Security chip and supervisor password

[AndyT]

Hi,

I bought a T30 from eBay and in the process of updating found there was a supervisor password set. I've contacted the seller and he is trying to find out what it is, or will refund, so I have no worries on that score (he's a Power Seller with 99.8% + feedback). However I thought I understood that the Supervisor password was held in the IBM Security chip, hence the outfits that offer to replace it rather than send it back to IBM for a new system board, but I find that my T30 does not have a security chip (2366-63G). Are there two security chips or have I misunderstood the purpose of the chip? Does this have any bearing on the requirement to change the system board?

Any clarification would be appreciated

AndyT.

[s0larian]

The Supervisor password has nothing to do with the IBM Security chip (TPM). But true is, that the motherboard has to be exchanged if you don't know the Supervisor password. If you google, you can find companies having a workaround somehow. Of course I don't know how much the costs are for this.

[AndyT]

Thanks S0larian, at least I now know they are different things entirely. The chip replacement/password recovery costs about £120 (US$180) but voids the warranty of course. Guess I'll just have to go back to looking and be careful to ask the question before buying this time.