T42 - Problem after BIOS Update

[nezam]

HI,
Recently I tried to install updates from IBM using ThinkVantage System Update. One of the udates was related to BIOS.

I tried to install 'BIOS update' , it asked me BIOS supervisor password. I entered the password incorrectly (I had set supervisor password long ago, and did not remember that it has to be 7 character long (unless u r using passphrase utility), and thus tried one of my usual passwords). Anyways, after entering wrong passwords three times, laptop went to black screen with “error 0199 ...press F1 to continue”. After pressing F1, It goes to password prompt, and this time I tried probable combinations of BIOS supervisor password. None of them worked, I was surprised. I knew that it has to be one of the possible passwords, because I use a set of 4-5 passwords everywhere (like most people).
Hitting enter without providing any password leads to BIOS setup, but in user mode. So, I can't change anything.

Pressing ESC during sometime leads to “Rescue and Recovery” mode of IBM, and sometime it boots the windows XP. Which was quite a relief, because I can still work on my comp. but every time I restart my computer, I have to do that.

I have found atlease one guy who has exact same problem, and it started when he tried to install the BIOS update. And he is pretty sure of entering correct supervisor password, but still it did not go through.
http://lists.suse.com/archive/suse-linu ... /3328.html

I can provide only this much information about this problem being genuine. I have heard that detachign CMOS battery works, but I also read on internet that doing this trick with later versions of IBM can render the thinkpad completely useless. It wont even boot. Can anybody please help me in this regard. As such my computer is working so I dont want to take much risk, unless somebody has tried and tested method. I just worry that if at somepoint I have to change RAM/HDD then it might be an obstacle (not sure). Although, I had not set power-on and HDD password, but IBM secretly sets HDD password when supervisor password is set.
So, I cannot use the HDD data if my laptop crashes.

Talked to IBM, they want $700 to replace system board. The problem seems to be with the "BIOS update" that IBM is providing. Can't we make IBM fix the problem without any money. Any help is appreciated. and I think it wud be good idea for you not to install BIOS updates, as it might cause problem.

Thanks,
Nezam
T-42, 1.7 GHz, 60 GB, BIOS 3.14, embedded controller 3.04

[RonS]

There are long shots:

1. Power-down you Thinkpad, unplug it, remove the battery, and hold the power button down for a full minute. This will bleed off any capacitive charge in your system. It's one of the steps to re-start a Thinkpad that won't boot at all, but it's worth a try here.

2. Try updating all three of the BIOS programs found here:
http://www-3.ibm.com/pc/support/site.ws ... 55386#BIOS

[egibbs]

Uh, if he does that he'll lose the CMOS date and time, which will require him to go into BIOS to fix.

If he's SURE (absolutely, positively, no doubt about it) he just has a BIOS password, he would be able to get in to fix it after clearing the CMOS. But if there is a Supervisor password on the machine and he can't remember it, he will be effectively locked out for good at that point.

My advice - remember the BIOS password. It must be something other than what he is trying.

Ed Gibbs

[nezam]

@RonS
Since my laptop is booting, I dont want to take extreme measures right now. I am suspicious of any updates from IBM now. Some people are having trouble after installing RnR, they are locked out of windows. They cannot go beyond windows log on screen because their password wont work.

@egibbs
what do you mean by just a BIOS password ? is this something apart from supervisor password. When i restart my computer, it asks to press F1 to go to setup. Then it shows, window power-on password prompt (comp + lock sign). But I never set up power-on/hard-disk password, so entering blank should work. instead it enters BIOS in user mode i see that I had set only supervisor password. I have tried all possible supervisor passwords at this prompt.

Where does supervisor password reside (in IBM T42). I dont have much technical knowledge, but some of answers i read on net say: CMOS, EEPROM, Security Chip. Do you know which is right for sure?
I found one guy who says that he replaced security chip of his T42 after forgetting the supervisor password, and now its working fine. If I remove backup battery, will that erase supervisor password?

When I talked to IBM personnels, they asked me to clear security chip setting through BIOS (which i cannot in user mode). Which gives a hint that may be its security chip. again, clearing chip through CSS asks supervisor password.

Since I cannot enter BIOS in writable mode, it would be nice if somebody could tell me limitations on my thinkpad: like, can I upgrade, replace RAM/HDD. will my HDD work on other comp. Is it possible to format HDD and install Win XP from scratch. What if I disable CSS now/or uninstall it? and other things that you know of? I will try to not to do these things to avoid getting locked out completely.

Thanks a lot.

[GomJabbar]

Just a reminder. Passwords are case sensitive. Try various combinations. All lower case. All upper case. First letter upper case, remaining letters lower case. Try using no password - just press Enter.

You can get more information on passwords from the IBM Hardware Maintenance Manual, located HERE.

[cws]

Your case may not look like mine but it seems to end at the same situation.

I got my new T42 many months ago, After play with it for a while I found a dead pixel so I send it back to IBM to replace the LCD (it is within 30 days garuntee).

When it come back with new LCD. I also found that the supervisor password has been set. I am very sure that I don't set that password. I never set a BIOS password for any of my machine becase when it was stolen , everyone can reset them (until IBM come with security chip ) .

I call their support and they said that they never set any password -- so who set them? To clear the password is to replace the mainboard. Therefore, I end up with the situation like your.

So what I can do with this machine -- up until now
1. I can replace RAM (remove the old one and replace it with 2x1GB now)
2. I can change hard disk , the old one had a bad sector. I need to buy new hard disk (standard Hitachi TravelStar) to use while send the old one back to IBM
3. I can use my Thinkpad T42 with both Windows XP Pro and FreeBSD without any problem

What I can not do?
1. Change any BIOS setting-- fortunately the default value work fine for me.
2. Upgrade BIOS. The current is RETDHWW (3.13 ) which also seem to work fine.

What I want?
Hope that one day within their guarantee my mainboard may burn out and IBM will replace it for free

[e4services]

I too had the same issue. That exact same steps. I got stuck also and contacted Lenovo and heard the same response. Though it is nice to see someone mention the cost. My support guy, obvious form another country, I did not understand. He said "Eight ninty five", which I originlly took as $8.95, but I see now he meant eight hundred and ninty five. That bits. You would think the warranty would cover such a problem incurred by them, but it is Lenovo now, and why care, they don't have toooooo.

What did you end up doing?