bios password?

bios password?

by seajayblue Feb 25, 2006 1:48PM PST

Took my older IBM laptop to be repaired. Man wants to install new hard-drive but says he can't get past the bios password. My only password was the windows password. Wouldn't know how to make a bios password. He said he called IBM about going around it but they didn't know off hand and said they would call back. This of course explained long delay. Can anyone tell me if there is such a thing, and what you do?

Discussion is locked

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Ways around it...

by John.Wilkinson Feb 25, 2006 2:13PM PST

First, a few notes:

* Someone else may have set a BIOS password at one time, or a default password may be used in some cases.

* He most likely needs to access the BIOS so that he can change the boot order so that the laptop will boot from CD, not the hard drive, so that he can install the operating system. This would be normal.

* For being a professional(?), I'm surprised he doesn't already know the following. Or perhaps he tried the standard methods and failed? It's also interesting that IBM didn't know and is supposed to call back.

In order to bypass the BIOS security password, you'll want to click here for the common methods, then print it out for him to look over. You can also click here for another resource.

Hope this helps,
John

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This worked for me

by PudgyOne Feb 25, 2006 7:07PM PST

This worked for me. I tried the backdoor passwords without luck.

Try this

Removing the CMOS Battery
The CMOS settings on most systems are buffered by a small battery that is attached to the motherboard. (It looks like a small watch battery). If you unplug the PC and remove the battery for 10-15 minutes, the CMOS may reset itself and the password should be blank. (Along with any other machine specific settings, so be sure you are familiar with manually reconfiguring the BIOS settings before you do this.) Some manufacturers backup the power to the CMOS chipset by using a capacitor, so if your first attempt fails, leave the battery out (with the system unplugged) for at least 24 hours. Some batteries are actually soldered onto the motherboard making this task more difficult. Unsoldering the battery incorrectly may damage your motherboard and other components, so please don't attempt this if you are inexperienced. Another option may be to remove the CMOS chip from the motherboard for a period of time.
Note: Removing the battery to reset the CMOS will not work for all PC's, and almost all of the newer laptops store their BIOS passwords in a manner which does not require continuous power, so removing the CMOS battery may not work at all. IBM Thinkpad laptops lock the hard drive as well as the BIOS when the supervisor password is set. If you reset the BIOS password, but cannot reset the hard drive password, you may not be able to access the drive and it will remain locked, even if you place it in a new laptop. IBM Thinkpads have special jumper switches on the motherboard, and these should be used to reset the system.

Hope this helps.

Rick

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Thanks

by seajayblue Feb 26, 2006 12:18AM PST

Thank you Rick. Have copied and will carry to repair person...who is maybe in wrong line of work.

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Thanks

by seajayblue Feb 26, 2006 12:13AM PST

thank you, John. This is a small town. I think they hire kids. Bound to help, anyway. Printed and on the way. Ought to be interesting. He'll be a better man for it.

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Man, I wouldn't trust a repair guy that can't find the .....

by reefurbb Feb 26, 2006 8:31AM PST

jumper or pull the battery...even if welded in, there is a jumper to switch to external batt and make PC boot to default BIOS...nuff said.

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Actually with many laptops...

by Edward ODaniel Feb 27, 2006 12:57AM PST

the BIOS password is stored in a security chip to thwart easy bypass as a step to discouraging theft.

For recent IBMs and Toshibas for instance (but not limited to them) the registered owner can get a forgotten password bypassed by an authorized repair center.

Many Laptops, especially IBM Thinkpads, lock the hard drive if the supervisor password is enabled. "Experiment" too much and you will be unable to access any of the data on the drive.

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