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Passwords
As many as three passwords may be needed for any ThinkPad computer: the
power-on password (POP), the hard-disk password (HDP), and the supervisor
password (SVP).
If any of these passwords has been set, a prompt for it appears on the screen
whenever the computer is turned on. The computer does not start until the
password is entered.
Exception: If only an SVP is installed, the password prompt does not appear when
the operating system is booted.
Power-on password:
A power-on password (POP) protects the system from being powered on by an
unauthorized person. The password must be entered before an operating system
can be booted.
Hard-disk password:
There are two hard-disk passwords (HDPs):
v User HDP—for the user
v Master HDP—for the system administrator, who can use it to get access to the
hard disk even if the user has changed the user HDP
Note:
There are two modes for the HDP: User only and Master + User. The
Master + User mode requires two HDPs; the system administrator enters
both in the same operation. The system administrator then provides the user
HDP to the system user.
Attention: If the user HDP has been forgotten, check whether a master HDP has
been set. If it has, it can be used for access to the hard disk drive. If no master
HDP is available, neither Lenovo nor Lenovo authorized servicers provide any
services to reset either the user or the master HDP, or to recover data from the
hard disk drive. The hard disk drive can be replaced for a scheduled fee.
Supervisor password:
A supervisor password (SVP) protects the system information stored in the BIOS
Setup Utility. The user must enter the SVP in order to get access to the BIOS Setup
Utility and change the system configuration.
Attention: If the SVP has been forgotten and cannot be made available to the
servicer, there is no service procedure to reset the password. The system board
must be replaced for a scheduled fee.
How to remove the power-on password
To remove a POP that you have forgotten, do the following:
(A) If no SVP has been set:
1. Turn off the computer.
2. Remove the battery pack.
For how to remove the battery pack, see “1010 Battery pack” on page 58.
3. Remove the backup battery.
For how to remove the backup battery, see “1120 Backup battery” on page 79.
4. Turn on the computer and wait until the POST ends.
Related service information
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