Service Forum

Magog · Nou Venit Joined: 22 Sep 2008 Posts: 3

I have used search on this site, and tried any number of different things to resolve this, but to no avail. I have a ThinkPad T30 2367-GU2, which is locked with a POP. I was given this laptop from someone who bought the laptop off of Ebay, and discovered that it was locked. I have tried removing BOTH the batteries for over 24 hours, but still it kept the password, and before you ask, I didn't reinstall the batteries before trying to boot up. This does not seem to be a Supervisor password, but rather a POP as the icon that comes up with the password prompt is the one shown on the IBM/Lenovo site. I built the wireharness, and used the r24rf08 and the ibmpass programs, but being as I couldn't get past the POP, it wouldn't read the EEPROM. I have tried numerous things that I have found on other sites, including shorting the password pads on the motherboard, but with no luck. If I have missed something, or done something wrong, please let me know, I would really appreciate the help.

bob · Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 3:00 pm Post subject:

Hi Mr Magog,

I'll be Seamus Harper at your service today.

It is the supervisor password not the POP, since you removed the 3V cell, POP passed away already. POP and SVP share the same icon, POP is stored in CMOS while SVP is in the eeprom.

The only way to find the password is to read the 24rf08 eeprom with R24RF08. If you are unable to do it, then the interface is not working or the software is not properly used. We need some more details to be able to help you.

Regards,

Magog · Nou Venit Joined: 22 Sep 2008 Posts: 3

Thank you for the advice, I will try again with finding the SVP, I was unaware that the icon for the POP, and the SVP were the same. Does the SVP still come up immediately upon power up? It shows the IBM Thinkpad screen (The graphic) then goes immediately to the password screen. The error I got when trying to read the EEPROM was (I believe, as it was a couple of days ago), "The circuit is not found". I will try again, and get back to you with the exact error.

This is the Icon I get:

According to the Lenovo support page the icon for the SVP is

The page I am referring to is here: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-59377

bob · Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 4:12 pm Post subject:

That SVP icon does not apply for T30, I gotta tell you. And neither for the newer ones as far as I know.
I found those descriptions on IBM/Lenovo website to be quite foggy (did I say hillarious?), and they put a lot of missinformation there when it comes to talk about security issues.

I think is very clear that you have a problem with the interface's circuit. If you can post 2-3 pictures, including the COM port's connector, would be fun (fine).

Magog · Nou Venit Joined: 22 Sep 2008 Posts: 3

Thank you, as I was unaware of that. I can try to post some pictures later but, I taped up the harness to reduce the stress on the solder, and to help keep the wires a bit more manageable. Kinda looked like spaghetti until I cleaned it up a bit.