labor this fall"] - theintercept.com - accessed 2025-02-01 ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251205195726/https://theintercept.com/2020/08/21/school-laptops-lenovo-chromebooks-china-uyghur/ Archived])</ref> The company later said it was ending relationships with these suppliers.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/ap-exclusive-us-faces-back-to-school-laptop-shortage/2020/08/22/13281908-e4eb-11ea-82d8-5e55d47e90ca_story.html "U.S. faces back-to-school laptop shortage"] - washingtonpost.com - accessed 2025-02-01 ([http://web.archive.org/web/20230831111126/https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/ap-exclusive-us-faces-back-to-school-laptop-shortage/2020/08/22/13281908-e4eb-11ea-82d8-5e55d47e90ca_story.html Archived])</ref>
 ===Disabling third-party batteries===
-A common issue where third party batteries were working perfectly fine but without being allowlisted they are just got suddenly disabled, and as a result do not charge or function. There is no error messages and the only way to know is to install Vantage software to see non-genuine battery warning. This is critical as perfectly working hardware that is slightly outdated by a couple of years is basically turned into e-waste because of this, and original parts are getting harder to come by with every passing day.
+A common issue where third party batteries were working perfectly fine but without being allowlisted they are just got suddenly disabled, and as a result do not charge or function.{{CitationNeeded}} There is no error messages and the only way to know is to install Vantage software to see non-genuine battery warning. {{CitationNeeded}}This is critical as perfectly working hardware that is slightly outdated by a couple of years is basically turned into e-waste because of this, and original parts are getting harder to come by with every passing day.{{CitationNeeded}}
 ===X1 Carbon series problems===
-The '''X1 Carbon series''' of laptops exhibits hardware durability issues and will fail to '''POST''' (Power-On Self-Test) if their '''WWAN Broadband card''' is replaced with one that is not included in Lenovo's vendor whitelist.
+The '''X1 Carbon series''' of laptops exhibits hardware durability issues and will fail to '''POST''' (Power-On Self-Test) if their '''WWAN Broadband card''' is replaced with one that is not included in Lenovo's vendor whitelist.{{CitationNeeded}}<!-- READ THIS!!!
+citations for this section:
+https://www.bios-mods.com/forum/Thread-GUIDE-Removing-Wi-Fi-WWAN-whitelist-on-Lenovo-Insyde-BIOS
+https://notthebe.ee/blog/removing-the-wifi-whitelist/
+https://stackoverflow.com/questions/62059163/getting-around-the-lenovo-bios-whitelist
+- Left4Code -->
 {{Main|Lenovo X1 Carbon}}
 ===Wording in their FAQs; "Is it safe to buy a used laptop or computer?"===