Passwords
As many as three passwords may be needed for any
ThinkPad computer: the power-on password (POP), the
hard-disk password (HDP), and the supervisor password
(SVP).
If any of these passwords has been set, a prompt for it
appears on the screen whenever the computer is turned
on. The computer does not start until the password is
entered.
Exception: If only an SVP is installed, the password
prompt does not appear when the operating
system is booted.
Power-on password:
A power-on password (POP) protects the system from
being powered on by an unauthorized person. The
password must be entered before an operating system can
be booted.
Hard-disk password:
There are two hard-disk passwords (HDPs):
- User HDP—for the user
- Master HDP—for the system administrator, who can use
it to get access to the hard disk even if the user has
changed the user HDP
Note: There are two modes for the HDP: User only and
Master + User. The Master + User mode requires
two HDPs; the system administrator enters both in
the same operation. The system administrator then
provides the user HDP to the system user.
Attention: If the user HDP has been forgotten, check
whether a master HDP has been set. If it has, it can be
used for access to the hard disk drive. If no master HDP is
available, IBM does not provide any services to reset
either the user or the master HDP, or to recover data from
the hard disk drive. The hard disk drive can be replaced
for a scheduled fee.
Supervisor password:
A supervisor password (SVP) protects the system
information stored in the IBM BIOS Setup Utility. The user
must enter the SVP in order to get access to the IBM
BIOS Setup Utility and change the system configuration.
Attention: If the SVP has been forgotten and cannot be
made available to the servicer, there is no service
procedure to reset the password. The system board must
be replaced for a scheduled fee.
How to remove the power-on password:
To remove a POP that you have forgotten, do the
following:
(A) If no SVP has been set:
1. Turn off the computer.
2. Remove the battery pack.
For how to remove the battery pack, see “1010 Battery
pack” on page 67.
3. Remove the backup battery.
For how to remove the backup battery, see “1130
Backup battery” on page 90.
4. Turn on the computer and wait until the POST ends.
After the POST ends, the password prompt does not
appear. The POP has been removed.
5. Reinstall the backup battery and the battery pack.
(B) If an SVP has been set and is known by the servicer:
1. Turn on the computer and watch the lower left of the
screen for a message saying, “To interrupt normal
startup, press the blue Access IBM button.” When that
message appears, press the Access IBM button.
2. Enter the SVP. Double-click Start setup utility.
3. Select Security, using the cursor keys to move down
the menu.
4. Select Password.
5. Select Power-On Password.
6. At the Enter Current Password field, enter the SVP.
7. When the Enter New Password field opens, leave it
blank and press Enter twice.
8. In the Changes have been saved window, press Enter.
9. Press F10; then, in the Setup confirmation window,
select Yes.
How to remove the hard-disk password:
Attention: If User only mode is selected and the user
HDP has been forgotten and cannot be made available to
the servicer, IBM does not provide any services to reset
the user HDPs or to recover data from the hard disk drive.
The hard disk drive can be replaced for a scheduled fee.
To remove a user HDP that has been forgotten, when the
SVP and the master HDP are known, do the following:
1. Turn on the computer and watch the lower left of the
screen for a message saying, “To interrupt normal
startup, press the blue Access IBM button.” When that
message appears, press the Access IBM button.
2. Press F1 while HDP icon is appearing on the screen;
then enter the master HDP.
3. Select Start setup utility. Enter the SVP.
4. Select Security, using the cursor keys to move down
the menu.
5. Select Password.
6. Select Hard-disk x password, where x is the letter of
the hard disk drive. A pop-up window opens.
7. Select Master HDP.
8. Enter the master HDP; then leave the New Password
field blank and press Enter twice.
9. Press F10.
10. Select Yes in the Setup Configuration window.
Both user HDP and master HDP will have been
removed.
