Missing option for supervisor password on CF-19 BIOS

All,

I have 5 CF-19s, Mark IV (R). I started getting them ready to image, and when I hopped into the BIOS, there was no option for setting the Supervisor password - it is simply not on the screen. I have to be able to set the Supervisor password on these units as they are going in the field and part of the security protocols is to lock them down in case of theft. Under the security tab in the CMOS, it only lists these four options:

Setup Utility Prompt
Boot Popup Menu
<emtpy space where the Supervisor Password SHOULD be>
Embedded Security (TPM)
AMT Configuration

When selecting the bottom two items, you get the prompt from the system that you have to set a supervisor password, but of course I cannot because it is NOT THERE.

I have pulled the CMOS battery and let it sit - it successfully wiped it out, as it was complaining about invalid date and time on the next reboot, but the option is still not listed. How do I get it back so I can lock these units down?

I have the latest firmware loaded.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
John

 

What are the full model numbers?

 

CF-19RHR83PM
CF-19RFRC61M x2
CF-19RFRC66M
CF-19RHR83PM

 

Here is a link for the reference manual. It goes into detail about the BIOS setup.
Might be something in it.

Where did you get the "latest firmware" ? Do you mean BIOS updates?

What are the BIOS versions of each machine?

CF-19RHR83PM - Panasonic AT&T Only, WinXP (Win7 COA), Intel Core i5-540UM 1.20GHz, vPro, 10.4" XGA Touch, 160GB, 2GB, Intel WiFi a/b/g/n, TPM, Bluetooth, Dual Pass (Upper:WWAN/Lower:WLAN), Gobi, Custom BIOS, AT&T Logo Badge, AT&T Security Label, Absolute Enabled, No Drive

CF-19RFRC61M - Win7, Intel Core i5-540UM 1.20GHz, vPro, 10.4" XGA Dual Touch, 160GB, 2GB, Intel WiFi a/b/g/n, TPM, Bluetooth, Dual Pass (Upper:WWAN/Lower:GPS), GPS, Emissive Backlit Keyboard, Gobi, No Drive, Toughbook Preferred

CF-19RFRC66M - WinXP Tablet (Win7 COA), Intel Core i5-540UM 1.20GHz, vPro, 10.4" XGA Dual Touch, 160GB, 2GB, Intel WiFi a/b/g/n, TPM, Bluetooth, Dual Pass (Upper:WWAN/Lower:GPS), GPS, Emissive Backlit Keyboard, Gobi, No Drive, Toughbook Preferred

CF-19RHR83PM - same model as first one.

 

It would be great to see a picture of the BIOS screen.

 

Yes it would considering each model number is different and each one is doing it.

 

Well, I am obviously an idiot - I cannot figure out how to upload my photo - I went into the media options, but cannot find any option to upload my picture into the system. Maybe it is not there because I am a newbie?

 

FYI - we ordered these used online from ruggednotebooks.com. I have presented this question to their tech support, but have not heard back, hence the forum. They shipped with the latest BIOS, AMI Aptio v2.00.1201. When you first go into the BIOS setup after F2, the very bottom of the Information tab says "Access Level Supervisor". Seems like is is locked into Supervisor mode, which does me no good. I really thought this would be something really simple - a jumper to move or some such.

 

OK - for all who are interested, this is solved. Panasonic has a Windows tool named " WMI BIOS CONFIGURATION TOOL" which can be downloaded from their repository. It allowed me to set supervisor password for the BIOS from Windows. (It also has an option to clear it, too!) Once I set the Supervisor password in this way, the options I was expecting to see in the normal BIOS screens showed up correctly. Not sure what or why, but this solved my problem. Cheers!

 

The pdf states something different.. Hmm

ftp://ftp.panasonic.com/computer/brochure/WMI_brochure.pdf.pdf

Please start a private conversation with me to discuss this.