Forgot your ThinkPad password? Get new hardware
Lenovo merciless on memory loss
Users of Lenovo ThinkPad laptops may be in for a nasty surprise if they forget their main (supervisor) hard drive password.
The Chinese hardware manufacturer refuses to reset hard drive (BIOS) security passwords for laptops even if they are covered by warranty. Lenovo, which bought IBM's ThinkPad laptop business in 2005, cites security concerns for this established but little-publicised policy.
While official Lenovo channels offer only the expensive fix of replacing a machine's motherboard, costing perhaps $400 plus or around the price of some new machines (like the X100e here), a variety of password recovery tools will do the job for around $80. Sure enough Google search "reset Thinkpad password" turns up various tools, which we haven't tested and therefore can't endorse, that claim to do the job.
The more credible offers provide step by step guides as well as links to software downloads, while the more suspect offers include ads on Craigslist.
Reg reader Shaun P, who put us on to the issue, explains: "When a Lenovo customer forgets their password the firm tells customers to replace the motherboard at their expense. That's because the password lock-out problem is something that isn't covered under Lenovo ThinkPad warranties."
Sure enough, page 19 on Lenovo's ThinkPad warranty explains that while the "power-on" password can be reset by service agents the same doesn't apply to supervisor passwords.
If you forgot your supervisor password, Lenovo authorized servicer cannot reset your password. You must take your computer to a Lenovo authorized servicer or a marketing representative to have the system board replaced. Proof of purchase is required, and a fee will be charged for parts and service.
Lenovo explained the rationale for this policy in a brief statement.
Lenovo does not reset passwords for customers regardless of warranty status. To do so, represents a potential security exposure.Lenovo entitles warranties based on the system model and serial number combination and not based on a particular registered customer - in which case Lenovo would have no way to authenticate a customer seeking help with a story of a lost or forgotten password. If Lenovo were to reset administrator or HDD passwords by either policy or available procedure, then we would be creating an exposure and undermining the value of the passwords to deter theft and prevent unintended access to data.
Users are always forgetting passwords, which is why corporate help-desks are busy and the reason why corporate encryption systems come with password recovery tools. A quick search through user forums reveals numerous complaints, and a fair bit of confusion, on web forums over password recovery on ThinkPads.
A few examples can be found on Techspot (here), Tom's hardware (here) and Fixya (item two here). Users on an Indian forum had similar problems.
More woe can be found on a ThinkPad site here. And here, and again here (on a security forum) and finally, in our list at least, here.
Green computing has become a more important issue over recent years. Lenovo said that motherboards taken out of machines that get replaced as a result of its approved fix for password forgetfulness get recycled.
Any parts returned would be processed and environmentally recycled. For more information on our business disposal and recycling services, please visit: http://www.lenovo.com/services_warranty/US/en/asset_recovery.html For more information on our consumer recycling programs, please visit: http://www.lenovo.com/social_responsibility/us/en/product_recycling_program.html
Our tipster remains less than impressed with Lenovo's policy. "Ultimately I would like Lenovo/IBM to take some responsibility here and just provide a sensible solution," Shaun P told El Reg.
"I don't expect the solution to be free, although a web-based password reset service done properly would be great, but I don't expect it to cost more than the machine is worth."
Shaun also took issue with Lenovo's implied assumption that the customer must always be in the wrong over lost passwords. "Lenovo's unwritten policy if you 'forget' your password is, buy a new laptop," Shaun, who has experience the problem at first hand, explained. "Mr Criminal on the other hand can break the security in under 30 minutes. Kind of ironic that Lenovo can offer no real support to legitimate customers, but the bloke at the car boot sale can."
Have Reg readers experienced anything similar password reset problems with other manufacturers? We'd like to know. ®
COMMENTS
Not new. Not even remotely new.
This is as it has been for as long as I have been using Thinkpads, and long before Lenovo bought the brand from IBM.
Having bought password protected S/H Thinkpads, and tried many of the 'home-brew' methods of unlocking them, I would say that many of the methods just don't work unless you have a high degree of skill, perseverance, and possibly several Thinkpads to work on.
For many older Thinkpads, what is really needed is a new serial EEPRAM chip soldered onto the motherboard, and then re-programmed with the Model and Serial number and the UUID. This is beyond even reasonably skilled electronics amateurs, really needing a magnified soldering station. It can be done by eye with a needle-nosed soldering iron and a steady hand, but you are more likely to damage the board than not (de-soldering high contact density surface mount chips is not easy in my experience). And IBM/Lenovo never made the software for setting the VPD available.
The newer ones, with TPM Security Chips fitted require both the EEPRAM and the Security Chip reset. This requires specialist knowledge which AFAIK is not in the public domain.
Companies deploying Thinkpads should set and securely record the master password themselves, and only let the users change the hard-disk and boot password. That way, the company IT department can rescue a Thinkpad before it is destined for the scrap-heap or a large repair bill.
The whole reason why this is the case is because Thinkpads are designed from the ground up to be good business laptops. This includes good security. I really don't think that you really want an easy way to break into a laptop containing YOUR sensitive data.
Lenovo is just applying the "Your lack of planning does not make it my emergency" principal.
recoverable = not safe
If a password is recoverable or resettable, why have a password anyway. A lot password should mean no more access to the data. If it means something else, it is useless!
well done Lenovo
Well done them. While there may well be exploitable flaws somewhere to work around the password issue and/or a "law enforcement" override it's good to see this level of willingness to piss users off in exchange for a increased perception of data security.
Bah kids today.....
....Forgot the BIOS password and still under warranty....?
By pass the power brick and send 240 straight into it. One f**ked laptop.
Geeezzz some people have no imagination these days.....
Lenovo is right
to run into the problem you have to:
1- activate the password feature
2- not backup your password anywhere
3- forget your password
It's a trifecta of stupidity, you get what's coming to you.
Plus, I really object to 3rd parties unlocking the stuff I choose to lock.
All the whiners don't seem to realize that security comes at a cost, mainly in convenience. If you don't want to be bothered when forgetting your pwd... then don't use one.
