How to backup current BIOS

[Avalon]

Hey, my friend bought a used IBM/Lenovo Thinkpad R60. He was having issues with wireless, so I took a look at it and found that the internal wifi slot was disabled in BIOS. Unfortunately, the BIOS is password locked.

I had thought maybe if I could get a dump of his current BIOS, I could hex edit it to enable the internal wifi slot and force flash that back on. However, I can't seem to find something to do that.

I did some searching on Lenovo's site, and all they provide is an update utility. They also provide Winphlash, but that won't backup the current BIOS without a current BIOS file, which I can't seem to find anywhere. I did some googling and nothing I tried would work. Do you guys have any suggestions?

 

[Paperdoc]

Take a close look at the update utility on the Lenovo site. I have an entirely different machine (ASUS mobo), and their BIOS update utility has TWO options. One is to write a new BIOS file into the BIOS chip. The other, which you really should use FIRST, allows you to copy the current BIOS contents onto a floppy drive as a BIOS update file. That disk CAN then be used to re-install your original BIOS if the new one fails. Maybe Lenovo's utility is similar??

 

[LiuKangBakinPie]

Password locked. Laptop eh its main security feature. Just pray and hope the lappy manufacturers havent followed dell and placed the password on a seperate chip which require two methods to reset it. 1 is with a soldering Iron. The other was thru dell. If the other manufacturers follow suite. 1 word SUPPORT. Every lappy got them unless you wiped the OEM OS. Or did you buy the laptop from the back of a scousers van?

 

[Matt1970]

Here is how to fix it. http://sodoityourself.com/hacking-ibm-thinkpad-bios-password/

After reading that you probably would be well off to sell it for parts.

 

[Veliko]

You can reset many laptop BIOSs by removing the battery, unplugging the power lead, disconnect everything else as well and then hold down the power button for 10 - 15 seconds.

 

[bruceb]

You can buy a tool for about $65 or so, that is said to be able to get rid of the password.'

http://www.tpads-plus.net/