Because this software predates modern UEFI booting, preparation is critical.
IBM/Lenovo ThinkPad Hardware Maintenance Diskette (HMD) Version 1.76
To use version 1.76 or similar versions, you generally need to create a bootable medium:
A high-quality HMD image ensures the boot sector is intact. This prevents "bricking" the EEPROM during the writing process. Supported Models
: The tool was originally distributed as a floppy disk image but can now be converted to a bootable USB drive . Lenovo recommends using the smallest capacity USB drive available for maximum compatibility.