T6x security chip

[Muse]

The refurbished T61 (6565-CTO) I just bought is nudging me to enable its security chip. Norton Security is nudging me too (the machine presumably has the default Lenovo Vista Business Professional installation). I want to know what I'm getting into. My 4 year old T60 (bought from Lenovo, a 1953-CTO) I think does have a security chip, but looking in the Control Panel, Security, I don't see anything concerning it. I don't know for sure if the T60 has the chip and if it does, I don't know how to determine if it's enabled. What are the ins and outs of the security chips? I did a search here and someone bought a "for parts" T60p machine that was reporting a problem with the security chip and the guy was told that he'd bought a brick. What's it all about?

[Harryc]

I*t's basically a security device to lock-down, manage, and store password and fingerprint scans. It works with TPM to encrypt the same. If you don't use hardware passwords (.e.g. BIOS password) or the FP reader, you don't need to turn it on.

http://www.pc.ibm.com/us/think/thinkvan ... urity.html

[Muse]

I'm not using a BIOS password (maybe I should, I just never even bothered to go into my T60's BIOS until about a week ago, there wasn't much there!), but I have always used the T60's FP reader. Does using the FP Reader assure that

1. I have a security chip?
2. That the security chip is enabled?

I programmed my T61's FP Reader as soon as I got the machine last week (accepted scans of all 10 fingers), but the machine hasn't asked me to use the reader yet. It always asks for the Windows password. Haven't looked into that yet. I have the machine configured to go into suspend when I close the cover, but several times I've found the machine awake and asking for my Windows password. My T60 doesn't do that stuff.

[Harryc]

Does using the FP Reader assure that

1. I have a security chip?
2. That the security chip is enabled?

Yes that is my understanding. The FP reader will not function unless the security chip is enabled. Mind you, this is based on reading many threads on the topic and I have no direct experience because I do not use or enable any security devices on my laptops, mainly because they rarely leave my house. So I could be wrong or have mis-understood what I read.

[leshaM]

I have T60p with security chip enabled and was running a password manager since day one - everything worked fine.
Running XP Pro SP3.
In the middle of October Microsoft pushed a big batch of updates which broke a number of applications including ThinkVantage Access Connections. So I decided to update my thinkpad with the latest software from IBM/Lenovo which I have not done for a couple of years. I installed all the latest BIOS, Client Security Solution, Access Connections and everything else the site suggested. After that the password manager started working reeeeeeeeeeeally solow: it takes almost exactly 100 seconds to do a "property" on stored password or add another login info. Everything else is slower but not as bad. During this 100 seconds process explorer (task manager on steroids) shows exactly 50% utilization (one core fully saturated) by the OS, not IE.
Everything else work fine. It almost feels as if some hardware acceleration was turned off.

I could not find anything notable. Any suggestions?

Thanks,

LEsha.

[TTY]

... but looking in the Control Panel, Security, I don't see anything concerning it. I don't know for sure if the T60 has the chip and if it does, I don't know how to determine if it's enabled.

You manage the use of the security chip with the ThinkVantange Client Security Solution. To determine whether the chip is enabled, look in BIOS.