Thinkpads Forum

Just bought a 701C off of eBay. When I power it on it goes through the RAM check then prompts for a password. I will contact the seller, but since it was sold as is, my guess is he has no idea. How do I clear this so I can boot the machine? I have 2 other 701Cs that are available for parts. This latest one is in the best shape appearance wise so I would like to get it to boot so I can install OS/2 on it for the OS/2 museum. Any suggestions would be appreciated. I did find mention of "Password Bypass pads" on the bottom of the system board, but no explanation of what to do to reset it or how to disassemble the 701C. I don't want to break this one.

Worse case, if there is a maintenance manual online somewhere that can show me how to take this apart and replace the motherboard. I have 2 other 701Cs here that are equally useless in other ways. I see nothing on Lenovo's site or a bunch of other URLs that are now dead.

Mark

The 701 is mentioned in the tpvol2.pdf file from IBM thats a volume concerning more types of Thinkpad.

ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/pc/pccbbs/mobiles/tpvol2.pdf

Have fun that's how i dismanteled my 701's, helas my machines keeps on scrolling when started, runs through to win95 but the screen keeps on scrolling!

Grtz Lino Lampers, Nederland

The 701 is mentioned in the tpvol2.pdf file from IBM thats a volume concerning more types of Thinkpad.

ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/pc/pccbbs/mobiles/tpvol2.pdf

Have fun that's how i dismanteled my 701's, helas my machines keeps on scrolling when started, runs through to win95 but the screen keeps on scrolling!

Grtz Lino Lampers, Nederland

Already read that. That is where I found the location of the "Password Bypass pads" with a diagram of the bottom of the system board. But there is no disassembly instructions. I've taken apart my T42p, but that was with directions and the material the cases are made out of are starting to break apart as it is. I don't want to destroy yhtem any more then they already are.

As to your problem with the scrolling video, I have a 701C that has that problem as well. If I hold the the display at a certain angle it stops scrolling horizontally, so I think the problem in my case is the cable connection to the the display.

Mark.

Well why not just unscrew the case part by part then, I did!
It is a truly nice machine to dismantle and with some caution, you can do it!
I did do the trick with a Thinkpad 700C PS/2 last Sunday, and rebuild the machine with parts of 2 others to get a complete machine.
[censored] forgot to make pictures!
Today I am dismanteling a PS/2 model CL57sx, also not documented, but I am at the bottom now, made lots of pictures on the way!

My way to spend the vacation! and downloading the pccbbs again for my own purposes, for my copy on cd's had gone bad and 60% of the [censored] Arita cd's fail! only the part on EMtec have survived.
But now with 3x 500Gb disks in my Intellistation M pro I have space enough!

Also on the verge to bring up a site about my IBM's constructing it as I examen my machines again for operation status!

I read some things about company's that could exchange the bios chip, or the safety chip of some kind. but are not sure about that.
I have some 760's with that problem, but luckily not much!
I can take anything apart and rebuild, exchange part, de solder and re solder, but have no electronic knowledge, but almost always get the job done!

some 20% of my Thinkpads or PS/Notes don't function and I had at least 50% dismantled and reinstated to working order.
(even my T43 I had opened once just out of curiosity!)

Got also the ancestors live and ready as in the 5150 portable Computer and the 5140 Convertible.
When I get to it I will shoot the whole lot, but not at the same time that's impossible to plan! with so many machines...

Grtz Lino Lampers, exploring the old technology!

Moderator note: Please re-read the FAQ (specifically, item #12). Open discussion of BIOS or Supervisor password disabling / bypassing / etc. is not permitted.

Moderator note: Please re-read the FAQ (specifically, item #12). Open discussion of BIOS or Supervisor password disabling / bypassing / etc. is not permitted.

And if we were talking about a more recent Thinkpad I could understand the sensitivity, but this is a 701C. If someone is keeping nuclear secrets on a 701c then our country is in bigger trouble then even the current morons running it have already instigated.

The 701 requires a T-1 Torx driver to remove the screws along the front face of the computer. That's the only real issue I can see to disassembling the 701. I can't help you with the password, but with a few laying around I'm sure you can get something working.

I upgraded the motherboard on mine to a 133MHZ AMD CPU and ran eComStation with 48Megs very well. I used an IBM Highrate Wifi card and left the 701c tucked under the seat of my car. I used it a lot when I didn't feel like lugging around a big laptop. I sold it about a year ago on eBay(practically a giveaway price) and the buyer was very pleased. He sends me eMails with pictures from time to time showing me all the places he's been with the 701 in use in the pictures.

The 701 requires a T-1 Torx driver to remove the screws along the front face of the computer. That's the only real issue I can see to disassembling the 701. I can't help you with the password, but with a few laying around I'm sure you can get something working.

Thanks for the reply. I have ordered a Torx T1 driver and everything is on hold until I get that. I'm hoping to have OS/2 Warp installed on this for display at Warpstock in August, so as soon as I get the T1 I will try again to disassemble it. If that still can't clear the password I will try taking a board out of one of my other 701Cs.

Mark

If you have to swap motherboards, let me know how that goes. I've often wondered if the TFT LCD would work on a 701CS.

Davemci wrote:. I've often wondered if the TFT LCD would work on a 701CS.

I can confirm for you that the displays in the 701C and 701CS are interchangeable if you use the right bezel, they even have the same lcd-ribbon cable.
I have both the 701C and the 701CS, I had both taken to pieces and tried it out.