[Wolves] hardware talk

[Kevanf1]

On 17/02/06, Andrew Lewis <andrew at monkeysailor.co.uk> wrote:
>
> > Surely there must be a jumper somewhere on teh board that will allow
> > you to reset the BIOS totally.  Which should have the effect of
> > clearing this password?  I will admit, though, I haven't seen this
> > sort of password before.  I have come across the normal BIOS security
> > password that in effect sets up a BIOS admin.
> There is actually a password chip built into the motherboard, which has
> non-volatile memory & is almost independent of the bios. As I understand it, the chip has limited capability to access
> the usb or serial ports & check for a specific file or wiring sequence.
> Without the usb stick, I'm up the creek. IBM did a similar thing once,
> and when the bios battery went flat the password would get corrupted.
> The IBM official fix for it it "buy a new motherboard"!
>
> spline
>

Ah, now I understand.  It's very much what Peter C was telling me
about earlier today.  I haven't come across this so I was puzzled. 
Now I know  :-)  It does seem to be a bit of a 'shoot in the foot'
type of security measure.

Good luck with it and do keep us updated with the outcome.
--
==============================================
I am only human, please forgive me if I make a mistake it is not deliberate.
==============================================
Xmas may be over but,  PLEASE DON'T drink and drive you'll make it to
the next one that way.

Kevan Farmer

Linux user #373362

Cheslyn Hay
Staffordshire
WS6 7HR