IBM ThinkPad R50e Series Hardware Maintenance Manual page 36

How to remove the hard-disk password
Attention:
HDP has been forgotten and cannot be made available to
the servicer, IBM does not provide any services to reset
the user HDPs or to recover data from the hard disk drive.
The hard disk drive can be replaced for a scheduled fee.
To remove a user HDP that has been forgotten, when the
SVP and the master HDP are known, do the following:
1. Turn on the computer; then, while the "To interrupt
normal startup, press the blue Access IBM button"
message is displayed at the lower-left of the screen,
press the Access IBM button. IBM Rescue and
Recovery screen opens.
For models supporting the Passphrase function, press
F1 while HDP icon is appearing on the screen; then
enter the master HDP. For the other models, enter the
master HDP.
Note: To check whether the ThinkPad computer
2. Click Access BIOS. The system Restart Required
window is displayed.
3. Click Yes. The computer restarts, and the IBM BIOS
Setup Utility screen opens.
4. Select Security, using the cursor directional keys to
move down the menu.
5. Select Password.
6. Select Hard-disk x password, where x is the letter of
the hard disk drive. A pop-up window opens.
7. Select Master HDP.
8. Type the current master HDP in the Enter Current
Password field. then leave the Enter New Password
field blank, and press Enter twice.
9. Press F10.
10. Select Yes in the Setup Configuration window.
Both user HDP and master HDP will have been
removed.
If User only mode is selected and the user
supports the Passphrase function, enter IBM
BIOS Setup Utility and go to Security -->
Password. If Using Passphrase item is
displayed in the menu, this function is available
on the ThinkPad computer.
Related service information
General descriptions
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