| Author |
Message |
Adam Low
| | Posted on Thursday, December 27, 2001 - 1:24 pm: | |
I need to reinstall OS on a thinkpad 380D for a friend, and the system does not boot up from 3½ A drive, or the CD-Rom drive. What I see onscreen is a lock with a drum like thing on the left with a number 1 on top of it.
I tried to get into the bios to see what is going on, and I tried DEL, CTRL-DEL, F1, F2, F10, and a few other combination, and I just cannot get past this lock.
Does anyone know what is it that I am missing, or what in particular is wrong with it?
Thanks in advance. |
Bob Depp
| | Posted on Sunday, January 13, 2002 - 12:45 pm: | |
Sounds like the power on password or a hard disk password. You likely will need the password for the system or the administrator password to start the system. Do you have either? |
Adam Low
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 15, 2002 - 7:44 pm: | |
Bob:
I got two manual on it a few days ago, one for 380D specific(A), and one for the general family of 38X and 38X(B). After reading through the unreasonably long manuals, there are two interesting things that I found.
1. A says once the password is set, there is no way out. B says there is still a way to disable the password. Tried B out, no go.
2. There are a few default password provided in the manuals, and they are all 3-digits. However, they are no go.
I toiled on the machine for a few more days, thinking that there are only 1000 combinations between 000, and 999... That is mathematically correct, but that is not the case at all. I happened to linger my finger on the 9 a little too long, and I think I saw a total of about 16 numbers.... (Yes! The groans!)
I checked with my friend again on what he did to lead to such a disaster, and he gave the classic "I was just messing with it"..... He did mention that there are three number that he used (he thinks), namely 0,9, and 8. I did not do my math, but I am not even going to begin trying to solve a password consisting of 3 integers in a string of 16 numbers. 
He is now left with a solution: bring the laptop into an IBM authorized dealer and let them solve it for a price; I would guess $50.
The moral of the story? Tell the tech exactly what you did to your computer when you ask for help!!!!!!
LOL
Cheers,
Adam |
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