Patent ID: 7484241
Filing Date: 2009-01-27
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method to securely logon an operating system using a power on password, the method comprising: receiving by a computer a power on password from a user; verifying the power on password received from the user; encoding the power on password and storing the encoded power on password in a first Platform Configuration Register (PCR) of a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) of the computer; retrieving from non-volatile storage an encrypted operating system password; recovering the operating system password by decrypting the encrypted operating system password using the encoded power on password from the user and using the contents of a second PCR having data indicative of a state of the computer on the Trusted Platform Module, such that the operating system password is recovered only if the contents of the first and second PCRs are the same as values used to encrypt the encrypted operating system password; and logging on the operating system with the recovered operating system password.