diff -Nur -x '*.orig' -x '*~' hal-0.5.11~rc2/hald/linux/addons/addon-dell-backlight.cpp hal-0.5.11~rc2.new/hald/linux/addons/addon-dell-backlight.cpp
--- hal-0.5.11~rc2/hald/linux/addons/addon-dell-backlight.cpp	2008-03-17 16:25:13.000000000 -0500
+++ hal-0.5.11~rc2.new/hald/linux/addons/addon-dell-backlight.cpp	2008-07-18 13:24:16.000000000 -0500
@@ -48,6 +48,8 @@
 static u32 minValue = 0;
 static u32 maxValue = 0;
 
+static bool hasPass = false;
+
 using namespace std;
 using namespace smi;
 
@@ -89,6 +91,13 @@
 	return curValue;
 }
 
+static void
+check_bios_password()
+{
+	if (smi::getPasswordStatus((u16)9) || smi::getPasswordStatus((u16)10))
+		hasPass=true;
+}
+
 static void 
 write_backlight (u32 newBacklightValue, dbus_bool_t onAC) 
 {	
@@ -96,6 +105,11 @@
 	u32 curValue;
 	writefn writeFunction;
 	string password(""); /* FIXME: Implement password support */
+
+	if (hasPass) {
+		HAL_WARNING(("Setting brightness via SMI is not supported with a BIOS password"));
+		return;
+	}
 	
 	if (onAC) 
                 writeFunction = &smi::writeACModeSetting;
@@ -309,6 +323,8 @@
 
 	read_backlight (TRUE); /* Fill min- & maxValue with the correct values */
 
+	check_bios_password(); /* Find out about our BIOS pass capabilities */
+
 	if (maxValue == 0) {
 		HAL_ERROR (("This machine don't support set brightness."));
 		return -5;