This is a serious problem!!!!

OK, this is really serious. I bought the Kensington ComboSaver® Security Cable ( http://www.kensington.com/html/2217.html), set a password, locked up my notebook, and now I couldn't unlock it!!! My password is wrong? No, I can use it to "Flip the switch to the red dot*"!!! OK, I was patiently enought to try all the combinations but NONE of them work!!! I am really frustrated at this moment. This is a serious product defect and now my notebook is stuck to my desktop, what can I do???!!!!!

I swear to god I'll never use it again, and all the kensington's products if I manage to unlock it. It is actually not my first time experience this. It is so easy to mis-flip the "flipping switch" when u try to randomize your digits, so you implicitly change your password to a combination that you don't know!!! It is absobloodylutely a poor design. The last two times I managed to unlook it by trial and error. (that's frustrating already). However this time I've already tried ALL the combinations, and I managed to find a combination that can flip the switch to red dot, i still can't unlock it. Help me my god........I'm going crazy!!!!!!!

* For those who are not familiar with this product, if you can flip the switch to red dot, that means you've got a correct password (supposingly) already and you want to set a new combination. Flip back to "green" dot for normal usage.

 

Wow. sorry to hear about your trouble. The link doesnt work that you gave us so is this thing like a cable? Can you cut it or something beacuase there is nothing we can really do now.

 

Oh ok, here is the link: Cable
Yeah, just keep trying combos or try cutting the cord.

 

Thanks for pointing out the error of my link (and the fast respond as well), now it's corrected.

Well, I tried the combos for once already, and you will never want to try again. It got 3 rolls which make a total of 1000 combinations, yes, It actually doesn't take so long (30mins to 1 hr) for you to do it (it sounds not quite "secure" anyway right?), but why should I waste my time and doing this stupid thing again? I've sent a email to kensington and hope they'll get back to me soon

 

Yeah, i dont think they can do anything either. But really the only thing you can do is cut the cord, or try 999 combos. That actually should go fast. Maybe if you complain to them enough, they will give you a credit.
No problem dickwu,

 

what do you mean by "try 999 combos"?


um... that will be my very last resort to cut the cord, yes, that allows me to move my notebook, but the lock is still stuck with the notebook. secondly, I'll be really disappointed again if I can cut it, I suppose the kensington cable is designed strong enough and no one will able to cut it without special tools. If I tell you i can cut it, that will again prove how weak the product is and no one should buy it if you're looking for a "security cable"

Nonono, Nick, I'm not keep arguing with you. I'm really appreciate your reply and I'm getting a bit better because I can share my problem with someone. I know one one can help me actually (you can't even help me to try the combos.), i just want to share my experience and hopefully I'll feel better : (

 

He means try all 999 combinations

 

Yeah its alright dickwu.
It must be frustrating, and would stink if you have to cut the cord and have the rest of it sticking out of the notebook. But sadly to say that the combos are your only resort. Try 683. But think of your lowest number you set it to and go from there. Yeah, there are 999 different combos. 1-999.

 

umum...... I've tried all the different combos once (starting from 000, move the rightmost digit, see if it unlocks, no, increase it by one, and all the way to 999 so i've tried the 1000 combinations)......... alright, I'll go and try it again, I just hope it's not defected (which means you've already set the right combos, but because the internal mechanism is broken, it still won't unlock, if this is the case, you'll never be able to open the lock no matter how hard you try and u're just wasting time)..... Thanks for replies, bless me

 

yah, you will basically need a commercial wire cutter from home depot or something. hope Kensington gets back to you before long.

Honestly , I would CALL them instead of hoping for an email reply. I never send email to companies unless that is the ONLY way to contact them.

IMHO - I am going to purchase the SecuriCable. One of the models that hooks to the VGA port. Even stronger than that tiny hook in the side of the laptop. Someone could probably rip the lock off one of those Kensington connections if they really wanted too... but with the VGA, if they break that, then I'd have to say it will completely ruin the MB in process, one way or another. Although, anyone really wanting to steal a laptop with a good cable on it, lol, would be smart enough to have the correct cutters on hand. heh.

 

Just have them come out, who cares how far away they are, have them come out and take care of there crappy cable.

 

490!!! Finally, i got it opened by using this magic number, I will never forget how exciting I was when I saw it open

I also got the reply from kensington. It's faster than I suppose. Although I was disapponited by their product, I'm impress by their customer service. By the end of the email, they suggest me if I still can't open the lock, I can find a bonded locksmith to unlock it. They also offer me to send the charges to them and they'll reimburse the fee up to $80. Not bad serivce isn't it!

However, I'm still going to buy another combo lock for my laptop. Anyone can suggest a robus, high quality combo lock to me? Thanks!

 

are you insisting on purchasing a combo lock instead of a keyed lock, and just storing a copy in a safe place? ESP now that you have gone through all this hell with a combo lock? LOL.

Honestly I havent yet decided if I want to go key or combo

 

Working with the media resource department in my school, i have lots of expierneces with keyed locks. THere was only once that i had any problems with the locks. One of the "keyhole" (should be more of a circular key hole), was not aligned with the metal casing, and the key could not be put into the keyhole. In the end i had to remove the chassis and buy a new chassis.

 

I don't like keyed locks from the first day because I don't like to keep a key. Just my preference, and I do believe it's not the problems with combo but what the design is. I will be happy to choose a combo again if the design is good. (provided that now i know what the potential problems it has)