Intel vPro Expert Center Blog

Where did the Ctrl-P go on Lenovo vPro systems?

terry.c.cutler@intel.com — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:55:36 GMT

Earlier this year, Lenovo made a small change on their T400 and related platforms. The Ctrl-P option disappeared when attempting to access the MEBx (Management Engine BIOS Extension screens for Intel Active Management Technology). If you browse through the Lenovo BIOS update posting, there is a brief mention of this change.

The main reason was to improve boot times. The difference is a few seconds. All of the Intel AMT functionality is still present.

To access the MEBx screen, press F12 during the POST process to access the Boot Menu.

The option "Enter ME Configuration Screens" will access the MEBx.

The option "Initiate a Remote Connection" is for the Client Initiated Remote Access (CIRA), more commonly referred to as "Fast Call for Help" - the ability for Intel AMT to make a call home for assistance.

T400 - "Beep, Beep, Beep"

josh.hilliker@intel.com — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 19:04:46 GMT

Gael Holmes, Software Development team blogged about the T400 & the beep beep beep error. Check out her post and the additional tips from Frank on reseting back to factory..

http://software.intel.com/en-us/blogs/2009/02/23/and-the-lenovo-t400-said-beepbeep-beep-beepbeep-beep-beepbeep/

Comment from Gael's blog -

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Hi Gael,
I had the same "Morse Code" problem on a T400 and thought it was a one-of-a-kind..

But, I have some good news for you... there is a Lenovo BIOS update that addresses this and it worked me...
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-70350

As to the question of how to get the ME back to factory default, here isn the process I use:

In BIOS, select Config-> Intel (R) AMT-> Intel (R) AMT Control- Disable ... exit BIOS and reboot

Then repeat the above enabling the AMT control, and you will be back at factory default- PWD is "admin" again

Frank

Videos showcasing how Intel® Anti-Theft Technology works

justin.van.buren@intel.com — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 07:50:13 GMT

Last month, Intel introduced Intel® Anti-Theft Technology with support from Lenovo and Absolute Software.

There are various use models that this new technology enables, such as:

The ability to disable a lost notebook PC and the data on the hard drive even if it never connects to the network (based on IT policy)
The ability to send a "poison pill" so that the notebook PC is disabled, along with the data on the hard drive, if the notebook PC is connected to the internet
The ability to re-activate the notebook PC if it is found again

Watch the following Intel Anti-Theft Technology demo with Intel executives Dadi Perlmutter and Pat Gelsinger from Fall IDF 2008 and learn more about how this new technology helps with theft deterrance.

For a more in-depth demonstration of Intel Anti-Theft Technology with Absolute Software, watch the following video:

Listen to industry analysts discuss benefits of Intel Anti-Theft Technology and why this technology is an important milestone that will help with notebook PC theft deterrence in the future.

Listen to a Lenovo executive discuss the benefits that Intel Anti-Theft Technology will bring to Lenovo based notebook PCs.

Listen to Absolute executives discuss how they are taking advantage of Intel Anti-Theft Technology in their software and services.

Last, listen to Intel's Anand Pashupathy, George Thangadurai and Duncan Glendinning comment on the benefits of the new technology.

Another Add, here's Josh Hilliker talking about Anti-Theft Technology @ the beach.

Inside Dope for Notebook Thiefs

scott1.e.smith@intel.com — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 21:33:05 GMT

Hey, you guys, those of you makin’ like you’re part of the décor in an airport lounge or imitating camouflage behind a fern in a hotel lobby waiting for some mark to get distracted so you can lift his laptop. I’m going to save you some major grief. I’m feeling like a snitch doing this since I’m an Intel flack, but even criminals deserve an inside tip once in awhile. So, listen up, swifty. Before you slip ‘n slide that notebook under your trench coat, look it up and down carefully. If it says Lenovo Thinkpad T400 anywhere on it just put it back and save yourself a raft of frustration. Here’s the inside skinny: Absolute Software, Lenovo and Intel ganged up to develop this diabolical security stuff that’s … well, I was going to say almost criminal. They took these Lenovo ThinkPad T400 notebooks and booby-trapped ‘em with Intel’s new Anti-Theft PC Protection and Absolute’s Computrace technology. Here’s what’s gonna happen if you’re a sucker enough to boost one of these units. First thing you’re gonna do is turn it on to see if you can crack the password. These guys are just waiting for you to do that. They’re probably standing behind the other fern laughing their beanies off. After a few missed tries this notebook’s going to shut down like an iron door on the hole. It won’t do nothin’. It becomes a brick. Good luck tryin’ to hawk that. It’s because of this Intel Anti-Theft PC Protection. But let’s say you’re smart enough not to try to crack the password. Instead, you’re sitting there admiring the family of five on the screensaver trying to figure out what it will go for on eBay when WHAM! the thing shuts down. Won’t turn back on or nothin’. That’s ‘cause of Absolute’s Computrace. What happened was that soon as the mark saw his computer flew the coop, he called the guys at Absolute and they fixed their servers, so as soon as that computer came online, they sent it a poison pill through the Internet and that laptop became, yep, a brick. You’d do life for sending a poison pill, but these mugs got good lawyers and get away with it. But let’s say you’re a real Einstein, and you’re casing the airport parking lot and see some stiff shove one of those T400s in his trunk, grab his suitcase and head for the terminal. You’re figuring he’s gonna be gone for days, long enough to fence that T400 before he even knows it’s gone. So, you’re hanging out in a back alley, whispering “Hey, you wanna good computer cheap?” to every Joe that strolls by, until you finally hook some patsy. But you hit the button to turn it on and nothing happens. Yeah, you guessed it. You’re peddling that brick, again. This is because these Lenovo, Absolute, Intel guys covered that angle, too. Turns out the pigeon’s computer geniuses at the office set that ThinkPad T400 so it has to check in regularly, like it’s on parole. If it misses even once, it gets the poison pill treatment thanks to Computrace and Intel Anti-theft PC Protection, and, of course, dem guys at Lenovo who stick that stuff into those ThinkPad T400s in the first place. In the end, filching these rigged T400s will drive you crazy. Worse than being in the cooler. I know what you’re thinking, I’ll just grab another brand of computer. All I can say is, Are ya feelin’ lucky, punk? ‘Cause Lenovo is gonna be putting this Computrace and Anti-Theft PC Protection in their other computers. And, well, this ain’t no exclusive deal, if you know what I mean. So, before you do something stupid, my pal Josh Hilliker spills all the beans here. Check it out and save yourself some time…maybe hard time, not to mention saving you’s from going crazy frustratin’ yourself.

Want vPro? Here's how to get your hands on it...

kelsey.e.witherow@intel.com — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:31:01 GMT

Where to Buy Intel(R) vPro(TM) Technology

Have you been hearing all the news on vPro? Check out this document for the latest update of models available through 8 different Original Equipment Manufacturers.

Order an Intel® vPro™ technology "Activation-Ready" PC

[Acer|http://communities.intel.com/docs/DOC-2033#BP1] | [Dell|http://communities.intel.com/docs/DOC-2033#BP2]| [FSC|http://communities.intel.com/docs/DOC-2033#BP3] | [HP|http://communities.intel.com/docs/DOC-2033#BP4] | [Lenovo|http://communities.intel.com/docs/DOC-2033#BP5] | [LG|http://communities.intel.com/docs/DOC-2033#BP6] | [Panasonic|http://communities.intel.com/docs/DOC-2033#BP7] | [Samsung|http://communities.intel.com/docs/DOC-2033#BP8]

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8 new issues posted to the Known Issues, Workarounds, and Best Practices wiki

michele.gartner@intel.com — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 20:20:39 GMT

Check'em out:

This week's known issues and tips: Lenovo provisioning, HECI driver, Intel AMT status dialog box, dlls

michele.gartner@intel.com — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 15:42:51 GMT