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| Thread ID: 53752 | 2005-01-26 03:17:00 | Password for BIOS | IanS (924) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 318218 | 2005-01-26 03:17:00 | I have been fiddling with an ancient computer [CPU P120, HD 1.6Gb] and , although it has a 3.25 FDD, the A drive is set in the BIOS at 5.25. The problem is that the BIOS is password protected, I have no idea what the password is so I cannot get into the BIOS to change either the need for a password or the FDD setting. Does anyone know how I can get around the need for a password to get into the BIOS? |
IanS (924) | ||
| 318219 | 2005-01-26 03:26:00 | Try clearing the CMOS with the battery if this is a desktop. Take the battery out and put it back after 30-60 secs. There may also be a jumper u can clear the BIOS with. |
Speedy Gonzales (78) | ||
| 318220 | 2005-01-26 03:32:00 | If you get the password cleared, go into the setup and explicitly set "no password" and "Save and Exit". The CMOS memory sometimes remembers the password if that isn't done. ;) There are a number of standard "backdoor" passwords, depending on the BIOS manufacturer. |
Graham L (2) | ||
| 318221 | 2005-01-26 03:41:00 | "phoenix bios password" to Google will give you lots of passwords to try (not just Phoenix), and other tricks.;) | Graham L (2) | ||
| 318222 | 2005-01-26 04:36:00 | Or, if all that excellent advice fails, then there is a password recovery program here, cmospwd, which is run from a floppy, it works ok. www.majorgeeks.com |
Terry Porritt (14) | ||
| 318223 | 2005-01-26 20:14:00 | Google found the answer for me. The BIOS is Award and there is a MASTER password that will overide any other BIOS password. It is........AWARD_SW....... IT WORKED, I was able to get into the BIOS setup, eliminate the need for a BIOS password and make other required changes. Removing the lithium battery for several hours did not make any difference. Thanks to all who offered advice. |
IanS (924) | ||
| 318224 | 2005-01-27 13:22:00 | Well done, Ian. Yup, that's the right password. Speedy Gonzales was right about the jumper too. If you're brave (or foolhardy) enough, take the cover off your computer and check out the jumper pins around the battery. In the machine I'm using now, the jumper for my CMOS is labelled JP8 (yours may be different) and it happens to be the nearest one to the battery. JP8 also has the markings 'Normal 1-2' and 'Clear 3-4' - the default setting is for the plastic jumper to be across Pins 1 and 2. To clear BIOS passwords, I take the jumper off altogether, reboot the machine 'til Windows loads, shut down, replace the jumper and reboot the computer. Good news - all the BIOS and CMOS passwords will be erased. Bad news - if you had customised the CMOS at all (or BIOS settings) the changes will be lost. That's not a likely event, but I still use manual graphic devices (read: pen and paper) to record settings for future reference - especially handy when you work in a industry where a little bit of knowledge CAN be a dangerous thing (read: kids and colleagues). Happy Fiddling. |
Roszarie (7006) | ||
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