Thinkpads Forum

I had set a security chip passphrase and was using it until I messed up my boot.ini after which I reformatted. I went a few weeks with the chip disabled and now I can't remember the passphrase. I looked into the documentation on resetting the chip, it's apparently in the BIOS, and I can't find the option. I have the latest BIOS version and when I go to the place described and pictured the option to reset simply isn't there. Anyone able to help me out here?

Hold down the F1 key when turning on the laptop. The option will then show up in the BIOS menu.

Little trick I learned from IBM support...

I know how to get to the bios... (thanks anyway)... But there still isn't any option to reset the security chip passphrase, I think I've checked everywhere and given special care to check passwords and security and there is no option to reset the security chip passphrase (as far as I can tell) there is one for the power on password but not one for the embedded security chip passphrase

Have you tried a cold boot of your machine?
Doesnt work when you only reboot and press F1.

Right, it has to be done under a cold boot. You hit and hold F1 and push the power button.

This invokes some special thing that will show the clear security chip option if a normal boot into bios does not show it.

The BIOS option you want is labeled something like "clear security chip" It does not say "clear passphrase"

Also, if you have the security chip set to disabled:
Try setting the security chip to "active" in bios.
Then reboot into bios. Then you should see the "clear security chip" option.

Lev

the cold boot thing really worked

Thanks!