Security Chip on X40

[Gee]

I am now the proud owner of an X40, 2371-GFU.

I recently setup the notebook, Ghosted the Drive, removed all the Symantec crap. However, ever time I start the notebook, the Security Wizard pops up and asks me to set it up.

I can't get past the second screen. It prompts me for the administrator password or passphrase. They must be asking for the chip. Because I enter the Admin password for XP and it is no go.

Does anyone know the default password for the security chip? I tried to reset it in the BIOS, but the option is not there in the security settings.

[brainpicker]

Hold down the F1 key while starting your laptop and continue to hold the F1 key until the BIOS appears. Now go the where the Secure Chip settings are and there will be an option to reset it. If you choose this anything you secured will be lost, but in your case that doesn't seem to be an issue. Once reset, turn the chip off. When the software starts at reboot asking you to turn on the chip say "no" and "not to ask again". This should solve you issues.

- Yak

[Gee]

That is the problem. When I go to the BIOS setup page. The only options I have are Enable and Disable. There is no option to reset the password.

I have disabled the chip and when I restart XP, as you said it prompts me to enable it.

I could leave it disabled and it will not bother me, I was just curious as to what the default password is. It is not in any of my documentation.

[brainpicker]

...I was just curious as to what the default password is. It is not in any of my documentation.

There is no "default password". This install assumes one has already activated the chip and has a password. For those of us that didn't, well, it was rather a pain in the [censored] instead. The solution I proposed (as provided to me from support many months ago) is the only work-around I know of.

Good Luck.

- Yak

[Tony's X60s]

From memory (it's a while since I played around in the BIOS), the "reset/clear" option only appears when you have first set the chip to "active/enabled" state. After you have reset it, you can clear it. My BIOS (1.06) allows three settings for the chip: active, inactive and disabled. In disabled, it is inactive+hidden.

[mhca]

I have an IBM X41 with the Security Enabled and it automatically logs on to my SecureDrive and I can use my Fingerprint software without problems.

But if I try to disable the SecureDrive and then enable it again it asks for the password. I enter my password and it rejects it. I have updated Security software but it doesn't help, neither does resetting.
I think their software is somewhat bugged but I haven't found a solution and haven't spend much time on it since I am not missing anything badly.

[Gee]

So basically, I am screwed. The software wizard that pops up when I start XP wants to setup the chip. The second screen asks for a password that doesn't exist. Thus, since it is not setup, I cannot reset it in the BIOS.

Which genius thought of this?

[brainpicker]

If you tried my suggestion and it didn't work, please call IBM Support should your laptop still have warranty. Choose the Thinkvantage Software Solutions option and a friendly IBM Support person will likely instruct you to do exactly what I did. Tell them it failed to bring up a reset option. If that didn't work and you are under warranty they will replace you hard drive. I've had friends that chose that option too.

Good Luck,
-Yak

[Tony's X60s]

If you haven't already checked it out:

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... highlight=