Thanks you so much for responding, this sounds so confusing. I did ask my
co-worker for the password and she could not remember. She did give one that
she thought it might be but it did not work. I guess a free laptop is
useless. Years and years ago I worked for a computer company that worked on
the IBM laptops for the school districts and I have lost track of the old
tech's that I used to work with, it sure would be nice to track one down.
Thank you for all your info.
Cindy
_____
From: A-1-Computer_Tech
yahoogroups.com
[mailto:A-1-Computer_Techyahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of parisiengarcon
Sent: Saturday, August 26, 2006 4:49 AM
To: A-1-Computer_Techyahoogroups.com
Subject: [A-1-Computer_Tech] Re: Help with IBM Thinkpad!
--- In A-1-Computer_ <mailto:A-1-Computer_Tech%40yahoogroups.com>
Techyahoogroups.com, "CV" <cindysv...> wrote:
>
> Hello again everyone! I have a problem (again). My co-worker at
work
> gave me her old IBM thinkpad 600. She said she had it a long time.
But
> she did not remember the password to get into it! i tried what she
> thought the password was it did not work. It boots up and then has
the
> little "lock" icon requiring a password. Can anyone PLEASE PLEASE
> help me to get past the password and get into the OS? Is there a
> generic password? Why the heck does IBM do this? It makes it
> impossible if you were to lose or forget the password.
>
> Can anyone PLEASE HELP!
>;
> Thank you and God Bless!
> Cindy
>;
Firstly, why have you got to post the message to a number of groups?
If you need to do so, you should cross post in such a way that people
know that you have done so? Yesterday someone on the CHAD Group got
upset because they found out that they had responded to a message
already answered on A1- Computer Tech Group. People, understandably,
get upset when they find out their efforts have been wasted.
As for why the heck did IBM follow similar standards to other
portable computer manufacturers, for security purposes. Doh, if I
had a thinkpad stolen I wouldn't want the felon to be able to use it,
or to be easily able to access the Hard Disk in an other machine.
I have researched your problem on your internet, and found (a) People
that say you cant crack the password, (b) a person that he will for
a fee, plus you will have to pay in addition for repairs to the
machine, (c) the option that you have costly maintenance work carried
and have the chip replaced and the Hard Disk or finally (d) that you
can actually change the supervisors pasword etc if you have another
computer and the technical ability to so.
A......Those that say you can't (or shouldn't) overcome forgotten
passwords:
From the list's FAQ:
http://zurich.
<http://zurich.ai.mit.edu/hypermail/thinkpad/2003-10/0015.html>
ai.mit.edu/hypermail/thinkpad/2003-10/0015.html
#15) Can you help me remove the BIOS/HDD password from this ThinkPad
that I
just bought/inherited/found/was given/stole/other?
Short answer: No.
Long answer: Cracking passwords is a highly charged subject over
which
reasonable people disagree. Threads discussing it can be found
starting at:
<http://zurich.
<http://zurich.ai.mit.edu/hypermail/thinkpad/2002-02/1093.html>
ai.mit.edu/hypermail/thinkpad/2002-02/1093.html>
and
<http://zurich.
<http://zurich.ai.mit.edu/hypermail/thinkpad/2002-02/1130.html>
ai.mit.edu/hypermail/thinkpad/2002-02/1130.html>
B...........Pay for the password and repairs
This site is dedicated to ThinkPadT (TP) owners who find themselves
locked out for whatever reason, they don't know the Power On Password
or Supervisor Password or Hard Disk Password or encounter a BAD CRC1
or CRC2 ERROR displayed on their TP.
TP owners will have subsequently discovered, to their absolute
amazement, that the manufacturer of their beloved TP offers no
economically viable solution. The manufacturer does not have a policy
to help genuine legitimate owners out of this predicament without
paying, in some cases more than the TP is worth, to replace for no
sane or logical reason their perfect and fully functional System
Board!
How much does password recovery cost
Cost depends on which model ThinkPad you have
USD $30 for these 'Category 1' models;
370C, 380Z, 380XD, 560Z, 600, 760EL, 760LD, 770 series, 770E, 770ED
USD $45 for these 'Category 2' models;
240, 240X, 390E, 390X, 570, 600e, 600X, 770Z, A20m, A21e, A21m, A22e,
A22m, A30, A30p, A31, A31p, G40, G41, R30, R31, R32, R40, R51, T20,
T21, T22, T23, T30, T40, T40p, T41, T41p, T42, T42p, TransNote, X20,
X21, X22, X23, X24, X30, X31, X40, X41.
I am currently developing password recovery solutions for ThinkPad
models T43, T43p, R52, T60, T60p and Z60, I will add them to the list
when the work is completed, until then please do NOT purchase a
password recovery for these models.
----------------------------------------------------------
----------
What else will I need to buy
You will need to buy the parts to build the interface, the parts for
the interface are NOT included in your purchase price.
I do NOT sell the parts for the interface, you can easily source
these parts locally or on the net, costs of the parts for the
interface varies from USD $25 to USD $50 depending on where you buy
them.
You will also need;
a fine tipped Soldering Iron and solder.
a small Philips head screw driver
What do I receive after payment
Following receipt of payment, detailed illustrated step by step
instructions will be sent by email to your PayPal registered email
address to enable you to successfully use my Password Recovery and
CRC Repair procedures.
You will also receive a 'Certificate Number' always quote
your 'Certificate Number' in any subsequent email.
http://www.ja. <http://www.ja.axxs.net/unlock/> axxs.net/unlock/
C...............Recovery through servicicing and replacement of the
main board and Hard Drive:
Forgotten Supervisor password
A forgotten Supervisor password will prevent access to the ThinkPad
BIOS setup utility. To regain access, the system will need to be
serviced to have the system board and hard drive replaced. Proof of
purchase is required, and this repair is not covered under the
warranty.
Hard drive password
There are two Hard drive passwords: a user Hard drive password for
the user and a master Hard drive password for the system
administrator. The administrator can use the master password to get
access to the hard drive even if a user has changed the user Hard
drive password. The following is the icon that comes up in the upper
left corner if a Hard disk password is set:
Normal Operation
There are two modes for the Hard drive password: user only and master
+ user. The master + user mode requires two Hard drive passwords; the
system administrator enters both in the same operation and provides
the user Hard drive password to the system user. If either master +
user or user only are set, a the password prompt will appear during
the boot process either the master or the user Hard drive password
will need to be entered before the operating system can be booted.
Forgotten Hard drive password
If the user's Hard drive password has been forgotten, check whether a
master Hard drive password has been set. If it has, it can be used
for access to the hard drive. If no master Hard drive password is
available, or if the administrator forgets the master Hard drive
password, then the hard drive must be replaced. This replacement
process is not covered under the warranty.
Power-on password
A Power-on password protects the system from being powered on by an
unauthorized person. The following is the icon that comes up in the
upper left corner if a Power-on password is set:
Normal Operation
When the Power-on password has been set, a prompt will appear during
the system start up, and the Power-on password must be entered before
an operating system can be booted.
Forgotten Power-on password
If the Power-on password is forgotten and the Supervisor password is
known, simply go into the ThinkPad BIOS setup utility and reset the
Power-on password, otherwise try the following:
Turn off the computer.
Remove the battery pack.
Remove the backup battery.
Turn on the computer and wait until the POST ends. After the POST
ends, the password prompt does not appear. The POP has been removed.
Reinstall the backup battery and the battery pack.
Note: Some ThinkPad systems have the ability to reset the Power-on
passwords in the ThinkPad BIOS setup utility if a Supervisor password
has been set.
http://www-307. <http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?>
ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?
sitestyle=ibm&lndocid=MIGR-59377
D........................Recovery by building an interface and using
another computer
Recovering BIOS passwords
Password recovery procedure for IBM ThinkPads using R24RF08 and
IBMpass
1. Introduction.
As you probably know, IBM ThinkPad uses a small eeprom (ATMEL 24RF08)
to store different OEM issues like serial number, UUID, etc. The
supervisor password (SVP) is stored also into this little chip. So,
anybody should figure that he needs to read the eeprom in order to
find the password string. The first problem is that 24RF08 is not an
ordinary eeprom. The second is that the password is written in a
special scan code. To read properly you need a software (and an
interface) specially designed for this eeprom. This software is
R24RF08 (eeprom reader) and IBMpass (password revealer) available at
www.allservice.ro . Diagrams are included in the reader kit
2. Locating the eeprom. Soldering.
No need to unsolder the 24RF08 eeprom, just solder 3 wires to SDA,
SCL and GND pins of the eeprom. There are two eeprom layouts (see
interface schematics described bellow), orresponding to 8 pin or 14
pin eeproms. Locate the eeprom first according to your model (E.g.
T20-23 and T30 have the eeprom underneath TP, and can be accessed by
removing the RAM modules cover, no need to dismantle the laptop.) and
solder the wires using a soldering iron with a fine tip. Also, you
can use 0.15 -0.20 mm enamel coated wires or similar small diameter
insulated wires. These wires will be connected later to the
interface. Tip: You can use clips to connect the wires or you can
solder on the PCB traces leading to the eeprom pins. Once again, be
careful and double, triple check the soldering if necessary till you
are positively sure you have done the right job.
3. Choose and build the interface.
Since version 2.0, R24RF08 and W24RF08(eeprom writer) are compatible
with a wide range of eeprom programmers. By default, both programs
set the COM port signals to use direct logic level to access I2C bus.
We provide here 2 schematics that are relevant for direct logic
signals and for inverse logic signals (simple-i2cprog.pdf and driven-
i2cprog.pdf). Also, depending of the interface you build, you can
invert the logics for SDA-In, SDA-Out, and SCL COM port signals by
some command line parameters described later in this document. a) The
file simple-i2cprog.pdf contains the schematic diagram of a simple
interface (known as SIPROG)based on 2 zeners and 2 resistors. This is
a classic, easy to build circuit and works with soldered or
unsoldered eeproms. The purpose of the 2 zeners is to convert RS232
levels (+/- 5V) to TTL levels, needed by the eeprom. It uses direct
logic signals to I2C eeprom and is powered by the COM port. However,
this interface works with in-system eeproms but is dependant on COM
port current and eeprom bus impedance. R24RF08 works natively with
this circuit, no need to change the lines signals with command line
parameters. This circuit works pretty well with almost all ThinkPads
series. b) The second interface is described in driven-i2cprog.pdf.
The circuit uses MAX 232 as a RS232 to TTL driver and its main
purpose is to work with soldered eeproms. The advantage of MAX232 is
the TTL outputs that are more reliable and more powerful when work
with soldered, in-system eeproms (dependency free from the COM port
current). Due of the internal inverters of MAX232 the interface
responds to an inverse signal logic level. R24RF08 needs /x, /d, /i
switches to be specified in the command line. What these switches
mean: /x - invert serial clock, also known as SCL; /d - invert serial
data output, also known as SDA-Out; /i - invert serial data input,
also known as SDA-In. All those can be used in any combination to
meet any interface specification.
4. How is it working:
Prepare your technician PC by connecting the interface to the COM1
port (don't connect the wires to eeprom yet). Turn on the ThinkPad
and press F1 to enter BIOS Setup. When you are prompted for the
password and there's no other activity like HDD access or so, connect
the wires (GND first!, SDA, SCL) to the corresponding wires from the
interface (attached before to COM1) and execute R24RF08: