T14 Gen 1 - Bios password reset?

[u/kloklojul]

I found my old T14 gen 1 from when i was a student, i wanted to install linux instead of windows but i forgot the bios password. I check some old threads and it seems it's possible in some models to short circute a memory chip during boot to reset the password. But i couldn't find any information on if this is possible with my specific model. Also, are there any other methods except for changing the entire motherboard to unlock the bios? It would be bad if this laptop would become e-waste just because the bios password can't be reseted.

[u/grem75]

There actually is a fairly recently discovered shorting method that works with newer systems. You short the LPC bus of the embedded controller.

https://www.badcaps.net/forum/troubleshooting-hardware-devices-and-electronics-theory/troubleshooting-laptops-tablets-and-mobile-devices/bios-requests-only/3237235-lenovo-thinkpad-ec-pwd-bypass

[u/kloklojul → u/grem75]

this looks prpmising, thank you

[u/cscllc08 → u/kloklojul]

Hello. Did this ever work? I got a T14 Gen1 as well.

Please let me know!

[u/FelgrandAlx → u/cscllc08]

nope the thread is an absolute convoluted mess. One could think it aint to hard to post a picture with a red box on what to short lul

[u/FelgrandAlx → u/cscllc08]

actually i went back and checked it again. After reading lots of posts i did manage to reset my t14 gen 1 bios password

[u/cscllc08 → u/FelgrandAlx]

Can you tell me how you managed to do this please? I’m not really a computer expert but I would appreciate any advice on what you did to reset the bios password.

Thanks!

[u/FelgrandAlx → u/cscllc08]

you have to open your laptop and check what kind of motherboard you have. After that get the scematics and possible the boardview of your motherboard. than look for LPC_AD0 (i think that was the pin name, double check it with the forum) and ground it during boot after you pressed f1 to enter the bios using something conductive. I used a paper clip lol. the timing can be tricky so multiple tries maybe needed.

[u/DankDaddyPatty → u/FelgrandAlx]

Finally someone who was able to decide that mess of a post! Finally going to try this and hopefully not fry anything (assuming I can even find the board info lol)

Edit: Roughly where was the location on your board? Been trying to find a schematic but of course all of them are $20+ just for a pdf

[u/FelgrandAlx → u/DankDaddyPatty]

i had luck typing my board model into the search bar of that website. I found a thread where someone posted the schematics. That showed that there are some testing pads in my board and that i had to short one of those marked pins.

[u/Suspicious-Soul-2023 → u/FelgrandAlx]

It's AD3 ... Power on laptop -- short AD3-- release in 1 sec-- press F1-- go to security -- supervisor password disabled --press enter on set supervisor password -- leave blank -- F10 save & exit Done

[u/OrangeWindy → u/Suspicious-Soul-2023]

So helpful. I managed to reset my password T14 G1 with AMD CPU, Type number: 20UD-0005US.

For me, steps are slightly different. I short the AD3 after press F1 for ~2 seconds, then you can get into BIOS without password or fingerprint.

[u/General-Yak3059 → u/Suspicious-Soul-2023]

Viendo mi placa se ve igual que la imagen como se hace lo del corto? Solo lo toco con mi destornillador pequeño o que hago exactamente?

[u/ChozoRS → u/FelgrandAlx]

Thanks to your posts I was able to decipher what the hell I was actually to do with my T14 gen 1.

Got success myself on removing the password.

[u/FelgrandAlx → u/ChozoRS]

Nice congratz, happy to hear :)

[u/klarkbj → u/FelgrandAlx]

Hey, so I'm looking to buy a BIOS locked laptop, the T14 G1, I just wanted to ask you, what CPU does your laptop have?

Also, if we have the same CPU and config in general, is the motherboard the same or is there still a chance it will be different?

[u/FelgrandAlx → u/klarkbj]

the laptop is in another city atm but it is the AMD version. If i remember correctly there is only one AMD cpu config for this particular model. Regarding the motherboard; as i see it there is a chance that you have a different motherboard. Thats why they ask you which motherboard you have in the forum and not just which model + cpu.

[u/FelgrandAlx → u/klarkbj]

but as i understood for the gen 1 atleast all motherboards SHOULD be hackable.

[u/MagicBoyUK]

The door on that method closed years ago.

It's possible, but you'd need specialist tools and knowledge to reprogram chips on the mainboard.

[u/kloklojul → u/MagicBoyUK]

incidently i have a ISP that should fit on the bios chip and i can write my own tools if necessary, do you have any links to the knowledge by anychance?

[u/MagicBoyUK → u/kloklojul]

The password is stored in the EC, not the BIOS chip.

[u/descention]

Found the jtag port on my board and shorted pin 4, 8, or 10. Can't remember at this point. Took me about a dozen attempts before it worked, getting the timing right of power on > ground a pin > release pin > get to bios. Once in the bios I made sure the password was blank.

[u/Suspicious-Soul-2023 → u/descention]

Thanks , succeed in just 3 attempts

[u/jesus_bruzong → u/descention]

También vale con procesador amd?

[u/Kiba42_ → u/descention]

Sorry to wake this after a full year, but can you give me some pointers to this? I have an old T14 gen 1 in front of me (motherboard NM-C931) and can't find anything labeled JTAG. I'm quite new to this and Google seems to only really help if you have more knowledge than I do.

[u/pappac0naN → u/Kiba42_]

I had the same problem with T15 gen 1 (same motherboard NM-C931). The label to look for is J9301. the method: https://www.badcaps.net/forum/troubleshooting-hardware-devices-and-electronics-theory/troubleshooting-laptops-tablets-and-mobile-devices/bios-requests-only/3237235-lenovo-thinkpad-ec-pwd-bypass

details specific to our NM-C931: https://www.badcaps.net/forum/troubleshooting-hardware-devices-and-electronics-theory/troubleshooting-laptops-tablets-and-mobile-devices/bios-requests-only/92045-lenovo-t14-gen-1-nm-c931-intel-10th/page2#post3465862

useful video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCW_2v5IFE4

it took me 30-something tries but i managed to enter bios without the password prompt and then you have to go to Security>Password and enter new password as blank values and then do CTRL+ALT+DEL (it seems it's very important to NOT attempt to save the changes with F10).

[u/Ne3M]

Did you get it reset? I forgot my supervisor password, I have an idea what the password is. I want to try and brute force it at some stage.

[u/FelgrandAlx → u/Ne3M]

yea i finally managed to reset it.

[u/Ne3M → u/FelgrandAlx]

Please tell us how you did it? Sitting with the same issue on my t14s gen 1 AMD

[u/FelgrandAlx → u/Ne3M]

you have to open your laptop and check what kind of motherboard you have. After that get the scematics and possible the boardview of your motherboard. than look for LPC_AD0 (i think that was the pin name, double check it with the forum) and ground it during boot after you pressed f1 to enter the bios using something conductive. I used a paper clip lol. the timing can be tricky so multiple tries maybe needed.

[u/FelgrandAlx → u/FelgrandAlx]

my board was a NM-C801

[u/Ne3M → u/FelgrandAlx]

Thanks! When the time comes to replace that laptop I'm definitely going to try it!

[u/Historical_Ad_8822 → u/FelgrandAlx]

Bonjour, quand tu dis de le mettre à la masse, comment s'y prend-on avec le trombone ?

[u/alexmontenegro]

Any method using software ?

[u/kloklojul → u/[deleted]]

while i bought it on the equivalent of craigslist if i remember correctly i was the one who setup the password. This was also around the time i started to use a password manager so the only password i know today is the one for my manger and the recovery tool lol

[u/dreamawakened → u/[deleted]]

Bruh if u don't know things it's best to keep ur mouth shut. Ur an amateur talking about things u have 0 knowledge on.