simala
asked on
Omnibook 800 CT
1. Is the P133 used in the notebook the same physical size as the one used in desktop?
2. A previous user set a pswd on the notebook BIOS so I can't upgrade it. I suppose there is a related jumper to flash the password somewhere close the mobo battery as is on the desktop mobo. Am I right?
2. A previous user set a pswd on the notebook BIOS so I can't upgrade it. I suppose there is a related jumper to flash the password somewhere close the mobo battery as is on the desktop mobo. Am I right?
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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Oh. OK. I would think that there would be a a Clear CMOS jumper near the CMOS chip or battery. Can you find a manual and see what it says?. How about taking the CMOS battery out for about 20 minutes and then putting it back in?
ASKER
I will buy a torx screwdriver and have a try.
You might be able to get to it by just taking the Keyboard off.
ASKER
I have an instruction from Locker Gnome on the related howto. Is it difficult? My Toshiba 2800 is very convenient in terms of replacing its hd. It has a separate compartent. Just one screw needs to be driven to open it.
Laptops can be a pain in the a**. Just go slow and make sure you make notes on how it came apart.
I have an EPROM programmer, if the original BIOS memory map and that of the one in the chip is compared it should be possible to remove a password, can anyone expand on this, I could do the job (if it's a DIL chip (used in most desktop mobo's upto about PII/PIII), i'm in UK so customs might be a problem..
ASKER
Can any expert explain what the working principle of tiny strap connector for the keyboard is? It seems the strap is plugged into the mobo slot and then tightened up with the plastic part which can slide along the strap. Is this part (the sliding slot) hinged on one side of the mobo slot or can totally come off of the mobo slot?
rabid_surfer
Thanks for your offer. However, I prefer to solve it here. Even if I can't upgrade the bios, I read somewhere the latest bios won't solve the 8.4G barrier problem anyway. A download from IBM is needed. But it is always nice to have the upgrade anyway.
coral47
Torx bought. HD replacement shouldn't be a problem. Previously I used spanned zip files to copy w95 basic installation files one floppy after another to this omnibook due to it has no cd rom drive. But now I can do it from other notebook which has a cd rom drive -- though not straight forward but it is much better than the above spanned zip approach.
Now the problem is with the pswd removal. I can't see sth familiar with the desktop mobo to help me locate the jumper. Any expert knows?
rabid_surfer
Thanks for your offer. However, I prefer to solve it here. Even if I can't upgrade the bios, I read somewhere the latest bios won't solve the 8.4G barrier problem anyway. A download from IBM is needed. But it is always nice to have the upgrade anyway.
coral47
Torx bought. HD replacement shouldn't be a problem. Previously I used spanned zip files to copy w95 basic installation files one floppy after another to this omnibook due to it has no cd rom drive. But now I can do it from other notebook which has a cd rom drive -- though not straight forward but it is much better than the above spanned zip approach.
Now the problem is with the pswd removal. I can't see sth familiar with the desktop mobo to help me locate the jumper. Any expert knows?
ASKER
I just downloaded the manual. It seems there is no jumper for that pswd removal.
Appendix B - Hewlett-Packard Password
Removal Policy
If the user forgets the system password, there is a master password that will
unlock the OmniBook. The user calls Technical Support to determine this
master password as follows:
1. Support will tell the user the keys to type at the password entry screen:
[Alt][Shift][f10]
2. The OmniBook generates and displays an encoded master password.
This is displayed under the normal password entry area. At this point, this
is the only password that will unlock the OmniBook unless the user
presses [ESC] to remove the encoded master from the password entry
screen. Then the user's stored password can be entered.
3. The user reads the encoded master password to Support.
4. Support runs a program that decodes the encoded password, and reads
the decoded password (alphanumeric) to the user.
5. The user types in the decoded password.
6. OmniBook decodes the encoded master password it generated and
compares it to the decoded password typed in by the user.
7. If the two passwords match, the OmniBook is unlocked. The forgotten
password is automatically erased. Support can then guide the user
through the process of entering a new password.
8. If the two passwords do not match, the previous sequence must be
repeated until the user correctly enters a master password.
The encoded master password is an eight-character alphanumeric sequence
that the OmniBook generates at random every time the appropriate keys are
pressed in the password entry screen. Because it is generated randomly, a
master password can only be used to unlock the OmniBook once. If the user
forgets the password at another time, it will require another call to Support. (If
the user presses the appropriate keys by mistake, pressing [ESC] will allow
entering the stored password.)
The password descramble programs for the HP OmniBook Notebook PCs are
protected as HP Company Private information. They may not be copied,
backed-up, printed or distributed. There are only six official copies of each
program.
In addition to the program being protected, its use is also controlled. Hewlett-
Packard and authorized support providers must ensure with written evidence
that the OmniBook that is being "descrambled" is actually in the hands of the
unit's actual and current owner. This requires a sales receipt showing the unit
serial number and owner's name, or a written statement from the owner
attesting that he or she is the owner of the unit. The statement can be a fax
copy of the document. The fact that the unit is in the hands of an HP
representative on behalf of the customer is not evidence of ownership. In
addition, HP will not descramble a unit for any non-owner, even if it involves
law enforcement agencies. If you receive such a request, you should notify
management and HP Corporate Legal immediately. (These requests may
require a court order prior to our participation.)
Further, you must log the name, serial number and date of the running of the
descramble program, and file the written backup with the log. The log and
backup are subject to standard record retention process and review.
The final issue relating to descramble of passwords is that HP cannot provide
information to users that would assist them in improperly descrambling a
password and opening a unit.
Appendix B - Hewlett-Packard Password
Removal Policy
If the user forgets the system password, there is a master password that will
unlock the OmniBook. The user calls Technical Support to determine this
master password as follows:
1. Support will tell the user the keys to type at the password entry screen:
[Alt][Shift][f10]
2. The OmniBook generates and displays an encoded master password.
This is displayed under the normal password entry area. At this point, this
is the only password that will unlock the OmniBook unless the user
presses [ESC] to remove the encoded master from the password entry
screen. Then the user's stored password can be entered.
3. The user reads the encoded master password to Support.
4. Support runs a program that decodes the encoded password, and reads
the decoded password (alphanumeric) to the user.
5. The user types in the decoded password.
6. OmniBook decodes the encoded master password it generated and
compares it to the decoded password typed in by the user.
7. If the two passwords match, the OmniBook is unlocked. The forgotten
password is automatically erased. Support can then guide the user
through the process of entering a new password.
8. If the two passwords do not match, the previous sequence must be
repeated until the user correctly enters a master password.
The encoded master password is an eight-character alphanumeric sequence
that the OmniBook generates at random every time the appropriate keys are
pressed in the password entry screen. Because it is generated randomly, a
master password can only be used to unlock the OmniBook once. If the user
forgets the password at another time, it will require another call to Support. (If
the user presses the appropriate keys by mistake, pressing [ESC] will allow
entering the stored password.)
The password descramble programs for the HP OmniBook Notebook PCs are
protected as HP Company Private information. They may not be copied,
backed-up, printed or distributed. There are only six official copies of each
program.
In addition to the program being protected, its use is also controlled. Hewlett-
Packard and authorized support providers must ensure with written evidence
that the OmniBook that is being "descrambled" is actually in the hands of the
unit's actual and current owner. This requires a sales receipt showing the unit
serial number and owner's name, or a written statement from the owner
attesting that he or she is the owner of the unit. The statement can be a fax
copy of the document. The fact that the unit is in the hands of an HP
representative on behalf of the customer is not evidence of ownership. In
addition, HP will not descramble a unit for any non-owner, even if it involves
law enforcement agencies. If you receive such a request, you should notify
management and HP Corporate Legal immediately. (These requests may
require a court order prior to our participation.)
Further, you must log the name, serial number and date of the running of the
descramble program, and file the written backup with the log. The log and
backup are subject to standard record retention process and review.
The final issue relating to descramble of passwords is that HP cannot provide
information to users that would assist them in improperly descrambling a
password and opening a unit.
Whoa! Major pain in the a**. If it is a 800 number, call them up anyway, and see what they have to say. They may have changed their policy. < not holding breath >.
ASKER
I bought it at auction as second hand. So of course I am not the registered owner as such. I doubt whether this omnibook really doesn't have a baterry and pswd reset jumper. Any expert pls help me out.
Later on I will try coral47 pswd list, though I am not sure whether the pswd was set by just the user or the factory.
Later on I will try coral47 pswd list, though I am not sure whether the pswd was set by just the user or the factory.
Thank you much. : )
ASKER
I will try yours anyway.