diff --git a/x230/README.md b/x230/README.md
index e1351cd..9bd6243 100644
--- a/x230/README.md
+++ b/x230/README.md
@@ -35,10 +35,12 @@ package. This will be tested. The git master
 branch is _not_ meant to be stable. Use it for testing only.
 
 ## Flashing for the first time
-* Especially for the first time, you must flash externally. See below for the details
-for using a Rapberry Pi, for example.
+* Before doing anything, run Linux, install `dmidecode` and run `prepare_before_installation.sh`
+It simply prints valuable system information.
 * Make sure you have RAM that uses 1,5V, not 1,35V. Check the specification of
 your RAM module(s).
+* Especially for the first time, you must flash externally. See below for the details
+for using a Rapberry Pi, for example.
 
 ### before you begin: original update / EC firmware (optional)
 Before flashing coreboot, consider doing one original Lenovo upgrade process
diff --git a/x230/prepare_before_installation.sh b/x230/prepare_before_installation.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..5b398e9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/x230/prepare_before_installation.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0+
+# Copyright (C) 2018, Martin Kepplinger <martink@posteo.de>
+RED='\033[0;31m'
+GREEN='\033[0;32m'
+NC='\033[0m'
+
+set -e
+
+usage()
+{
+	echo "Usage: $0"
+	echo ""
+	echo "please make sure dmidecode is installed"
+}
+
+args=$(getopt -o h -- "$@")
+if [ $? -ne 0 ] ; then
+	usage
+	exit 1
+fi
+
+eval set -- "$args"
+while [ $# -gt 0 ]
+do
+	case "$1" in
+	-h)
+		usage
+		exit 1
+		;;
+	--)
+		shift
+		break
+		;;
+	*)
+		echo "Invalid option: $1"
+		exit 1
+		;;
+	esac
+	shift
+done
+
+hash dmidecode
+
+LAPTOP=$(dmidecode | grep -i x230 | sort -u)
+if [ -z $LAPTOP ] ; then
+	echo "This is no Thinkpad X230. This script is useless then."
+	exit 0
+fi
+
+BIOS_VENDOR=$(dmidecode -t bios | grep Vendor)
+if [[ $BIOS_VENDOR = *"oreboot"* ]] ; then
+	echo "coreboot already intalled. This script is only useful when an original BIOS is installed."
+	exit 0
+fi
+
+dmidecode -s bios-version
+BIOS_VERSION=$(dmidecode -s bios-version | grep -o '[0-9][0-9]')
+if [ "${BIOS_VERSION}" = "72" ] ; then
+	echo "latest original BIOS version installed. Nothing to do."
+elif [ "${BIOS_VERSION}" -gt "60" ] ; then
+	echo "original BIOS is not the latest version, but the EC version is."
+	echo "You may upgrade before installing coreboot if you want."
+else
+	echo -e "The installed original BIOS is very old. ${RED}please upgrade${NC} before installing coreboot."
+fi
+
+echo "Please search for your SODIMM RAM and verify that it uses 1,5 Volts (not 1,35V):"
+dmidecode -t memory | grep Part | grep -v "Not Specified" | sort -u | cut -d':' -f2 | sed 's/ //'
diff --git a/x230/release.sh b/x230/release.sh
index 90c57e1..01a4a16 100755
--- a/x230/release.sh
+++ b/x230/release.sh
@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@ tar -cJf skulls-x230-${version}.tar.xz \
 	util \
 	LICENSE* \
 	prepare_internal_flashing.sh \
+	prepare_before_intallation.sh \
 	flashrom_rpi_bottom_unlock.sh \
 	flashrom_rpi_top_write.sh \
 	sources \