Expert: Shot - 9/30/2007

Question
QUESTION: HI, I have aproblem with my IBM thinkpad. iT starts up with the IBM page and then in stead of proceeding to the windows page a black screen appears with a little computer and a lock icon next to it, liek it is waitng for a password or something. I am realli confused and I have a paper saved to the computer due tom and I cant access the computer. I am freaking out if you could get back to me asap I would really appreciate it. thanx for your time
-Lauren

ANSWER: Hi Lauren, it IS waiting for a password. That screen is the startup password screen. You enable or disable this password in the BIOS of the computer. Unfortunately, you will need to know what it is to disable it.

Shot

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: so, I can't get into the computer ? I don't know how this happened, I had left off the AC adapter by accident and the battery died and I turned it back on and this problem arose. Theres no way i can fix it ?

ANSWER: IF what you're seeing is the startup password, and I think it is, you can try going into the BIOS and disabling it. Do you get the prompt to press F1 or F2 to get into Setup on the IBM Screen?

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I turn it on, and the black screen with the IBM Thinkpad logo appears and at the bottom left cornor it says " to interrupt normal setup, presst the blue AccessIBM button", which in turn if i do0 does nothing and it eventually goes to the black screen with the little computer and lock icon.

Answer
I know that prompt, I have a Thinkpad too, but that's not the prompt I was referring to Lauren. It should just say press F1 for Setup or something to that effect, or it may not say it at all. You could just try pressing F1 (or F2 depending on model) on the IBM screen, before this black screen comes up, to see if it will let you into the setup. In the security section is the option to turn on the startup password and another password to get into the setup. I really hope that one's not set too!

IBM tech support can get you in if you're the registered owner. They have a supervisor password of some sort that lets them get in.