Trying to get Thinkpad going

[Magnum]

I will try Option A.

I feel that it would be unreasonable for me to have to buy materials to use my computer.

Andy

[dedndave]

looks like about $5 worth of parts at radio shack prices
maybe $2 if you shop around online
pretty sure i have all that stuff in my junkbox   :P

[Zen]

MAGNUM, 
I had an older T-series ThinkPad. The great thing about the T-series is that the hard drive has a hidden partition that has a re-install of the Operating System loaded on it. The R-series may have the same feature,...I don't know. To use this method, you must interrupt the normal start-up of the current Operating System by pressing the BLUE button. The machine will then re-install and configure the Windows Operating system and re-format the hard drive to the original factory specification,...this takes about an hour.
There are, however, some really nasty malware components out there,...some that will over-write your boot sector,...in which case, the re-install program will fail.

[Magnum]

Dave,

The first option you posted didn't work.

The 2nd option could lead to a complete failure of the computer.

I am continuing with contacting IBM.

I am looking for a win-win situation for IBM and myself.

Andy

[Magnum]

Today a nice computer technician said that it would take a mother board replacement to restore the I Bee MM Dinkpad.

He told me about various ways that computer companies do to "supposedly" deter theft.

Random Thought

I sell you a custom drill for $300. One day something falls over the cord ripping it from the wall and damaging the plug.

You are familiar with electronics and decide to replace the plug.

When you plug the drill in, a hidden compartment opens up and a tab comes out that says "This drill has been tampered with and is now non-operational."

Andy

[dedndave]

you know the password is inside the real-time clock extra RAM, right ?
just take the battery out for a while and put it back in

[Magnum]

It's not stored there. Already tried that.

Like the earlier post said, unless they have a secret backdoor that no one knows about, I will be asking for a MB replacement.

And no, I will not be doing any dumpster diving to find a used one.  :t

Andy

[Magnum]

I am leaning toward this option.

Or verify that shorting a couple of pins would work. (No extra hardware needed)

http://gatramu.wordpress.com/2008/07/24/h*cking-ibm-thinkpad-bios-password/

Or maybe put in a new BIOS chip ?