spbios and SMDFlea are absolutely right. If you only want to reset your Lenovo L540's BIOS password, you need no new BIOS flash. The SVP is held in the chip SMDFlea's picture helped me to locate. Though the chip is a P24S08, it is so tiny, that only "08 -1 EL" is printed on it, so it's hard to recognise.
To reset the BIOS password you have to short legs 5 and 6, as others have already stated. Timing is critical. If you short them too early, the laptop won't boot. If you short them too late or for too long, you'll get the password prompt.
So here's the correct sequence:
1. Turn on the laptop.
2. As soon as the display turns on, short pins 5 and 6 and keep them shorted.
3. Hit F1 to open BIOS.
4. Wait no more than 2-3 seconds and release short. If you wait too long, it's over.
5. BIOS opens up, you are in.
6. Go to SVP password, set up a new one and Save&Exit with F10.
From here you can keep your new SVP or go again into the BIOS with your new SVP and erase it pressing only ENTER when asked for new SVP and save with F10.
The procedure is in fact the same not only for the L540, but for all other Lenovos that have such a dedicated EEPROM password chip. Only the chip's location varies from model to model. If you can locate it, the procedure will work.
Thanks to SMDFlea showing where the chip is and to Ultimate DIY at youtube.com/watch?v=jKd46HdFyFY for pointing out how critical the timing is.
spbios and SMDFlea are absolutely right. If you only want to reset your Lenovo L540's BIOS password, you need no new BIOS flash. The SVP is held in the chip SMDFlea's picture helped me to locate. Though the chip is a P24S08, it is so tiny, that only "08 -1 EL" is printed on it, so it's hard to recognise.
To reset the BIOS password you have to short legs 5 and 6, as others have already stated. Timing is critical. If you short them too early, the laptop won't boot. If you short them too late or for too long, you'll get the password prompt.
So here's the correct sequence:
1. Turn on the laptop.
2. As soon as the display turns on, short pins 5 and 6 and keep them shorted.
3. Hit F1 to open BIOS.
4. Wait no more than 2-3 seconds and release short. If you wait too long, it's over.
5. BIOS opens up, you are in.
6. Go to SVP password, set up a new one and Save&Exit with F10.
From here you can keep your new SVP or go again into the BIOS with your new SVP and erase it pressing only ENTER when asked for new SVP and save with F10.
The procedure is in fact the same not only for the L540, but for all other Lenovos that have such a dedicated EEPROM password chip. Only the chip's location varies from model to model. If you can locate it, the procedure will work.
Thanks to SMDFlea showing where the chip is and to Ultimate DIY at youtube.com/watch?v=jKd46HdFyFY for pointing out how critical the timing is.
Thanks you soooo much.... You saved the day for me.
Hello. I reset the BIOS password without soldering wires. Our EEPROM chip is located under the touchpad of the laptop. To access pins 5 and 6, we need to cut a small window in the plastic cover under the touchpad. To do this, you will need to remove the keyboard, touchpad, and the cover itself. Carefully cut out the window with a sharp knife. To avoid accidentally shorting anything, I taped the pins and the area around the chip with tape. I left only two pins, 5 and 6.
Then I put the cover back, connected the keyboard and touchpad. Using the above method, I turned on the laptop, shorted the pins, pressed F1, and entered the BIOS where I reset the password
Just a quick thanks for posting this, and the pics.
Used them on the L540, and was successful.
I liked the idea of the cutout under the touchpad, but instead to reduce work, used a USB keyboard, and only the power ribbon off to the right (so I could power it) and left everything else off.
(bios does recoginize USB keyboard, you don't have to install stock one)
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