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#11
Resetting the bios means the complete loss of the encrypted drive.
The first step is to contact her son and ask him if he Encrypted the drive and saved the Bitlocker recovery key... Maybe he knows the bios password and everything will get back in line. without tempering anything.
Second thing When you lock a computer for someone else you do it with them and make them type all the password them selves.
If the device has a master password installed it may be impossible to recover... Lenovos are notorious for strong anti theft / reuse protection.
This is because Linux does not support BitLocker disk encryption, so by default Linux cannot unlock BitLocker encrypted drives. To access BitLocker-encrypted drives in Linux, we have to use a third-party BitLocker solution for Linux,If linux can defeat bitlocker encryption, whats the point of it?
Both the CMOS battery and SSD are covered by the MB making it a process I do not want to get into as there are too many delicate looking connections and I have to remember where each screw came from as they are different sizes. This used to be much easier and may still be on laptops outside of Lenovo.
There is no CD and only one US port. Tried running a Live CD, but it does not see any boot device and that can only be changed in the BIOS and that is password protected. Tried for backdoor password, but three strikes only calls for reboot with no numbers to research.
Not sure how to put it back in pre-ship state with the Bitlocker locking the drive.
I am pretty sure that I will never work on another Lenovo. First one had a power issue that I could not fix and now this mess. I am fairly certain the son as testing his skills as I cannot figure out how the secure boot got turned off with the BIOS being locked. I will see if she is fine with me just removing the SSD and trashing the PC so she can get her pictures and such of if she wants to carry it to a shop where it will be $75-80 an hour plus any parts. Unless you have an other suggestions, I will have to concede defeat.
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He does not know the keys or it would not have come to me. I offered my services for free to single Moms, widows and Veterans on FB and that was how I got it.
I have never locked a PC for anyone because I know they will forget and lose any documentation I give them. If I understood her correctly this was a work laptop given to her when they upgraded. If they did it, they do not remember or have a clue as to what was put in.
I once volunteered for a local woman's job corps and the were donated PCs that you could not load from a CD or USB because of corporate passwords that were not removed. Makes it difficult to support. If your company ever donates be sure they unsecure it so the new owners can fully use it and put their own security on them.
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That is a NO GO, Commander!
I recently bought a used Dell laptop from a pawn shop chain that, unbeknown to them, had a password protected bios. I could get into the bios and look, but couldn't change anything.
After trying and failing to enter the bios password enough times a screen comes up with a code number on it. Given this code, Dell Support can supply a password reset code to unlock the bios and remove the supervisor password. Fortunately the laptop was new enough to still have support, and that support went with the laptop when sold on. I phoned Dell support, gave them the code, and they gave me a one-time unlock code in return. Lenovo's bios passwords work the same way, generating a code that support can use to provide an unlock key.
I subsequently found out that there are 3rd-party websites out there that say they can also provide the unlock code if you tell them your 'locked' code.
Sadly, this one is out of warranty. If they are as expensive as Apple, which they may be more, she may not be up for that. Apple charged my DIL's Dad $185 to unlock his iPad. This one does not give a locked code after three strikes. It just tells you that it has to be rebooted. Good thought though!!
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I called the lady with the bad news and she told me that it was doing a mandatory BIOS update from Lenovo when it cratered. The update failed it would seem and boogered it up. No wonder nothing would work that y'all suggested. We discussed trying to get Lenovo to fix it. Not sure that will work, but since it was their update that caused the problem they may help her even though it is a 2018 model.
Also found out she is not a single Mom. She answered my post where so I did not ask that question. Note to self, ask, but I never turn anyone down so it is basically irrelevant.
Thanks for all the help! I appreciate your time.