As many as four passwords may be needed for any ThinkPad computer: the power-on password, the hard-drive password, and the supervisor password. This document explains what to do if one of these passwords is lost or forgotten.
Welcome to BleepingComputer, a free community where people like yourself come together to discuss and learn how to use their computers. Using the site is easy and fun. As a guest, you can browse and view the various discussions in the forums, but can not create a new topic or reply to an existing one unless you are logged in. Other benefits of registering an account are subscribing to topics and forums, creating a blog, and having no ads shown anywhere on the site.or read our to learn how to use this site. I have a LenovoT440s laptop that has a locked Bios since there is a password I do not know.
This model also has an internal battery as well as the traditional battery which you could turnoff if you had access to the Bios. I tried to see if I could boot the computer use a flash drive with Rufus, but it just booted straight to Windows. The computer boots normally to windows 10 w/o any problems. I tried CMOS-De-Animator which is software to unlock Bios via resetting Bios back to default state.
It generated a CMOS checksum error but the bios was still locked. I do not feel comfortable opening & taking the laptop apart, especially since I can't turn the internal battery off.I assume that using debug info from command prompt inside windows 10 ( info from a prior post ) would also generate a CMOS checksum error & would not work. However, i may try this anyway.Does anyone have any other ideas. I just purchased this laptop on Ebay & can return it or get partial credit if I was able to unlocking and get access to the Bios.Lastly, has anyone paid a commercial computer place or a person to do this so I would have an idea of cost.Thanks,AlEdited by britechguy, 30 November 2018 - 01:13 PM.Moved to Internal Hardware on 11/30/18.
Thought I'd done so earlier. This topic is in no way OS dependent, as BIOS or UEFI are firmware and come into play long before the OS even begins to load. On the BIOS issues, you have 2 problems.Unknown password for a locked-out BIOS.Here is an article that includes manufacturer backdoor passwords.How to Bypass or Remove a BIOS Password 12/4/2007Since it’s dated 2007, you might want to research the manufacturer backdoor password for your unit.Then there’s the CMOS checksum error. Here is an article addressing that issue.Fix CMOS Checksum Error on Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista, XP Sep. 04, 2018It’s a good read but it appears to me you need to get into the BIOS.You might find this article interestingHow do I clear a laptop BIOS or CMOS password?
1/24/18My opinion:On the cost of having a computer place fix it, I suggest you bring the laptop to a place you have in mind, show them your issue and get an estimate on how much it will cost. Personally, I’m not comfortable with 2 BIOS problems such as you have.- You could contact the vendor again but I don’t see why it’s your job to unlock the BIOS.- In their defense they might not have known about those issues but they are still responsible for selling a product with such a defect.Last but not least, if you are going to try something yourself, always be aware of the possibility of bricking the computer as JohnC21 has mentioned. Just or clarification. I only have 1 problem - the Bios is locked with a password I do not know. The 'CMOS checksum error was generated on purpose by the software I used to try & reset the bios to default w/o a password.
However, It did not work. Normally, there is no error going to the Bios.
When entering the bios i can push enter and see the bios settings in read only mode - which is the norm.Any other suggestions would be appreciated, but I am leaning toward returning the laptop.Thanks again,Al. The only other options I've seen involve opening the computer and either shorting out the SCL & SDA pins on EEPROM chip or using an 'eeprom reader' to get a copy / dump of bios and a send this info to a site that can ' fix ' the bios so it boots with their password. I was hoping there was another way since I did not feel comfortable opening the laptop with the internal battery active since I can't inactivate it in the Bios.By the way, I guess when they replace the motherboard they disconnect the internal battery.
Anyone have any last ideas before I ship the laptop back?Thanks,AlEdited by acr123, 20 November 2018 - 02:44 PM. Step 1: Turn off the Lenovo computer and disconnect the power cable. Then, you have to unscrew the bottom of laptop. Step 2: On the side of the palm rest, locate the release button and push it, hold the release button while you will have to lift the palm rest and access to the touchpad cable to disconnect it. Then, you have to remove the keyboard from the laptop compartment and disconnect the keyboard cable in a secure way. Step 3: Find the CMOS battery connected to the motherboard with the white plastic cap.
Simply eject the white plug remove it with your hands or gently pull the plug with a non-conductive tool to detach. Now turn on ThinkPad with power cable. Step 4: Reconnect CMOS battery and assemble the Lenovo ThinkPad as it was.
The BIOS password will be reset to default and you have full access to BIOS. Supervisor Adminstrator password (BIOS password)Reset forgotten supervisor passwordIf you forget your supervisor password, Lenovo cannot reset your password.
You must take your computer to a Lenovo Service Provider to have the system board replaced.Reset forgotten hard disk passwordIf you forget the user hard disk password, or both user and master hard disk passwords, Lenovo cannot reset your passwords or recover data from the hard disk drive. You must take your computer to a Lenovo Service Provider to have the hard disk drive replaced.-Affected Configurations - Lenovo, Idea and Think laptopsAdministrator passwordForgotten Administrator passwordA forgotten Administrator password will prevent access to the BIOS setup utility. To regain access, the system will need to be serviced to have the system board replaced.
Proof of purchase is required, and this repair is not covered under the warranty.
I found a CMOS restart switch then I followed the instructionson page 91 of the:This section provides instructions on how to erase lost or forgottenpasswords, such as a user password.To erase a lost or forgotten password, do the following:. Remove all media from the drives and turn off all attached devicesand the computer. Then, disconnect all power cords from electricaloutlets and disconnect all cables that are connected to the computer. Remove the computer cover.