IBM Laptop BIOS Password Removal

Series

Model

Thinkpad

IBM ThinkPad 240 [2609]

Thinkpad

IBM ThinkPad 310/310D/310E/310ED [2600]

Thinkpad

IBM ThinkPad ??? [2610]

Thinkpad

365C/365CD/365CS/365CSD/365E/365ED [2625]

Thinkpad

IBM ThinkPad 355x [2619]

Thinkpad

IBM ThinkPad 360x [2620]

Thinkpad

IBM ThinkPad 370C/750x/755C/755CS [9545]

Thinkpad

IBM ThinkPad 710T [2523]

Thinkpad

Thinkpad 730TE [2524]

Thinkpad

Thinkpad ??? [9546, 9547]

Thinkpad

Thinkpad 300 [2615]

Thinkpad

Thinkpad 350, PS/Note 425 [2618]

Thinkpad

Thinkpad 365X, 365XD [2625]

Thinkpad

Thinkpad 380-385 [2635]

Thinkpad

Thinkpad 380XD, 385XD, 380Z [2635]

Thinkpad

ThinkPad i-Series 1400 [2611]

Thinkpad

ThinkPad i-Series 1400/1500 [2621]

Thinkpad

Thinkpad 390/i Series 1700 [2626, 2627]

Thinkpad

Thinkpad 390E [2626]

Thinkpad

Thinkpad 390X / i 1700 [2624, 2627]

Thinkpad

ThinkPad 500 [2603]

Thinkpad

ThinkPad 510 [2604]

Thinkpad

ThinkPad 560, 560E [2640]

Thinkpad

ThinkPad 560x [2640-560 - 60x, 70x]

Thinkpad

ThinkPad 560Z [2640]

Thinkpad

ThinkPad 570 [2644]

Thinkpad

Thinkpad 765D [9546]

Thinkpad

Thinkpad 765L [9547]

Thinkpad

Thinkpad 770 [9548/49]

IBM ThinkPad 240 [2609]

Short the jumper JP1.
IBM ThinkPad 310/310D/310E/310ED [2600]

Use switch SW2 near CPU socket (second bit switch counting from the lowest
side).
IBM ThinkPad ??? [2610]
IBM ThinkPad 365C/365CD/365CS/365CSD/365E/365ED [2625]
The following procedure disables user and supervisor passwords:
IBM ThinkPad 355x [2619]
IBM ThinkPad 360x [2620]
IBM ThinkPad 370C/750x/755C/755CS [9545]
How to disable the power-on password:
IBM ThinkPad 710T [2523]
To disable the power-on password:
1. Power-off the computer.
2. Disconnect the AC-Adaptor.
3. Open the keyboard and remove the battery pack.
4. Remove the Mylar cover. See FRU Removals and Replacements.
5. Locate the S2 switch block on the system board.
6. Set Switch 1 to OFF.
7. Wait 30 seconds.
8. Set Switch 1 to ON.
9. Replace the Mylar cover.
10. Replace the battery.
11. Connect the AC-Adaptor.
12. Power-on the computer.
13. Go to a DOS full screen.
14. Press Ctrl+Alt+F11 to access the setup screen and reset the passwords.
1. Power-off the computer.
2. Open the keyboard and remove the battery pack and the diskette drive.
3. Remove the attachment holder.
4. Install a jumper on the power-on password connector -1- at bottom left
side of the system board.
5. Reinstall the diskette drive and battery pack.
6. Power-on the computer and wait until the POST ends.
7. Verify that the password prompt does not appear.
8. After service check is completed, remove the jumper.
1. Power-off the computer.
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Thinkpad 730TE [2524]
Use the following procedure to disable the power-on password if
needed.
Thinkpad ??? [9546, 9547]
Thinkpad 300 [2615]
To override a password , do the following.
Thinkpad 350, PS/Note 425 [2618]
Remove the cmos battery 5 minutes
Thinkpad 365X, 365XD [2625]
2. Remove backup-battery cover.
3. Locate the security switch beside the backup battery.

4. Move the slide switch to the opposite side.

5. Power-on the computer.
1. Power off the system.
2. Remove the Pen Compartment Cover and the Sub Battery cover.
3. Identify the security pin wich is located beside the sub battery.
4. Power on the system while making a short-circuit between the two
security pins with a regular screwdriver's flat tip.
1. Power-off the computer.
2. Open the keyboard, and remove the diskette drive or CD-ROM drive and
the battery pack.
3. Install a jumper on the power-on password connector on the left side of
the FDD connector.
4. Reinstall the battery pack and the diskette drive/CD-ROM drive.
5. Power-on the computer and wait until the POST ends.
6. Verify that the password prompt does not appear.
7. After the service check is completed, remove the jumper.
1. Power-off the computer.
2. Remove the access panel.
3. Remove the battery pack.
4. Remove the top assembly (do not disconnect any cables).
5. Connect a jumper to the two pads (R39) at the side of the math
coprocessor socket.
6. Reinstall the battery pack.
7. Power-on the computer. Keep the computer on until the LEDs blink and
the system locks.
8. Remove the jumper.
9. Press and hold the reset switch, then power-on the computer.
10. Power-off the computer.
11. Replace the top assembly and the access panel.
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Thinkpad 380-385 [2635]
Thinkpad 380XD, 385XD, 380Z [2635]
ThinkPad i-Series 1400 [2611]
1. Power off the computer.
2. Open the keyboard and lift the right-most section of the insulator sheet.
3. Push out the small door on the right side of the base cover.
4. Apply a short across the Power-On Password Jumper Pads.
5. With the jumper tool in place, power on the computer to clear the
password.
6. Remove the jumper and power off the computer.
7. Power on the computer and verify that the password has been cleared.
1. Power off the computer.
2. Turn the computer upside down, loosen the DIMM cover screw, remove
the DIMM cover.
3. Then power-on the computer by applying a short across the power-on
password jumper pads 315

1. Power off the computer.

2. Turn the computer upside down, loosen the memory-slot cover screw,
and remove the memory-slot cover.
3. Short across the power-on password jumper pads
4. Power on the computer and wait until the POST ends.
5. Reinstall the memory-slot cover, and turn the computer right side up.
1. Turn off the computer.
2. Unplug the AC Adapter and remove the battery.
3. Remove the keyboard and the thermal plate.
4. Move the password switch (SW2, switch 2) from OFF to ON to bypass the
password.
Note: SW2 has four switches, the second upper switch (switch 2) is the
password bypass/check switch.
Turning the switch to the left (ON position) is "bypass password", the
right (OFF position) is "check password".
5. Plug in the AC adapter and turn on the system.
6. While the ThinkPad logo is being displayed, wait for a beep before
pressing F1 to enter the BIOS Utility.
7. Select "System Security" from the BIOS Utility main menu and press
Enter.
8. Set the "Power-On Password" setting to "None" to clear the password.
9. Save and exit the BIOS Utility.
10. Turn off the system and unplug the AC Adapter.
11. Move the password switch from ON to OFF to enable the password
function.
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ThinkPad i-Series 1400/1500 [2621]
If only the power-on pasword is set, do the following to remove it:
Thinkpad 390/i Series 1700 [2626, 2627]
Thinkpad 390E [2626]
Thinkpad 390X / i 1700 [2624, 2627]
ThinkPad 500 [2603]
ThinkPad 510 [2604]

12. Reinstall the thermal plate and keyboard.

13. Reinstall the battery pack and plug in the AC Adapter.
1. Power off the computer.
2. Remove the battery and the AC Adapter.
3. Remove the backup battery (RTC) 20 minutes or use the screw driver to
touch the backup battery (RTC) 1 sec.
4. Put back the backup battery (RTC).
5. Power on the computer and wait until the POST ends.
6. Verify that the password prompt does not appear.
1. Power off the computer.
2. Remove the battery pack and AC Adapter.
3. Remove the backup battery (RTC) for 20 minutes or use a screwdriver to
touch the backup battery (RTC) for 1 second.
4. Put back the backup battery (RTC).
5. Power on the computer and wait until POST ends.
6. Verify that the password prompt does not appear.
1. Power-off the computer.
2. Disconnect all cables attached to the computer.
3. Remove the memory card access panel and memory card (if installed).
4. Power-on the computer.
5. Locate the two pins labeled PAD1-2 on the system board (in the memory
card access area).
6. Short the two pins together.
7. Press Ctrl+Alt+F3 to access the System Parameters Setup Menu.
8. Press Esc.
9. Press F5 to reset the parameter to their default values.
10. The System Time, System Date, and Password (if required) parameters
need to be set manually.
11. Press Esc, then F4 to save the values, exit the Setup program, and reboot
the computer.
12. If a memory card was removed, power-off the computer and install the
memory card.
13. Install the memory card access panel.
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ThinkPad 560, 560E [2640]
The hard disk password is stored on the hard disk.
ThinkPad 560x [2640-560 - 60x, 70x]
1. Power-off the computer.
2. Disconnect all cables attached to the computer.
3. Remove the memory card access panel and DRAM card (if installed).
4. Power-on the computer.
5. Locate the two pins labeled PAD1-2 on the system board (see 'System
Board Connectors').
6. Short the two pins together.

7. Press Ctrl+Alt+F3 to access the System Parameters Setup Menu.

8. Press Esc.
9. Press F5 to reset the parameter to their default values.
10. The System Time, System Date, and Password (if required) parameters
need to be set manually.
11. Press Esc, then F4 to save the values, exit the Setup program, and reboot
the computer.
12. If a DRAM card was removed, power-off the computer and install the
DRAM card.
13. Install the memory card access panel.
1. Power off the computer
2. Remove the frame
3. Flip the keyboard over
4. Jumper the two password jumper pads (R364 or R39) located on the
system board
5. Power on the computer to clear the password
6. Replace the keyboard and the frame
When replacing the frame, make sure that the frame fits correctly in
place.
If it is not in place, the click buttons of the TrackPoint III cannot be
pressed.
7. Replace the screws
8. Power on the computer and wait until the POST ends
9. Verify that the password prompt does not appear.
1. Power off the computer
2. Remove the frame
3. Position the keyboard so you can do step 4
4. Jumper the two password jumper pads (BIT-X) on the system board
5. Power on the computer to clear the password
6. Replace the keyboard and the frame
When replacing the frame, make sure that the frame fits correctly in
place.
If it is not in place, the click buttons of the TrackPoint III will not work.
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ThinkPad 560Z [2640]
ThinkPad 570 [2644]
Thinkpad 765D [9546]
Thinkpad 765L [9547]
Thinkpad 770 [9548/49]
7. Replace the screws.
8. Power on the computer and wait until the POST ends.
9. Verify that the password prompt does not appear
1. Power off the computer.
2. Turn the computer upside down.
3. Loosen the DIMM socket lid screw -1- , and remove the DIMM socket lid.
4. Short the power-on password jumper pads (R522).
5. Power on the computer and wait until the POST ends. The password is

cleared.
6. Reinstall the DIMM socket lid, and turn the computer right side up.
7. Verify that the password promp does not appear.
8. To reactivate the password, set the password again.
1. Power off the computer.
2. Remove the DIMM cover on the bottom side of the computer.
3. Short-circuit the two password pads.
4. Under the short-circuit condition, power on the computer and wait until
the POST ends.
After the POST ends, the password prompt does not appear. The poweron
password is removed.
5. Reinstall the DIMM cover.
1. Power off the computer.
2. Open the keyboard, and remove the battery pack and the diskette or CDROM
drive.
3. Instal a jumper on the power-on Password connector on the left side of
the FDD connector.
4. Reinstall the battery pack and the diskette drive/CD-ROM drive.
5. Power on the computer and wait until POST ends.
6. Verify that the password prompt does not appear.
7. After the service check is completed, remove the jumper.
1. Power off the computer.
2. Remove the DIMM cover.
3. Short-circuit the two password pads or put the jumper (pads near the top
of the cover).
4. Under the short-circuit condition, power on the computer and wait until
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POST ends.
After the POST ends, the password prompt does not appear. The poweron
password is removed.
If a jumper has been used for short the password pads, then remove the
jumper.
5. Reinstall the DIMM cover.
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