Passwords - IBM ThinkPad T40 series Hardware Maintenance Manual

Related service information

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
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:
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, IBM does not 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 IBM BIOS Setup Utility. The user
must enter the SVP in order to get access to the IBM
BIOS Setup Utility and change the system configuration.
Attention:
made available to the servicer, there is no service
procedure to reset the password. The system board must
be replaced for a scheduled fee.
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prompt does not appear when the operating
system is booted.
If the user HDP has been forgotten, check
If the SVP has been forgotten and cannot be