[LBo] Fw: Thinkpad problem

[Anita Lewis]

On 05/11/2007 08:53 PM tim wrote:
> =

> Begin forwarded message:
> =

> Date: Fri, 11 May 2007 19:53:03 -0500
> From: tim <lnx4vr at 2fords.net>
> To: qna at linuxbasics.org
> Subject: Thinkpad problem
> =

> =

> I recently bought a cheap old laptop, Ibm 390e, and everything has been
> what I expected, slow, not enough storage, maximum memory is more like
> minimum memory, but it worked.  Last night I booted dsl-n from cd and I
> decided to close the lid to make sure suspend wasn't working (!) and it
> froze.  I did press the fn key and various F keys but eventually
> shutdown manually.  When I rebooted instead of a normal post with
> processor speed, etc, I had a splash screen with Ibm at top right
> corner and a bold Thinkpad lower left.  And telling me to press F1 to
> enter bios utility.  Whether I waited and did not press any keys or
> pressed F1 I was taken to the bios utility.  Then two symbols appeared
> and normally I would at that point press enter, and OK would print and
> then I would be into the utility.  But now enter displays a small x,
> pressing enter again, and then again, displays a hand with a slash
> through it.  I guess it wants a password, but I have not set any
> passwords, and so far have not needed one.  I have been playing with
> several different distros and have had a few lockups, but each time
> turning off and on and back in business.  I did decide to check the
> cmos battery and it was nearly dead.  I have been losing time and
> should have checked sooner.  But replacing it didn't change anything.
> I know long story, but if anyone has any suggestions other than buying
> another I would like to  hear them.

I did find a short article at ibm that said that some aspects of the
bios/cmos can be accessed without the password.  They did not say how to
do that.  I assume you just hit Enter without a password.  I imagine you
already tried that and it didn't work.

I have no experience with this problem and I have never used the
information on this site, but maybe it will help.

http://www.plasma-online.de/index.html?content=3Dhttp%3A//www.plasma-online=
.de/english/help/solutions/bios_password_ibm.html

Specifically is this section.
----
Thinkpad 390/i Series 1700 [2626, 2627]
Thinkpad 390E [2626]
Thinkpad 390X / i 1700 [2624, 2627]
A. Power off the computer.
B. Remove the battery pack and AC Adapter.
C. Remove the backup battery (RTC) for 20 minutes or use a screwdriver
to touch the backup battery (RTC) for 1 second.
D. Put back the backup battery (RTC).
E. Power on the computer and wait until POST ends.
F. Verify that the password prompt does not appear.
----
I looked at the Hardware Maintenance Manual as well:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=3Dlenovo&l=
ndocid=3DDSHY-45WM2V

There is a section on passwords that says there are 3 and 2 of them
cannot be removed.  I don't know how true that is.

Note also in the Plasma site, if you try passwords, you may lock it
after 3 tries.  I guess you bought the laptop used?  Can you contact the
place where you bought it to ask about this?  Perhaps they would know
the passwords.

Also there is a thing listed on Plasma called Key Maker.  It is not free
and I have no idea if it actually works.  Might be a last resort.

Anita

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