RE: Resetting BIOS to factory defaults when you don´t have access to i
- From: dareys <dareys@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 28 Sep 2009 10:29:01 -0700
Gentlemen,
Again, thank you all for the prompt and knowledgeable feedback. Without my
own computer, online time is limited, so I will acknowledge all responses and
provide my own in this single message.
I did set all three BIOS passwords. Power-on, hard disk, and supervisor...
At this point, it looks like if I don´t remember them somehow, the computer
is done for, as is the hard drive because the following remark echos what I
read:
Here is what it says in my R40e manual (which may be different from the OP's
T60P model):
a) If you forget your power-on password then you must take the machine to an
IBM authorised service center to have the password cancelled.
b) If you forget your hard disk password then [..] the hard disk will be
replaced.
c) If you forget your supervisor password then [..] to have the system board
replaced.
Frankly, I will probably still take it to a Lenovo representative, but the
bottom line is that I would rather buy a new one than replace the mother
board, and get a more recent model. If you are going to bite the bullet,
might as well do it right.
In any case, as related to the issue that BIOS protection cannot prevent
anyone with physical access to the machine from removing the hard disk,
installing it elsewhere and then gaining access to your data, I fully agree
with the observation:
If a BIOS password by itself offers so little
protection, why make it such an inconvenience to the owner of resetting it?
I would suggest that the benefit of a BIOS password is marginal but the
penalty of losing it is huge.
Again, thank you all for your help.
Regards,
Jean-Pierre
"dareys" wrote:
Greetings,.
In an attempt to minimize suspected hacking on my box, I configured security
and
password protected the BIOS. I disabled a number of functions such as the
network card, all network functions and password protected all boot devices
and box itself.
In spite of having the passwords simple initially and oh my, written them
down. Yep. My BIOS is now inaccessible. I wrote my initial question a while
back and got the some good feedback.
The recommendations were;
A) Sometimes simply resetting the BIOS by removing the CMOS battery for
about 15 minutes (remove AC power cord first) will do the job.
B) Turn the computer on Without the Battery . This should Kill the password
. Turn computer off. Reinstall the Battery.
C) If Windows boots:
1.) Open a Cmd Prompt Window
2.) Invoke Debug
-o 70 2e
-o 71 ff
-q
*o denotes letter o for octal address, not numeral Zero
In most cases this will mimic the action of moving the BIOS reset
jumper without having to open the PC case.
Windows still booted so I tried A) B), or removing the CMOS battery. C)
sounded risky. Now the machine no longer boots in Windows mode and I get a
message indicating that the machine has been tampered with at boot time.
... And to boot, I still get prompted for a password... All the hardware
documentation I have, indicates that in this case the mother board has to be
replaced. Can anybody corroborate that? It is an Lenovo ThinkPad T60P.
I would appreciate any help you can afford me.
Thank you.
Jean-Pierre
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