How to set, remove, or change a hard drive password - ThinkPad

This document contains information on how to set, remove or change a hard drive password on your IBM ThinkPad 365X, 380, 385, 560, 750, 755, 760, 765.

Note: Do not forget your hard disk password! Keep it in a safe place. If you forget your hard disk password, there is no way to reset your password or recover data in the hard disk drive. Neither an IBM authorized reseller nor IBM marketing
representative can make the hard disk drive usable.


*Removing a Hard Disk Password:
The procedure to remove a hard disk password depends on whether or not it is set to the same password as the power-on password.

When the hard disk password is set the same as the power-on password:
Remove the password by following the procedure below. This operation removes both the hard disk password and the power on password.

You must remove your password at the password prompt that appears when you turn on the computer. To remove the password, at the prompt: Enter your current password, press the Spacebar and then press Enter.

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.

*Setting a Hard Disk Password:
This procedure is for setting password on the HDD in the ThinkPad, for HDD in the Select-A-Dock refer to your user guide.
1. Start Easy-Setup by pressing and holding F1 and then turning on the computer.
2. Select Password icon and then select HDD-1 or HDD-2 according to the hard disk type you want to set.
3. Type your desired hard disk 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 are treated the same.
4. Type your hard disk drive password again to verify it; the press Enter.

*Changing a Hard Disk Password:
The procedure to change a hard disk password depends on whether or not it is set to the same password as the power-on password.

When the hard disk password is set the same as the power-on password: Remove the password by following the procedure below. This operation removes both the hard disk password and the power on password.

You must remove your password at the password prompt that appears when you turn on the computer. To remove the password, at the prompt - Enter your current password, press the Spacebar and then press Enter. Next set a new password using the following:
1. Start Easy-Setup by pressing and holding F1 and then turning on the computer.
2. Select Password icon and then select HDD-1 or HDD-2 according to the hard disk type you want to set.
3. Type your desired hard disk 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 are treated the same.
4. Type your hard disk drive password again to verify it; the press Enter.

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 a power-on password, type it; then press Enter.
3. When the hard disk drive password prompt appears, type your current hard disk drive password; then press 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.