Thinkpads Forum

I recently purchased a used X60s (1702-5JU) unaware of the Thinkpad's iron-trap BIOS password protection. Works fine (great, in fact) for a couple of weeks, etc. etc, but being a used system I wanted to format the boot drive and start over fresh.

I googled the password reset procedure and decided to reset the BIOS by removing the clock battery so I could "clean slate" the whole system. Now I get a clock error and a "tamper" error at startup.

It then goes to the fingerprint prompt (which it accepts) and then goes to a standard boot password prompt. Now it won't take my old boot password. Does it require the supervisor password now?

IOW, did I just buy a new X60s motherboard?

Thanks in advance...

Quick follow up- I've contacted a couple of sites that offer some kind of unlock solution. Anyone familiar with:

Joe's Tools:
http://www.ja.axxs.net/unlock/

or Allservices':
http://www.allservice.ro/forum/viewtopi ... =1061#1061

edit: spleling

That is super intense...good luck friend!

ProPedderKustoms wrote:That is super intense...good luck friend!

heh, I think I need it. From reading about getting around the password security on older thinkpads, it looks like there's an 8-pin Atmel chip. From what info I've seen it requires 3 solder points and a homemade serial cable with some special software to reveal or reprogram a password. (according to the forums at allservice.ro)

It appears newer Thinkpads (T60/X60/Z60/R50) have a 28-pin Atmel SOIC which integrates security and superIO functions. On normal PCs, I think that just means an integrated chip that does all the old ISA functions like PS/2 ports, serial, parallel, and maybe some low level BIOS stuff.

I inquired at allservice.ro about their X60/T60 reset kit. Apparently it includes software and 'plans' but zero details on how to do the fix. When I asked the author about how the fix works (and my reluctance to solder on my new X60), he advised I not purchase his kit. Ouch.

In this Thinkpad, I guess it means an eye-crossingly small solder job. On the other hand, a TPM/SuperIO chip may mean it's resettable using the serial interface on that Atmel chip via the X6 ultrabase. My fingers are crossed.