IBM Thinkpad Locked Bios Password

Mr_Norris · Post by **Mr_Norris** » 31 Oct 2007, 11:37

Hi there,

I have the following problem.
A guy at work lost the password for this Parrafin driven laptop.

Its a phoenix bios.

I tried the so called backdoor passwords [PHOENIX, phoenix, BIOS]
And they didn't work.

What happens with this thing, is you switch it on, it posts, then the screen goes black, and a little picture with a lock appears, with the cursor flashing, waiting for a password to be entered.

Ideas?

Synthesis · Post by **Synthesis** » 31 Oct 2007, 12:17

Strip it, Don't know the laptop model so can't tell you where, probably just under the keyboard if the keyboard comes out. Look for the CMOS Battery. Could have like a black plasic covering over it. Disconnect the battery for a few minutes to reset the bios then stick it back in and there you go.

Mr_Norris · Post by **Mr_Norris** » 31 Oct 2007, 12:32

Thats such a mission... and I dont have a screw driver at work

Post by **ryanrich** » 31 Oct 2007, 12:36

I agree with Synthesis, easiest solution.

Same thing happened to me. When I was over in Belgium I had a different laptop, and when I got back to SA I had forgotten my power on password, which wouldn't even have been activated were it not company policy, so I just reset the BIOS by removing the battery.

Synthesis · Post by **Synthesis** » 31 Oct 2007, 12:36

lol, sorry man. It's the only way I've come right. Just pop the keyboard out and if you're lucky it's under there.

Mr_Norris · Post by **Mr_Norris** » 31 Oct 2007, 12:47

Ok thanks for the advice. Ill give it a bash. Can I pop the keyboard open with out taking it apart?

Post by **Cameron_Losco** » 31 Oct 2007, 13:13

Depends on the notebook but from my experience you can with most. You will probably have to remove the panel above the keyboard first though.

Mr_Norris · Post by **Mr_Norris** » 31 Oct 2007, 13:20

Ok got an update. I think I reset the bios.
I took the Main battery out.
And sitting behind it.. is a back up battery!

So I took it out. Did the usual clear Cmos thing [that I know of anyway]
And restarted the machine once I put it back.
Something must have happened, because now it has an IBM thinkpad boot screen.

But after all my work.. it just hangs on that damn screen..

Mr_Norris · Post by **Mr_Norris** » 31 Oct 2007, 13:26

Oh, forgot to mention. Its an old model. T20. P3 700 Mhz. 256 RAM

Synthesis · Post by **Synthesis** » 31 Oct 2007, 13:30

When the IBM screen appears try pressing keys, either TAB, F1-F12 and see which one removes the screen to show your post (text display of the system) to see where exactly it's hanging. Or sorry, if you can still get into the bios check for an option to NOT show a IBM boot screen or to show the post. you should catch my drift.