Error 0176 The system has been tampered with

[ThinkPad560X]

I got a desktop IBM ThinkCentre M51 8141-Y6Y. It has all original shipped specs 512MB, 40GB HDD with XP Pro "Not sure if still installed but COA on side" and a DVD drive. I took the lid off and completely cleaned all the dust out and cleaned and put on new thermal paste on the CPU. I go to power it on and get Error 0176 The system has been tampered with. And says press F1 to enter Bios. It brings up a Enter password and just press enter and passes it up to bios. Once in Bios I can change stuff but will not save and exit, just has discard chages and exit. I removed the CMOS battery and nothing changed.

[RealBlackStuff]

Obviously there's a Supervisor password set.
Check out the BIOS Security/Password settings.
Although, after your CMOS trip, you probably can't get into the BIOS any longer...

[ThinkPad560X]

I can still get into bios. everything is still the same but the time now. And I cant change anything still. It allows me to change the password, but dont know any if their even was one.

[RealBlackStuff]

Try to install a newer BIOS, if it lets you, then in BIOS press F9 to load defaults, then F10 to save and reboot.

[ThinkPad560X]

I fixed it, It said on lenovo forums, to remove jumper and set it into 1-2 and then back into 2-3. after that, pluged it back in and turned on and booted and said system passwords were reset, press F1 to enter Bios, and everything is normal now and can save. I have a IBM ThinkPad 570 and A22m with the same problem but dont know where the jumpers are on them.

[RealBlackStuff]

No jumpers on those two from IBM, I'm afraid.
That's (usually) only done on desktop motherboards.
But I've seen contact points on 'lower-class' Lenovo motherboards...