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Document ID: LWIK-462QNV

TP General - ThinkPad will not accept password when NumLock is enabled

Applicable to: World-Wide

Symptom:
When attempting to login to Windows 95/98 or Windows NT, it does not accept the password.

OR

After resuming from suspend mode, the ThinkPad does not accept the power-on password or the hard disk password typed on the ThinkPad keyboard. This occurs when NumLock is enabled and the password contains characters from the ThinkPad's embedded numeric keypad (ie. i, j, k, l, m, o, p, u, 0, ;, or /).

Example:
The ThinkPad is booted in a docking station or a port replicator with an external keyboard attached and the NumLock key is enabled. The ThinkPad is then suspended, and undocked. At resume, the password prompt appears. NumLock is still enabled and as a result, passwords containing characters from the ThinkPad's embedded numeric keypad will not be accepted. They will be interpreted as numeric keypad characters instead. For example, "u" is interpreted as "4" when the NumLock key is enabled.

Note: NumLock is enabled by default at boot if an external keyboard is attached to the ThinkPad, Replicator, or Docking Station.

Configuration:
Any ThinkPad with embedded numeric keypad on it's keyboard.

Solution:
Perform one of the procedures outlined below:

1. Use a password that doesn't contain characters from keys on the embedded numeric keypad (ie. i, j, k, l, m, o, p, u, 0, ;, or /).
3. After powering on the computer or resuming from suspend/hibernation mode, check the NumLock indicator to see if it is enabled. If so, then disable NumLock (by pressing Shift-NumLock on the ThinkPad keyboard) before entering the password.
5. If then numeric keypad is enabled everytime you start Windows NT, it may be enabled by default in the Windows Registry. Refer to Microsoft Article ID Q154529 for additional information at http://www.microsoft.com/Support/.

1. Note: The NumLock indicator will stay lit even after NumLock is disabled at the password prompt.

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	Hint Category	General Information
	Date Created	16-03-99
	Last Updated	24-03-99
	Revision Date	06-05-2000
	Brand	IBM ThinkPad
	Product Family	ThinkPad 355, ThinkPad 360, ThinkPad 365X/XD, ThinkPad 380, ThinkPad 380D, ThinkPad 380E, ThinkPad 380ED, ThinkPad 380XD, ThinkPad 385D, ThinkPad 385E, ThinkPad 385ED, ThinkPad 385XD, ThinkPad 500, ThinkPad 510, ThinkPad 560, ThinkPad 560E, ThinkPad 560X, ThinkPad 600, ThinkPad 700, ThinkPad 701, ThinkPad 720, ThinkPad 750, ThinkPad 755C/CS, ThinkPad 755CE/CSE, ThinkPad 755CX, ThinkPad 755CV, ThinkPad 755CD, ThinkPad 755CDV, ThinkPad 760C, ThinkPad 760E, ThinkPad 760CD, ThinkPad 760L/LD, ThinkPad 760ED, ThinkPad 760XD, ThinkPad 760EL/ELD, ThinkPad 760XL, ThinkPad 765L, ThinkPad 765D, ThinkPad 770, ThinkPad 770E/ED, ThinkPad 380Z, ThinkPad 560Z, ThinkPad 770X, ThinkPad 600E, ThinkPad 770Z
	Machine Type	2619, 2620, 2635, 2603, 2604, 2640, 2645, 9552, 2630, 9545, 9546, 9547, 9548, 9549, 2625, 2636, 2641, 2646, 9544
	Model	All
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