T23 password or Bios

[sisiphe]

Hello Guy
I was given by my son in law who cannot work anymore , a corporate T23 Thinkpad.
He does not remember his password, but he gave me several; This PC worked correctly before my son in law was ill, and he worked few hours;
The OS is Windows XP pro, and I would like to use Linux Ubuntu
I have replaced the Bios battery. and the fan which have a ball bearing problem
I try some of the password,which ddid not comply. I replace the battery, and I enter the BIOS, but I probably make a mistake, and when I try to boot,, Windows start, but stop, and tell me that an error occur; I was announced error 195 and 196
reBoot with DOS,no failure mode, or older configuration does not work.and I see no sensitive case wher to write the password
there us a 1.44 Mo driver, anc I but a DVS 8x drive; there are also 2 USB port (usb1)
Where I can enter the password I get yo try a boot of Windows; I would like to start the system, formate or replace theHDD , and upload UBUNTU 12.0.4
Is it possible to use an other BIOS ROM if I cannot recover the PIOS password (I don't know if it id the user, rthe administrator or the two which are missng
Thank you for your help

[rkawakami]

Welcome to thinkpads.com!

From your descriptions, it sounds like the T23 has a BIOS (also known as a Supervisor) password. The system also appears to have the Security Chip activated. I am not exactly sure what the current status of your system is in, but here are a few things to know:

- There are actually three different password systems built into the T23: Power-on, Hard Drive and BIOS
- The power-on password prompt would show every time you power up the system. The prompt is a padlock with an image of a computer monitor next to it: It is removed by taking out the BIOS (CMOS) battery for a few seconds with the AC adapter also disconnected. It's the yellow one in the plastic holder under the main battery.
- The hard drive password prompt would show every time you power up the system and looks like this: The only way to remove it is to access the BIOS and disable the hard drive password in the Security menu. In other words, removing the BIOS battery will not disable the hard drive password. Also, the password is stored on the hard drive and if you move the drive to another T23 system, then you will get the hard drive password when booting the system. This is the only password system on the T23 that has two levels: User and Master (Administrator). The Master password can access the hard drive even if the User one has changed. Normally, only the system administrators (the people who know the BIOS password) have this password.
- The BIOS password would normally only be seen when you attempt to access the BIOS (by pressing the F1 key at turn on). On the T23, the password prompt looks the same as the power-on prompt. However, IF there is a BIOS password set AND you have removed the BIOS battery, THEN you will ALWAYS get the BIOS password prompt when you turn the system on. If you don't remember the BIOS password, then there is no way to boot ANY operating system off of ANY drive (hard drive, CD or floppy). And again, removing the BIOS battery will NOT remove the BIOS password. I believe that the BIOS password is NOT case-sensitive.
- Boot errors 195 and 196 have to do with the Security Chip. It is a small module that is plugged into the motherboard on the bottom side. The only way to get to it is to remove the motherboard from the bottom chassis. My guess is that somebody has activated this feature and now perhaps the module has fallen off the motherboard (or become damaged on some way). It is not screwed into the board; it is kept in place only by the plastic connector. Here is a photo were it's located on the board: http://www.rkawakami.net/ibm_t2x/mobo_b ... legend.jpg The security chip plugs into the white connector in grid location I4. The only way to deactivate the Security Chip is through the BIOS menu. Again, if you can't get into the BIOS, then you can't clear the 195/196 errors.

Forum rules say that we cannot discuss any method to bypass the BIOS password system. The only thing that can be suggested is the same as what IBM has published in their documentation and that is to replace the entire motherboard.

ref: http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/detail. ... MIGR-59377 (Lenovo Support: Lost or forgotten password)
ref: http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/product ... IGR-4UYM3F (T23 Hardware Maintenance Manual)

[sisiphe]

Thank you for your quick answer
When I replace le BIOS battery, the old one was completly empty!
Wheen I try to start the note book, I get the begining of Windows XP pro, than it stop before end of start up, and then I gerror 195 and196,;the computer donot show the case wher to type any pass word
Because my son remember several possible passw?ords. How can I trst I go in ey these different pass word; I mean must I go in the bios and where , to try 3 or 4 possible pass words.
You say that , if I don't find a password I must replace the MOBO. I see on ebay, some used mobo to sell at rather good price; but I suppose these mobo have also a bios with pass word; or the pass word have been clear.
Is it possible to replace the BIOS cheapset?
Thank you

[sisiphe]

A little thing more: I can enter the BIOS

[rkawakami]

Apologies. From your first post I thought you were dealing with a BIOS password. If you can get into BIOS, then you should be able to clear the Security Chip errors. Go to Config/IBM Security Chip/Clear IBM Security Chip. According to the BIOS description, that will clear the POST errors 195 and 196.

That should allow you to boot the drive and enter his Windows login password(s). However, if I understand the function of the Security Chip, if somebody has previously activated it, then some information on the drive could have been protected. Clearing the Security Chip will prevent you from accessing that information. If you intend to erase (format) the drive and put another operating system on it and you don't need to recover any files, then you don't even need to remember any password. Simply use any disk formatting utility or just install Ubuntu and tell it to wipe the drive.

[sisiphe]

Hello
frst, I apologize to answer your last post, after so a long time; but I need to travel, and was not able to do anything on my T23.
I tried all you have sugested to do, but nothing works: I found nothing in the bios which can allow me to install an other OS (Ibuntu); le DVD drive is not recognise, and when I put the install disk for Ubuntu, nothing is read on the monitor!

May be, it is because the iriginal drives are a 1.44 Mo diskette, and a CD drive; but, no one works!
When I start up the Think pad, , Windows begin , but stop and nothing else.n or when I press the F2 pad, I get a bos, but it must be a special one, because, nothing usefull. It is a pity, because this pc had worked very few hours:.
I will try again, by disconnecting the bios battery!!!
Thanks

[ajkula66]

Don't disconnect the BIOS battery you might lock yourself out of the system for good.

F1 is used to enter BIOS not F2. Were you referring to F12 - choose a temporary boot device?

[sisiphe]

Sorry; you are right!!! I used the F1 touch!!!
As you where able to read in my first message, the bios battery have been replaced, at the same time I have replace the fan!!!. to do that I have disconnected the battery wich was completly empty !!!
Iam affraid I made a mistake when I try to enter one of the different password I want to test in the bios at the page "pass word!!!
browsing in the net, I read that it is possible to read the Bios memory &nd may be the password if it is not encrypted!!!
Because I dpnot need the files stoched in the HDD, and I would like to use this computer with an other OS, UBUNTU,, I can format the HD, but I have n DVD running OK.
May be I can also format HD with an other computer and a Intranet connexion???? Have you an idea??
Thank you

[posscakes]

You could try installing ubuntu via a usb thumb drive. Make sure the usb port is enabled in the t23 BIOS first though. You need another working computer to put your Ubuntu iso image onto the usb stick. Have a look at this http://community.linuxmint.com/tutorial/view/744 it'll show you how to do this. if you have another linux system i'd personally recommend the instructions 'using the terminal' with the dd command. But theres is more than one way to do this though... So when you got that done you'll want to turn the t23 and hit f12 to choose boot device... good luck.

[sisiphe]

Thank you for this very quick answer!!!
I'll try, but I"m affraid that the USB present on my T23 is USB 1; not sure it works, and enough for Ubuntu. I will test and copy a DVD Ubuntu 32 on a USB ke to test.
The other problem is that I have not a large experience of Ubuntu.

[RealBlackStuff]

Check your new messages at the top of this page.
If you try to read a DVD in a CD-drive, that won't work.
Maybe you need to replace the CD-drive with a DVD-capable drive?

[posscakes]

Check your new messages at the top of this page.
If you try to read a DVD in a CD-drive, that won't work.
Maybe you need to replace the CD-drive with a DVD-capable drive?

Ha! yes of course, i was thinking too theres probably something obvious with the cd drive and that would explain it. Or maybe burn linux onto a cd-r instead of dvd, surely theres a linux iso thats less than 700mb. http://www.debian.org/distrib/netinst is a good one its only 280mb, but you'll need an internet connection to do the install..

[posscakes]

For what its worth I tried booting linux mint via a usb thumb drive on my t23 lastnight without any luck. I did a search and i'm obviously not the first to try and fail at this there's a few threads about it in the forums, but it sounds like a pain to be honest, sorry if i've put you on the wrong track. hopefully better luck with the cd drive!

[sisiphe]

Thank you for your warning
But your post allows me to know about UBUNTU Mint!!!!
On my T23, I have:
1 drive for old 1.44Mo diskette ASM08K9760 MPF82C-1 but no usefull diskette
and 2 DVD drives:
the old one, ASM 27L3446, and
8Xdvd ASM27L4212 I bought (used one)

When I switch on my T23 first I get a fan error, but it disapear after some time (I had replaced the fan!!!which was no more working (noise from ball bearing problem), and a invit F1 for Setup.
the batteries are out, and I use the network with the IBM supply unit

The Bios version is 1.14a (1AET58WW) from2002+
For the password, the actua settings are:
power on: disabled
supervisor: diaabled
Lock bios settings disabled
Hard disk;disables

For start up settings,
boot:
the boot device list option list F12 is enabled
and Flash BIOS Updating by end user is set Disabled

IBM security chip is disabled; IBM security chip Password and encryptin key are clear is clear, and I get POST error 195 and196

Legacy Floppy Drive isnenabled and Superdisk Boot inables.
But I don't know what is the Super Disk!!!
I get also the message unmountainble Boot Volume
For boot Menu I have 1 remvable Devices
2Hard Drive
3 CD'ROM Drive
4 IBA 4.0.22 slot 0240
Have you an idea what to do? may be garbage????
Thanks

[RealBlackStuff]

You have: Flash BIOS Updating by end user is set Disabled
Change that to Enabled.
Then get BIOS 1.20 and ECP 1.06a from Lenovo http://support.lenovo.com/en_AU/researc ... D=HT072383
Get the floppy drive versions.
Then borrow or buy 2 floppies.
Do BIOS first, then ECP.
You will need a working battery + AC adapter for doing this.
If you get the fan error, press Esc, that should get you further.
Installing a new BIOS will get rid of your 195 and 196 errors.
When all this is done, you should be able to install from CD/DVD.