[ltp] BIOS password prob.

[Brad Langhorst]

try calling tech support
I seem to remember something totally non intuitive about changing the bios 
security. 
Unfortunately, I can't remember what it was.

brad 
On Sunday 08 April 2001 11:49 am, you wrote:
> I'm running Debian on an A21p and, generally, it's great. Yesterday I
> upgraded from Debian Stable to Testing and now have *major* problems.
> Somewhere along the line a new kernel was installed and
> /lib/modules/2.2.17 got messed up and the system won't boot. The only way
> out I can see is to boot from a floppy and fix it - trouble is I disabled
> the floppy as a boot device in the BIOS. I've also set BIOS passwords and
> can't work out how to get back in!
>
> I'm 100% sure I know the passwords (I only use about 6 different ones)
> but I'm not sure where I should give the passwords. When the system boots
> I get the IBM splash screen and 'F1 for BIOS' (or whatever it reads) I
> then get a password prompt that looks like a laptop and a padlock. The
> only password I can get accepted here is my standard password, the screen
> then shows another password prompt (hard disk I think) but as this is the
> same it just 'OKs' and moves on.
>
> If I hit F1 at boot, give the password, I get a BIOS screen and is says
> something like 'BIOS locked only supervisor (administrator?) can change
> settings'. Was that first prompt the place I should have put my password
> or is the another password prompt I just haven't found? Like I said, I'm
> sure I know the passwords but it won't let me into the BIOS with any of
> the others I use. OK, I accept I *may* have invented a new pwd and
> forgotten it (though I'm sure this isn't the case) how then could I get
> in? From IBM tech support I've heard it's an $800 main board replacement
> - I'm hoping this is just a deterent for theives or something.
>
> I'm really at the end of my tether here, I can't afford $800 to fix a
> machine I paid 3500 GBP for two months ago. Any advice will be more than
> gratefully received.
>
> Thanks in advance for any advice you can give.

----- The Linux ThinkPad mailing list -----
The linux-thinkpad mailing list home page is at:
http://www.bm-soft.com/~bm/tp_mailing.html