You can try other methods to clear the BIOS password, such as consulting the manual or using factory reset options.
You can try other methods to clear the BIOS password, such as consulting the manual or using factory reset options.
In 2011, my high school gave me a Lenovo ThinkPad Edge 11 through a government initiative. Everything was secured—OS, BIOS, all locked down. It wasn’t my actual laptop, so it was fine. After graduation, I handed it in to the school IT team, who would install a fresh Windows 7 image and unlock the BIOS. Now I own it. They put the Windows image on, but didn’t unlock the BIOS password. For my university course, I need basic Linux knowledge. The machine has only 2GB RAM and a 1.1Ghz Celeron processor, so running a virtual environment isn’t possible (the CPU doesn’t support VMs). I don’t want to use Linux on my desktop; I mainly play games there. I wanted to force myself to use Linux daily—install it on the laptop, study in class, and experiment. School holidays began soon, matching university breaks, so I thought setting up Linux would be a great project. But the BIOS was locked, school was closed, and I couldn’t try it. I’ve already tried many removal tools, including Plop Boot Manger, and even removed the CMOS battery for a day without success. Any other options? I also explored backdoor passwords, though it’s a Phoenix BIOS. [tl;dr] The BIOS was supposed to be unlocked, but it wasn’t. USB booting isn’t working for Linux installation. Help needed.
No, I can't flash the BIOS.
Reach out to the high school tech experts for guidance.
On TPs the supervisor password can only be reset if a new motherboard is provided, have you considered reaching out to your previous school for the password?
I planned this as a holiday activity while I had some free time, and my old school was closed for breaks. I thought it would be fun to try it out, but it’s way beyond my abilities. Probably better to wait until school resumes. Thanks for the help!
You can start from other media such as a DVD. You also removed the laptop battery along with the CMOS battery. The password appears when you enter BIOS, not immediately after removal. The password is likely stored in a TPM module, which is why the CMOS battery removal doesn't help.