Lenovo BIOS Windows Management Quick reference guide

Lenovo BIOS Windows Management
Instrumentation Interface
Deployment Guide
Date: August 2008

Lenovo BIOS Windows Management
Instrumentation Interface
Deployment Guide
Date: August 2008

First Edition (August 2008)
©Copyright Lenovo 2008. All rights reserved.
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Contents
Preface ...............v
Chapter 1. Overview .........1
Using Windows Management Instrumentation ...1
Key benefits ..............1
Functions ..............2
Environment .............2
Interface ...............2
Supported computers ...........2
Chapter 2. Script classes and
parameters .............3
Configuring BIOS settings ..........3
Return types ..............3
Password Authentication ..........4
Available BIOS setting names .........4
Chapter 3. Typical usage .......9
Listing current BIOS settings .........9
Changing BIOS settings...........9
Changing the boot order ..........9
Restoring default settings..........10
Changing an existing hardware password ....10
Limitations ..............10
Chapter 4. Security .........11
Appendix A. Sample Visual Basic
scripts for configuring BIOS settings .13
Restore default settings ..........13
List all BIOS settings on the local computer ...13
Set asingle BIOS setting on the local computer ..14
Set asingle BIOS setting on the local computer if a
supervisor password exists .........15
List all BIOS settings on the remote computer ...15
Set asingle BIOS setting on aremote computer ..16
Set asingle BIOS setting on aremote computer
when asupervisor password exists ......17
Set asupervisor password on the local computer
when asupervisor password exists ......18
Set asupervisor password on aremote computer
when asupervisor password exists ......18
Appendix B. Sample PowerShell scripts
for remote BIOS management .....21
Get all current BIOS settings.........21
Show aparticular BIOS setting ........22
Setting aBIOS setting ...........23
Appendix C. Notices .........25
Trademarks ..............26
©Copyright Lenovo 2008 iii

iv Lenovo BIOS Windows Management Instrumentation Interface Deployment Guide

Preface
The purpose of this guide is to explain how to modify BIOS passwords, settings,
and boot order using Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) through the
Lenovo client-management interface. This guide is intended for skilled IT
administrators who are familiar with configuring BIOS settings on computers in
their organizations.
This guide is provided in aZIP file package that contains this deployment guide as
well as Visual Basic sample scripts to use when configuring BIOS settings.
This deployment guide is developed for IT professionals to assist with the unique
challenges that they encounter. If you have suggestions or comments, communicate
with your Lenovo®authorized representative. To learn more about the technologies
that can help you lower the total cost of ownership and to check for periodic
updates to this guide, visit the following Web site:
www.lenovo.com/support
©Copyright Lenovo 2008 v

vi Lenovo BIOS Windows Management Instrumentation Interface Deployment Guide

Chapter 1. Overview
IT administrators are always looking for easier ways to manage client computer
BIOS settings, which include passwords, hardware settings, and the boot order.
The Lenovo BIOS WMI interface provides asimplified way to change these
settings. Lenovo has developed aBIOS interface that can be manipulated through
Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI). The Lenovo BIOS WMI interface
enables IT administrators to make queries on current BIOS settings, restore settings
to their factory defaults, change single settings, reset or change passwords, and
modify the boot order either at client computers or remotely.
Using Windows Management Instrumentation
WMI is provided as astandard feature in most Windows®operating systems. It
provides apowerful set of functions, such as query-based information retrieval and
event notification, which enables users to manage both local and remote
computers. The Lenovo BIOS WMI interface extends the capabilities of WMI to
allow management of BIOS settings.
The following illustration shows how WMI can be used to access Lenovo BIOS
settings.
WMI uses Windows Script host (WSH) to interpret scripts. You can write your
scripts in either Windows Visual Basic Scripting Edition (VBScript) or JavaScript.
Key benefits
The Lenovo BIOS WMI interface provides the following benefits:
©Copyright Lenovo 2008 1

Functions
vFlexible BIOS configuration, including the ability to change asingle BIOS setting
or all BIOS settings
vBIOS password management, including updating supervisor passwords,
power-on passwords, and hard disk drive (HDD) passwords
vNo dependency on aspecific BIOS level
Environment
vRemote or local capabilities
vSupport of unattended operations
vNo software installation, including managed object format (MOF), required
vReplaces DOS-based BIOS configuration tools
Interface
vEasy to adopt for various management servers
vReplaces current SMI interface
vCommon interface for different products
Supported computers
BIOS setup through WMI is supported on the following new ThinkPad products
only:
vR400
vR500
vT500
vW500
vX200
vX200s
vX200 Tablet
vX301
2Lenovo BIOS Windows Management Instrumentation Interface Deployment Guide