Service Forum

[hoot]

IBM T40.

Built the interface 2 years ago using JinA's instructions, but he couldn't get the PW from the bin I sent. I surrendered; the computer beat me.

But today I stumbled on ALLservice, fixed my interface (capacitors ... oops), dumped the eeprom with R24RF08 and checked the result with IBMpass2.0 Lite.

Everything seemed to go well, but the password that came back is strange. Here's a screenshot:




Is that really the password? If it is, how the heck do I type that in?

[victor]

That is the hash of the password because it is encryoted with the TCPA chip. It cannot be retrieved without knowing the algorithm, and even so it is not reversible. You have to generate a library of hashes and compare them to find the password.
The simplier way is to reprogram the eeprom.
To unlock the laptop we have the TCPA unlock service disponible with the eeprom writer, which consist in editing the dump to reset the password (writinig a known hash, reasseting the sums) then reprogramming the eeprom.

The whole service is $55 including the writer license. That's all.

[hoot]

OK, thanks

I'll be contacting you soon for the eeprom writer license and maybe the TCPA unlock service, but first a question:

I have another (unlocked) T40 nearby. Can I dump its eeprom and write it to my locked T40, instead of paying you to modify the locked T40's dump? Or is it possible that TCPA will interfere?

Please don't misunderstand my intentions. I believe you deserve every penny you make, and more, for providing the information and services that you do. I just like to do things myself, if I'm able, instead of paying others to do it for me.

Above all though,

Thanks!

for giving us this great resource.

[victor]

Yes, I understand exactly. Maybe is a good idea to give it up and tell you (and everybody else) how to do it, I guess my effort will be greatly appreciated

To answer your question, just copying a dump from another machine is not a solution, nor even for CRC errors. There could be a lot of differences, even from 2 laptops that are the same machine type. Besides, TCPA chips are tamper sensitive a lot of bad things could happen.

But is clear that if the laptop has the passphrase enabled as in your case, it won't accept normal passwords and the SVP tamper error wil show up (0176-0177).

[hoot]

[victor]

[hootagain]

I'm back, and apparently forgot my password.

But I've sent a pm.