From: Matt Winston (mattwinston_at_ameritech.net)
Date: Fri Oct 12 2001 - 20:35:23 EDT
Methinks you are stuck. Your story might or might not be legit. One thing to
keep in mind; When buying used anything, take it for a test drive and check
the system out. You can't beef about a password requirement that previously
existed when you could have asked the last owner for it, or not bought that
unit. If you are in the reselling business, as your statement, "I've been
servicing and buying thinkpads for months now", then you should be up on
inspecting merchandise being offered for sale. If you buy stuff on internet
auctions, you are only asking for grief since you can't examine the
merchandise prior to sale. You would check under the hood of a used car to
see if the engine looked like it had been well maintained, wouldn't you?
Straight folks have little to no problem with security settings and
passwords which protect their investments. We accept the trade offs of
inconvenience for peace of mind. As to your rant on IBM, why should they
freely assist in lifting the security veil. Wouldn't be worth much to have a
lock down policy if you broke it at will. I'll tell you this....if I forget
my own password, and have to pay serious dough to straighten things out, I
guaranty it will be the last time I make that mistake. It's like getting an
expensive speeding ticket. The pain of the penalty makes you think twice the
next time you drive.
In the meantime, anyone who decides my Thinkpad should be their's will have
a very nice paperweight to look at.
Sure, I'll need to buy another, but the thief may remember how his effort
and risk returned no prize, and think twice before swiping another one.
Betcha 5 bucks you check these things from now on. BTW, also look for
password protected screen savers and suspend settings.
Some folks are just evil aren't they?
Matt
PS: one benefit of a screensaver password enabled, is that your co-workers
who might have wanted to "check out" the laptop can't.
They may complain to you that you don't trust them, and why can't they play
with your Thinkpad, etc. Guess what? They will never even consider taking
yours, because they know IT WON'T WORK when they get it home. That's the
message to send to be safeguarded from someone with a momentary lapse of
honor.
----- Original Message -----
From: "CarMichael -" <isp_rep_at_consultant.com>
To: <THINKPAD_at_cs.utk.edu>
Sent: Friday, October 12, 2001 7:59 AM
Subject: ThinkPad 240 Supervisor Password
> Ok People,
>
> I'm pissed I've been servicing and buying thinkpads for months now. Every
now and then I get one with the bloody supervisor password set. Does anyone
have instructions on how to crack these passowrds.
>
> I know about the password chip. Anybody have instructions as to what chip
it is. I'm about to bloody start duplication unset chips myself I refuse to
pay $200 buck to reset my damn password on $300 notebooks.
>
> Current problem is a ThinkPad 240 with supervisor chip set. If anyone has
any data that can help me be on my way. I will share any findings with you
and the whole freakin internet on a website I will set up. I'm tired of
this bullshyt IBM is trying to pull. Replace system board, bullshyt. IBM
F**K You!!!
>
> Lets get this shyt rollin!!!
> --
>
> _______________________________________________
>
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