except that "sending it back" could cost over $1200 (Canadian) depending on
model.
They will replace the system board, and it's not covered under warranty.
I work at an IBM service centre, and we have had this issue. Some notebooks
can be cleared without this step, if I had the 7 digit model number, and the
serial number, I could tell if this is one.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Eric Lawrence [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2001 12:37 PM
> To: 'leon'; [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: RE: ThinkPad A20 bios question
>
>
> As drastic as it is, such passwords are good theft prevention measure.
> By not allowing the system to boot without a password, even if CMOS
> batteries etc are removed, theft becomes considerably less profitable.
>
> As for brute-forcing the BIOS, this would be somewhat trivial if the
> system would boot and allow you to run code on it. It, however, will
> not. To brute force the password, you'd have to pull the chip and put
> it in a rig that would allow you to interact with it (where you could
> probably just read the string out of it). Such things are
> probably far
> beyond cost-effective.
>
> Unfortunately, your best bet (aside from forcing the guy to
> sit down and
> really think *hard* about what the PW might be) is to send it back.
>
> Sorry for the bad news.
>
> -= Eric Lawrence =-
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: leon [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> Sent: Monday, September 10, 2001 3:36 PM
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: ThinkPad A20 bios question
>
>
> I have run into a client who has set a supervisor (or is a
> supervisor I
> was a little confused by the description) password on the bios of a
> ThinkPad A20. We have contacted IBM and they say the only way to fix
> this issue is to replace the systemboard of the computer. Is this
> true???? That seems super-drastic. Anyone have any better ideas or
> programs that are made to specifically brute force bios (not sure if
> that is possible). The bios version is 1.09 (IWET55WW) I am
> not sure of
> the maker (award, phoenix, etc) because this is all 4th hand
> information.
>
> Anyway anyone with suggestions (not flames, I am not person
> who set the
> bios password and did not write it down) please feel free to respond
> publicly or privately.
>
> Regards,
>
> Leon
>
