I have an older model IBM ThinkPad with the HARD drive password feature enabled. I have researched this problem to no avail. All I get is "buy a new one". I have had suggestions of jumping a few posts on the cmos chip. I have tried removing the cmos battery with no luck. I would really love to know how to fix this problem. Please help if possible.

Pooterjunkie If you have a bIOS power on password, I fear you will only get the "Buy a new one". Those things were meant to be NOT tampered with. IBM could replace the system board for an outrageous price, if they even have that model. there is a link somewhere to a guy in Australia who has a method to do it with soldering, etc. he will e-mail you for some price. I GUESS you can GOOGLE for that.Thanks for the info. Someone told me that the HDD password might be stored on a small section of the HDD. I see your point. It could be stored in the BIOS therefore, REPLACING the HDD would be pointless.What makes those IBM's so secure is that the password is not stored on the HD nor in CMOS. It is stored on a seperate eprom. THATS what all the jumpering and soldering is about. Its an attempt to bypass or disable the eprom. It is a task that is not for the faint of heart, and if not experienced, you are SOL.Why not ask the person whom you bought it from what the password is?Try holding down both mouse buttons as soon as you power up the machine...

patio.   Quote from: pooterjunkie on November 15, 2005, 01:20:54 PM

I have an older model IBM ThinkPad with the Hard drive password feature enabled. I have researched this problem to no avail. All I get is "buy a new one". I have had suggestions of jumping a few posts on the cmos chip. I have tried removing the cmos battery with no luck. I would really love to know how to fix this problem. Please help if possible.

Pooterjunkie