IBM ThinkPad 760E, 760ED, 760EL, 760XD, or 760XL User's Guide

Protecting Your Computer

Partial Table-of-Contents

Using Passwords

There are three types of passwords you can use to protect your computer and the removable hard disk drive:

• The power-on password protects your computer from being used by unauthorized persons.

• The hard disk password protects the data on your removable hard disk drive from being accessed by unauthorized persons.

• The supervisor password protects the system information in Easy-Setup from being modified and your removable hard disk drive from being used by unauthorized persons.

Power-On Password

If a power-on password is set, the password prompt () appears on the screen whenever you turn on the computer and reminds you to enter the password. (Ref #67.)

Setting a Power-On Password

Note: If Initialize in the Config menu, Password, or Start up cannot be selected when using Easy-Setup, a supervisor password is set. You must enter the supervisor password instead of the power-on password to use all Easy-Setup functions.

1. Start Easy-Setup by pressing and holding F1 and then turning on the computer.

2. Select the Password icon and then the Power-On icon ().

3. Type your desired power-on password; then press Enter.
   

   Note: When you type a wrong key, use the Backspace key to erase it and then type the correct key.

   You can use any combination of up to 7 characters. Use a combination of any letters or numbers (A to Z, 0 to 9) in uppercase (A) or lowercase (a). Uppercase and lowercase letters (for example, A and a) are treated the same.

4. Type your power-on password again to verify it; then press Enter.

Once you set the password, you cannot change or remove it in Easy-Setup; you must change or remove a password at the password prompt screen that appears when you turn on the computer. See "Changing a Power-On Password" or "Removing a Power-On Password".

Entering a Power-On Password

If a power-on password is set, the password prompt reminds you to enter the password when:

• Turning on the computer.

• Returning to normal operation from suspend mode.

When the password prompt appears at the top left corner on the screen, type your power-on password and press the Enter key.

• When the password is entered correctly, OK appears and the computer starts normal operation.

• When you enter the password incorrectly, X appears. Enter the correct password.

  If you fail to enter the correct password after three tries, you must turn the computer off, wait at least 5 seconds, and turn it on to try again.

Changing a Power-On Password

1. Type your current power-on password; then press the Spacebar.

2. Type the new password; then press the Spacebar.

   Use no more than 7 characters.

3. Type the new password again to verify it; then press Enter.

The new password will be available when you turn on the computer the next time.

Do Not Forget Your Power-On Password!
If you forget your power-on password, you cannot reset it. You have to take the computer to an IBM authorized reseller or IBM marketing representative to have the password canceled. An additional charge will be required for the service.

Removing a Power-On Password

Hard Disk Password

When you turn on the computer, the hard disk password prompt appears on the screen and reminds you to enter your password.

When a hard disk password is set, a preset timer or an incoming call do not activate the resume function.

To use the resume function with a hard disk password, set the same password for both the power-on password and the hard disk password.

Note

Using a hard disk password with a power-on password: You can use the hard disk password with the power-on password at the same time. When you turn on the computer, the power-on password prompt appears first and then the hard disk password prompt appears on the screen. Enter the correct passwords. When you set the same hard disk password as the power-on password, only the power-on password prompt appears on the screen. Enter the correct password. The hard disk password screen does not appear.

Setting a Hard Disk Password

To set a hard disk password:

Note: If Initialize in the Config menu, Password, or Start up functions cannot be selected when using Easy-Setup, the supervisor password is set. You must enter the supervisor password instead of the power-on password to use all Easy-Setup functions.

Note
Before you set a hard disk password for the hard disk drive in the SelectaDock Docking System attached to the computer, you need to move that drive to the main hard disk drive bay of the computer from the SelectaDock Docking System. You cannot set a password for a hard disk installed in the SelectaDock Docking System.

SelectaDock Docking System: > "Using the SelectaDock Docking System or SelectaDock II Docking System".

1. Start Easy-Setup by pressing and holding F1 and then turning on the computer.

2. Select the Password icon and then select HDD-1 () or HDD-2 () according to the hard disk type you want to set.
   

   Note: HDD-1 represents a main hard disk password and HDD-2 represents a secondary hard disk (installed in the UltraBay) password.

3.  Type your desired hard disk password; then press Enter.
   

   Note: When you type a wrong key, use the Backspace key to erase it, and then type the correct key.

   You can use any combination of up to 7 characters. Use a combination of any letters or numbers (A to Z, 0 to 9) in uppercase (A) or lowercase (a). Uppercase and lowercase letters (for example, A and a) are treated the same.

4. Type your hard disk password again to verify it; then press Enter.

Entering a Hard Disk Password

If a hard disk password is set, the hard disk password prompt appears when:

• You turn on the computer.

• When the computer returns to normal operation from suspend or hibernation mode.

requests the hard disk password for the hard disk in the main hard disk drive bay of the computer,
requests the hard disk password for the hard disk in the UltraBay of the computer, and
requests the hard disk password for the hard disk in the UltraBay of the SelectaDock Docking System attached to the computer.

When the password prompt appears at the top left corner on the screen, type the hard disk password; then press Enter.


Note: Do not press the Spacebar after you enter the password; this action removes the password.

• When the password is entered correctly, OK appears and the computer starts normal operation.

• When you enter the password incorrectly, X appears. Enter the correct password.

  If you fail to enter the correct password after three tries, you must turn the computer off, wait at least 5 seconds, and turn it on to try again.

Changing a Hard Disk Password

1. Remove the passwords by following the steps in "Removing a Power-On Password".

   This operation removes both the hard disk password and the power-on password.

2. In Easy-Setup, set a new hard disk password. See the steps on "Setting a Hard Disk Password".

3. If you need a power-on password, set it in Easy-Setup.

When the hard disk password and the power-on password are different, or the power-on password has not been set:

1. Turn off the computer and wait at least 5 seconds; then turn it on.

2. If you have set a power-on password, type it; then press Enter.

3. When the hard disk password prompt () appears, type your current hard disk password; then press the Spacebar.

4. Type the new password; then press the Spacebar.

   Use no more than 7 characters.

5. Type the new password again to verify it; then press Enter.

Removing a Hard Disk Password

When the hard disk password is set the same as the power-on password:

1. Remove the password by following the steps in "Removing a Power-On Password".

   This operation removes both the hard disk password and the power-on password.

2. If you need a power-on password, reset it in Easy-Setup.

When the hard disk password and the power-on password are different, or a power-on password has not been set:

1. Turn off the computer and wait at least 5 seconds; then turn it on.

2. If you have set the power-on password, type it; then press Enter.

3. When the hard disk password prompt () appears, type your current password, press the Spacebar, and then press Enter.

Supervisor Password

• Secures the system information stored in Easy-Setup.

• Prohibits modification to the hardware.

• Stops the computer after a POST error to restrict access to the system information.

• Overrides the power-on password. (The supervisor password has priority over the power-on password.)
  

  Note: The supervisor password has priority over the power-on password. You can start the computer with the supervisor password even if you do not know the power-on password.

If a supervisor password is set, you are prompted with a power-on icon () to enter the supervisor password when entering the Easy-Setup program and when a POST error occurs. You can start all normal operations for the computer except Easy-Setup without the supervisor password.

Using Both Supervisor and Hard Disk Passwords
When a supervisor password is set, the same password is automatically set for the hard disk password. When you change or remove the supervisor password, the hard disk password also is changed or removed.

Setting a Supervisor Password

If in addition to the hard disk in the main hard disk drive bay, another hard disk is installed in the UltraBay of the computer, you can set the same supervisor password for that hard disk as the supervisor password for the main hard disk. However, if another hard disk is installed in the UltraBay of the SelectaDock Docking System, you cannot set the same supervisor password for it. (See "Using Several Hard Disk Drives with the Supervisor Password".)

To set a supervisor password:

1. Start Easy-Setup by pressing and holding F1 and then turning on the computer.

2. Select the Password icon and select the Supervisor icon ().

3.  Type your desired supervisor password; then press Enter.

   You can use any combination of up to 7 characters. Use a combination of any letters or numbers (A to Z, 0 to 9) in uppercase (A) or lowercase (a). Uppercase and lowercase letters (for example, A and a) are treated the same.

4. Type your supervisor password again to verify it; then press Enter.

If you are using more than one hard disk drive, see reference #80.

Entering a Supervisor Password

• When the password is entered correctly, OK appears.

• When you enter the password incorrectly, X appears. Enter the correct password.

  If you fail to enter the correct password after three tries, you must turn the computer off, wait at least 5 seconds, and turn it on to try again.

Changing a Supervisor Password

1. Turn off the computer and wait at least 5 seconds; then turn it on.

2. Start Easy-Setup by pressing and holding F1 and then turning on the computer.

3. Type your current supervisor password at the power-on prompt (); then press Enter.

4. Select the Password icon from the Easy-Setup menu.

5. Select the Supervisor icon; then type your current supervisor password and press the Spacebar.

   A window appears so you can enter a new password.

6. Type the new password; then press Enter.

7. Type the new password again for verification; then press Enter.

If you are using more than one hard disk drive, see reference #81.

Removing a Supervisor Password

1. Turn off the computer and wait at least 5 seconds; then turn it on.

2. Start Easy-Setup by pressing and holding F1 and then turning on the computer.

3. When the power-on prompt () appears, type your current supervisor password; then press Enter.

4. Select the Password icon from the Easy-Setup menu.

5. Select the Supervisor icon; then type your current password and press the Spacebar.

6. Press Enter at the blank box.

7. Press Enter again at the verification screen.

When the supervisor password is removed, the lock in the Supervisor icon is unlocked () and you can select the HDD icons.

If you are using more than one hard disk drive, see reference #81.

Using Several Hard Disk Drives with the Supervisor Password

Because the supervisor password automatically sets a hard disk password, you must set a supervisor password for each hard disk drive you are using in the main hard disk drive bay.

If you install a hard disk in the UltraBay of the computer or the SelectaDock Docking System, you must set the same supervisor password for those hard disk drives. You can set the same supervisor password for the hard disk in the main hard disk as the one in the UltraBay of the computer. But you need to move the hard disk in the SelectaDock Docking System to the main hard disk drive bay to set a supervisor password for that hard disk.

To change or remove a supervisor password when you are using several hard disk drives, you must change or remove the hard disk password for each hard disk drive.

Setting a Supervisor Password When Using Several Hard Disk Drives: (Ref #80.)

To set a supervisor password when using more than one hard disk drive on your computer:

1. Set a supervisor password on your computer.
   

   To set a supervisor password: > "Setting a Supervisor Password".

2.  Install the hard disk drive that you want to set the supervisor password for, in the main hard disk drive bay (to the right of the battery pack).
   

   To install the hard disk drive: > "Replacing the Hard Disk Drive".

3. Turn on the computer. A 158 error appears.

4. Press Enter.

5. Type your supervisor password at the power-on password prompt.

   If an error code 00158 appears, press Enter to go to the Easy-Setup password screen.

6. Select the Supervisor icon; then press Enter.

   The supervisor password sets the hard disk password on the hard disk drive.

7.  Turn off the computer. Repeat steps 2 through 7 to set the supervisor password for each hard disk drive.

Changing or Removing the Supervisor Password When Using Several Hard Disk Drives: (Ref #81.)

To change or remove the supervisor password when using more than one hard disk drive on your computer:

1.  Change or remove your supervisor password on your computer.
   

   To change the supervisor password: > "Changing a Supervisor Password".

   
   

   To remove the supervisor password: > "Removing a Supervisor Password".

2.  In the main hard disk drive bay, install the hard disk drive that has the old supervisor password set.

3. Turn on the computer. The hard disk password prompt appears.
   

   To install the hard disk password: > "Replacing the Hard Disk Drive".

4. Do one of the following:

   • If you removed the supervisor password in step 1, type the old supervisor password; then press the Spacebar.

   • If you changed the supervisor password in step 1, change the old password on the hard disk drive to the new supervisor password:
     1. Type your old password and press the Spacebar.
     2. Type your new password and press the Spacebar.
     3. Type your new password again.

5.  Press Enter.

6. Turn off the computer. Repeat steps 2 through 5 to change or remove the supervisor password for each hard disk drive.

Using the Personalization Editor

You can display personal information, such as your name or address, every time the computer is turned on and a power-on or hard disk password is set. This can help you when you misplace your computer. Because the password is set, your data is secured and cannot be accessed, but your personal information is displayed and identifies the owner of the computer.

To set the password: > "Using Passwords".

You can display your favorite background bitmap image around your personal data
.

To use the personalization editor, start the Personalization icon in the ThinkPad Features utility and see the online help.

For OS/2 Users
To use the personalization editor in OS/2 Warp, you need to install the WIN-OS/2 environment in the computer.

Using Locks

You can protect your computer and its internal devices with locks.

• To protect the internal devices under the keyboard and prevent the removal of your computer, you can purchase a Kensington MicroSaver Security System lock (hereafter called a Kensington lock) or a compatible lock.

• To protect PC Cards, you can use a PC Card lock.

Using the Security Lock

To prevent your computer and its internal devices from being removed without permission, purchase a Kensington lock or a compatible lock and do the following:

1. Lock the latch
   
   on the right side of the computer to open the keyhole
   
   .
   
   

2. Attach a Kensington lock or a compatible lock to the keyhole on the side of the computer; then secure the chain on the lock to a secure stationary object.
   
   
   

   Note: This also prevents the removal of: Internal devices under the keyboard Memory modules (DIMMs) in the memory slot.

Using the PC Card Lock

1. Open the keyboard and remove the hard disk drive; then position the PC Card lock as shown.
   
   
   

   Attention: Make sure the security latch at the right side of the computer is unlocked. (See step 2.)

   
   

   Attention: The hard disk drive is a very delicate device that needs careful handling. If it falls onto a hard surface, severe damage can occur.

2. Fit the upper portion of the PC Card lock into the two notches
   
   as shown.
   
   

3. Insert the lower portion of the PC Card lock into the openings
   
   on the bottom edge of the computer.
   
   

4. Slide the PC Card lock to the right.
   
   

5. Insert the spacer
   
   from the inside of the computer as shown to stop the PC Card lock from sliding.
   
   

6. Replace the hard disk drive and lock the keyboard using the security keyhole.
   

   To use the security keyhole: > "Using the Security Lock".

Removing the PC Card Lock

1. Open the keyboard and remove the hard disk drive.
   

   Attention: Make sure the security latch at the right side of the computer is unlocked. (See step 2.)

   
   

   Attention: The hard disk drive is a very delicate device that needs careful handling. If it falls onto a hard surface, severe damage can occur.

2. Remove the spacer from the computer.

3. Slide the PC Card lock toward the front of the computer.

4. Remove the PC Card lock first from the lower portion and then from the upper portion.

   Be sure to save the PC Card lock for future use.