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Thread ID: 37834 2003-09-19 05:54:00 re password lojos_ (1659) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
176427 2003-09-19 05:54:00 I have just purchased a 2nd hand laptop but cannot use it because as soon as I turn it on it comes up with password Help please? lojos_ (1659)
176428 2003-09-19 06:00:00 It sounds like a BIOS power-on password.

They can be quite tricky to reset, the usual recommendation is to take it to a service agent for that brand of laptop along with proof of purchase.

It would require dismantling to get access to the motherboard.

It begs the question, how anyone could sell it without the password? They must have known it would be a problem for any purchaser?
godfather (25)
176429 2003-09-19 06:09:00 Yes
I bought this at an auction. I do hope the seller replies with the password.
lojos_ (1659)
176430 2003-09-19 15:45:00 There is other ways to reset other than the user inputted password.

Some [not all] BIOS's have a master password [rare] also others may have a jumper reset switch on the main circuit board to wipe the BIOS settings in what is called a CMOS chip which is basically a low power memory storage facility [if you want to look at it that way]. Also on recent portables there can be a removable battery that if you take it out for say 30 minutes the CMOS will have a sudden case of amnesia when the computer goes to startup [some settings may have to be reentered]. Older computers may have soldered batteries and be more difficult to troubleshoot although this dates back quite a bit further
Captive (3159)
176431 2003-09-20 06:35:00 theres heaps of stuff on the net on bypassin the BIOS passowrd, btw wot brand was ur laptop? vk_dre (195)
176432 2003-09-20 07:53:00 Terry Porritt put me onto a free program called CmosPwd (www.pcworld.com) & I have used it a few times to get into ex Auction pc's.

Cheers Steve
Steve Askew (119)
176433 2003-09-20 08:32:00 Thanks guys for all the help but fortunately the seller e-mailed back with the password. lojos_ (1659)
176434 2003-09-20 09:03:00 Heres hoping it's just the bios password and not a hard drive password.

Bios passwords are easy to bypass, but hard drive ones are next to impossible. Even sending the drive back to the manufacturer is a waste of time, when people have forgotten the password, all they do is bin it and replace it with a new one.

Good luck
b1naryb0y (3)
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