How to make thinkpad prompt for supervisor password?

[teletype]

Hello,

After I've purchased my Thinkpad R40 the end of last year when I've set power-on, harddisk, supervisor password for the same character sequence.

Now I want to remove all the passwords but that is only possible if I become supervisor somehow... The local ibm support had one answer that is open up the cover and reset the chip. I can't believe there's no other way to solve it. This means you set supervisor password once and never again.

Here is how boot process works now:

When I'm turning on my thinkpad it prompts for power-on password, then the harddisk password prompt icon displayed and dissappears a second later (maybe because the all three passwords are the same) . Then the access ibm or F1 button can be pressed to start bios utility.
In the bios menu however no changes allowed but for the supervisor so I can't remove password or make any settings.

Do you know any solution for this problem?

Thank you guys.
Bye

[snife]

Ther supervisor cannot be reset on ThinkPads (only the Power-On password - which you dont want to try in your situation) - from what you are saying it suggests that the supervisor password is not set to the same value as the power-on and hard drive password. When the supervisor password is requested - if the power-on password is typed it will let you into the BIOS but will not let you change all settings - if the supervisor password was the same then it would.

[teletype]

Ther supervisor cannot be reset on ThinkPads (only the Power-On password - which you dont want to try in your situation) - from what you are saying it suggests that the supervisor password is not set to the same value as the power-on and hard drive password. When the supervisor password is requested - if the power-on password is typed it will let you into the BIOS but will not let you change all settings - if the supervisor password was the same then it would.

Hi snife,

Ok, let's assume, the supervisor password is not the same as power-on or harddisk password. Then where does thinkpad prompt for it? Does it in the bios? That's too late because as you say the system must know whether you are a supervisor or user BEFORE enter the bios.

tele

[n3il]

Just out of interest... how long are your passwords?

IIRC Supervisor password can only be 7 characters long....

On boot, try typing the first 7 characters of the password you think it is when you try to access the BIOS.

HTH

Neil

[snife]

Hi snife,

Ok, let's assume, the supervisor password is not the same as power-on or harddisk password. Then where does thinkpad prompt for it? Does it in the bios? That's too late because as you say the system must know whether you are a supervisor or user BEFORE enter the bios.

tele

You should be pressing F1 to enter the BIOS at the IBM Logo screen and then the password that it prompts you for will be the supervisor password - as mentioned this prompt will accept either the supervisor or the power-on password but if power-on password is entered then the BIOS will be in a restricted mode

[teletype]

Just out of interest... how long are your passwords?

IIRC Supervisor password can only be 7 characters long....

On boot, try typing the first 7 characters of the password you think it is when you try to access the BIOS.

HTH

Neil

Thank you guys. You are right. The first prompt actually asks for power-on OR supervisor password. My passwords are 8 characters long expect the supervisor that I've truncated to fit the 7 charater supervisor password limit. So your tip was right, when typed first 7 chars of password that worked fine.

Thanks.
tele