GoKawiilYouTuber details $10 flash-programmer method to unlock BIOS-locked ThinkPads
A YouTube channel called Rebooted by Hileeq published a tutorial showing how to bypass supervisor passwords on Lenovo ThinkPads with 4th- to 8th-generation Intel CPUs using a $10 CH341A flash programmer and a second PC. The method builds on earlier work shared by Victor Voinea and Knucklegrumble, and later analyzed academically by researcher Mark Juvan, to read and modify the EEPROM/SPI flash chip that stores the password.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
Locked ThinkPads discarded by companies often end up as cheap e-waste because their supervisor passwords are never documented after disposal; this tutorial could let hobbyists and resellers recover and reuse these machines rather than scrapping them. It also highlights a long-running security gap in enterprise laptop decommissioning, since a $10 tool and public exploit knowledge may be enough to remove IT-set password protections.
- A $10 CH341A programmer can read, write, and erase BIOS firmware to bypass supervisor passwords on certain ThinkPads.
- The exploit traces back to earlier forum posts by Victor Voinea and Knucklegrumble, later studied academically by Mark Juvan.
- Wider public awareness of this bypass could reduce e-waste but also raises questions about enterprise laptop security after disposal.
CH341A USB Programmer Module — This is the exact cheap programmer hobbyists use to read, write, and erase SPI flash chips to bypass BIOS locks on old ThinkPads, exactly like the technique described in the article. It comes with the SOP8 clip needed to connect directly to the laptop's flash chip without desoldering, making it perfect for reviving e-waste laptops.
See CH341A USB Programmer Module on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: tomshardware.com — Jhet Borja, 2026-11-10
Published there as: “$10 programmer saves BIOS-locked Lenovo ThinkPads from the dump”
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