R50e Rescue and recovery Password

[Dread]

I have R50e thinkpad running WinXp. I don't remember setting up the password for RnR. Looking up in the forums, i tried renaming the IBM folders IBMTOOLS, IBMSHARE etc. and also 2 files ibmpwhp.pyc (which i learnt from T-series forum is the password file). But nothing works, still when i bootup and press the Access IBM button, it asks for the password. The last I ran RnR was in Jan 09 and it never had password. I have the recovery discs (created by me) too but its the same problem. Please suggest, thanks in advance.

[BillMorrow]

its been so long since i did anything with RnR..
the only thought that occurs is could you have added a bios or supervisor password..?

[Dread]

well, I did change the password for the user with Admin privileges, but then it prompted me if I want to change the RnR password too but i'm sure i chose "No", I never had the password for the RnR anyways. I tried the old psw & the new one too.
I want to restore the laptop to the factory contents, but stuck. Any ideas please ?

[RealBlackStuff]

You could try another (blank) hard disk, and do a fresh install-from-scratch, using the recovery CDs.
That should remove any interference from the old HD.
If it then still asks for a password, you may be best served by getting a new recovery set.
Put a WTB (want to buy) in the Marketforum.

[Dread]

Thanks, I take that as a last resort. Before I do that, does anyone know the password files for the R50e series ? I have a backup of the IBM folders taken long back, when there wasn't any problem. Would that help ?

[RealBlackStuff]

Here is some older info from the T4x Forum: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?p=361775

Also found this on the web:

Search for a file called ibmpwhp.pyc, if you can find it, edit it with notepad, clear everything in it, type two enters, then save it and close.
Else if there's no file called ibmpwhp.pyc in your system, then:

1. Create a folder called "IBMSHARE" in C drive
2. Create an empty text file, open it, type two enters, then save it and close
3. Rename the text file to ibmpwhp.pyc

Now your R&R password has been changed to blank
reboot the machine and just press enter for the R&R password.

And this:
For those of you ever in the situation the password file for rescue and recovery lives under /preboot/utils/support/ibmpwhp.pyc, rename that file the password goes away.

[Dread]

Alright it worked, thanks !!! ... wooo hoooo
I tried renaming files/folders, but that didnn't work. Only editing the file ibmpwhp.pyc & clearing off the contents worked. I'm already back on now with the new installation. Cheers!!