Reset ibm Thinkpad BIOS Password
Reset ibm Thinkpad BIOS Password
An IBM ThinkPad laptop can have three hardware passwords set:
Power-On Password
Hard Disk Password
Supervisor Password
Power-On Password
RT/CMOS RAM has 8 bytes reserved for the power-on password and the check character. The 8 bytes are initialized to hex 00. The microprocessor can access these bytes only during POST. After POST is completed, if a power-on password is installed, the password bytes are locked and cannot be accessed by any program.
During power-on password installation, the password (1 to 7 characters) is stored in the security space.
Installing the password is a function of the built-in system program Easy-Setup. The power-on password does not appear on the screen when it is installed, changed, or removed. After the power-on password has been installed, it can be changed or removed only during POST.
Hard Disk Password
The hard-disk password (HDP) protects the data on your removable hard disk drive from being accessed by unauthorized persons.
Supervisor Password
The supervisor password protects the system information in Easy-Setup from being changed by unauthorized persons.
How to Reset an IBM ThinkPad Power On Password using Software
If you can boot the IBM ThinkPad, KeyMaker will recover the BIOS password.
How to Reset an IBM ThinkPad Power On Password Using Hardware
If you cannot boot the ThinkPad, you will have to reset the IBM ThinkPad password via hardware.
If only the power-on password is set, do the following to remove the power-on password.
Power off the computer
Remove the DIMM cover on the bottom side of the computer.
Short-circuit the two password pads or put a jumper on the contacts to short the circuit.
Under the short-circuit condition, power on the computer and wait until the POST ends. After the POST ends, the password prompt does not appear. The power-on password is removed.
Reinstall the DIMM cover.
If both the power-on password and the supervisor password are set, do the following to remove the passwords:
Power on the computer by pressing and holding F1.
Enter the supervisor password. The Easy-Setup menu appears.
Click on the Password icon.
Click on the Power on icon.
Enter the supervisor password and press the Space bar.
Press Enter twice.
Click on Exit; then click on Restart.
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How do I Reset an Acer BIOS Password?
How do I Reset an Acer BIOS Password?
How do I Reset an Acer BIOS Password?
How do I Reset an Acer BIOS Password?
How do I Reset an Acer BIOS Password?
How do I Reset an Acer BIOS Password?
How do I Reset an Acer BIOS Password?
How do I Reset an Acer BIOS Password?
If you can boot the Acer, you may be able to reset the BIOS password using Acer eSettings Management.
Click the Start button
Click the All Programs menu item
Click the Empowering Technology menu item
Click the Acer eSettings Management menu item
Once inside Acer eSettings Management, click the Security button.
For more information, read the Acer eSettings Management Guide.
Sending Your Computer to Acer to a BIOS Password Reset
Acer refuses to assist customers with BIOS password issues. The only option they will discuss involves sending them your laptop and paying a $100 fee.
Here is a copy of an email from Acer Support:
Thank you for contacting Acer America. I apologize for the delay in responding to your inquiry. In order to have the BIOS or hard disk password removed (This include any biometric security), the notebook will need to come in to our repair depot for password removal. This service is not covered by warranty and unfortunately there is no other recourse to remove a BIOS or HDD password from the notebook. The flat fee for BIOS password removal is $100.00 US dollars plus tax. If it is a BIOS or HDD password and you would like us to service it for you, please contact our telephone technical support line at 1-800-816-2237. Hours of operation are 7am-9pm CST Monday-Friday and 8am-5pm CST Saturday and Sunday, excluding holidays.
Resetting an Acer BIOS Password Using Hardware
If you cannot boot the Acer and don't want to send your computer back to Acer for an unknown amount of time, you can try to reset the BIOS password via hardware.
Forum members have reported that they were able to remove their Acer BIOS passwords by simply opening their notebooks and removing the CMOS batteries for 30 minutes.
Once your BIOS password is removed, you will need to press the key during POST (Power On Self Test) to enter the Acer BIOS setup.
How to Reset a BIOS Password
Introduction to BIOS Passwords
The best method to reset a BIOS password depends on what BIOS the computer has. Common BIOS's include AMI, Award, IBM and Phoenix. Numerous other BIOS's do exist, but these are the most common.
Some BIOS's allow you to require a password be entered before the system will boot. Some BIOS's allow you to require a password to be entered before the BIOS setup may be accessed.
The general categories of solutions to reset a BIOS password are:
Using a Backdoor BIOS Password
Resetting the BIOS Password using Software
Resetting the BIOS Password using Hardware
Vendor Specific Solutions for resetting the BIOS Password
Using a Backdoor BIOS Password
Some BIOS manufacturers implement a backdoor password. The backdoor password is a BIOS password that works, no matter what the user sets the BIOS password to. These passwords are typically used for testing and maintenance. Manufacturers typically change the backdoor BIOS passwords from time to time.
AMI Backdoor BIOS Passwords
Reported AMI backdoor BIOS passwords include A.M.I., AAAMMMIII, AMI?SW , AMI_SW, BIOS, CONDO, HEWITT RAND, LKWPETER, MI, and PASSWORD.
Award Backdoor BIOS Passwords
One reported Award backdoor BIOS password is eight spaces. Other reported Award backdoor BIOS passwords include 01322222, 589589, 589721, 595595, 598598 , ALFAROME, ALLY, ALLy, aLLY, aLLy, aPAf, award, AWARD PW, AWARD SW, AWARD?SW, AWARD_PW, AWARD_SW, AWKWARD, awkward, BIOSTAR, CONCAT, CONDO, Condo, condo, d8on, djonet, HLT, J256, J262, j262, j322, j332, J64, KDD, LKWPETER, Lkwpeter, PINT, pint, SER, SKY_FOX, SYXZ, syxz, TTPTHA, ZAAAADA, ZAAADA, ZBAAACA, and ZJAAADC.
Phoenix Backdoor BIOS Passwords
Reported Phoenix BIOS backdoor passwords include BIOS, CMOS, phoenix, and PHOENIX.
Backdoor BIOS Passwords from Other Manufacturers
Reported BIOS backdoor passwords for other manufacturers include:
| Manufacturer | BIOS Password |
|---|---|
| VOBIS & IBM | merlin |
| Dell | Dell |
| Biostar | Biostar |
| Compaq | Compaq |
| Enox | xo11nE |
| Epox | central |
| Freetech | Posterie |
| IWill | iwill |
| Jetway | spooml |
| Packard Bell | bell9 |
| QDI | QDI |
| Siemens | SKY_FOX |
| SOYO | SY_MB |
| TMC | BIGO |
| Toshiba | Toshiba |
Remember that what you see listed may not be the actual backdoor BIOS password, this BIOS password may simply have the same checksum as the real backdoor BIOS password. For Award BIOS, this checksum is stored at F000:EC60.
Resetting the BIOS Password using Software
Every system must store the BIOS password information somewhere. If you are able to access the machine after it has been booted successfully, you may be able to view the BIOS password. You must know the memory address where the BIOS password is stored, and the format in which the BIOS password is stored. Or, you must have a program that knows these things.
You can write your own program to read the BIOS password from the CMOS memory on a PC by writing the address of the byte of CMOS memory that you wish to read in port 0x370, and then reading the contents of port 0x371.
!BIOS will recover the BIOS password for most common BIOS versions, including IBM, American Megatrends Inc, Award and Phoenix.
CmosPwd will recover the BIOS password for the following BIOS versions:
Resetting the BIOS Password using Hardware
If you cannot access the machine after if has been powered up, it is still possible to get past the BIOS password. The BIOS password is stored in CMOS memory that is maintained while the PC is powered off by a small battery, which is attached to the motherboard. If you remove this battery, all CMOS information (including the BIOS password) will be lost. You will need to re-enter the correct CMOS setup information to use the machine. The machines owner or user will most likely be alarmed when it is discovered that the BIOS password has been deleted.
On some motherboards, the battery is soldered to the motherboard, making it difficult to remove. If this is the case, you have another alternative. Somewhere on the motherboard you should find a jumper that will clear the BIOS password. If you have the motherboard documentation, you will know where that jumper is. If not, the jumper may be labeled on the motherboard. If you are not fortunate enough for either of these to be the case, you may be able to guess which jumper is the correct jumper. This jumper is usually standing alone near the battery. If you cannot locate this jumper, you might short both of the points where the battery connects to the motherboard.
If all else fails, you may have to clear the BIOS password by resetting the RTC (Real Time Clock) IC (Integrated Circuit) on your motherboard.
Many RTC's require an external battery. If your RTC is one of this type, you can clear the BIOS password just by unsocketing the RTC and reseating it.
RTC's which require external batteries include:
- Dallas Semiconductor DS12885S
- TI benchmarq bq3258S
- Motorola MC146818AP
- Hitachi HD146818AP
- Samsung KS82C6818A
Most RTC chips with integrated batteries can be reset to clear the BIOS password by shorting two pins together for a few seconds.
You will see more than one option for some chips due to testing by various people in the field. Remember to remove power from the system before shorting these pins.
RTC Chip Pins Dallas DS1287ATI benchmarq bp3287AMT 3 (N.C.) and 21 (NC/RCL) Chips & Technologies P82C206 12 (GND) and 32 (5V)-or-74 (GND) and 75 (5V) OPTi F82C206 3 and 26 Dallas Semiconductor DS12887A 3 (N.C.) and 21 (RCLR)
You should be able to discover how to reset the BIOS password stored in most RTC (Real Time Clock) chips by reading the manufacturers data sheet for that RTC. Some RTC's, like the Dallas DS1287 and TI benchmarq bq3287mt cannot be cleared. The solution to resetting the BIOS password on systems with those RTC's is to purchase a replacement RTC chip. How inconvenient!
Vendor Specific Solutions for Resetting the BIOS Password
Resetting a Dell BIOS Password
For information on how to recover a Dell BIOS password, please refer to How do I reset Dell BIOS password?
Resetting a Toshiba BIOS Password
KeyDisk will reset the BIOS password on Toshiba laptops.
Older Toshiba laptops can be convinced to boot without their power-on BIOS password by attaching a dongle to the parallel port which crosses a number of the pins. The pin out is:
Pins 1-5-10 2-11 3-17 4-12 6-16 7-13 8-14 9-15
Some Toshiba's can be convinced to bypass the startup BIOS password if you hold down the key while booting the system.
Resetting an IBM ThinkPad BIOS Password
For information on how to recover an IBM Thinkpad BIOS password, please refer to How do I reset an IBM ThinkPad BIOS password?
Resetting an IBM Aptiva BIOS Password
Some IBM Aptiva's can be convinced to bypass the startup BIOS password if you press both mouse buttons repeatedly while booting the system.
Resetting an Acer BIOS Password
For information on how to recover an Acer BIOS password, please refer to How do I reset an Acer BIOS password?
