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Thread ID: 148202 2019-09-07 23:09:00 Legacy System Problem[s] Perry (4966) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
1463654 2019-09-08 07:44:00 Looked up the manual, found the appropriate pages, The CMOS jumper is #29 Instructions on how to clear it - Reset to factory defaults.

I did have that detail at hand (thanks), but, after 4 attempts, trying the specified steps in varying orders, I still can't break the BIOS password code.
Perry (4966)
1463655 2019-09-08 08:44:00 Didn't removing the battery ( as per second picture, last two lines) actually clear the Password ? wainuitech (129)
1463656 2019-09-08 09:02:00 No. Tried that three times, in case I was not doing it right. It did clear some things, but not the password. Weird. Perry (4966)
1463657 2019-09-08 09:57:00 Remove the battery and wait 5 mins before putting it back in. zqwerty (97)
1463658 2019-09-08 22:18:00 Remove the battery and wait 5 mins before putting it back in.

might also need to disconnect power supply from motherboard

He may have a faulty hard drive , hence corrupt file message
As above , connect ONLY the windows hard drive . The motherboard should then load win from that drive

The board may not clear the password that easily anyway .
1101 (13337)
1463659 2019-09-15 01:28:00 The HDD with the broken jack point has been successfully cloned, by a tech with much greater experience than me.

But 'cracking' the BIOS has us defeated, still. The tech is at the point of pondering the prudence of replacing the BIOS chip.

Of course, given that he and me have tried what's in the manual, in assorted different orders, we don't know if the [annoyingly persistent] BIOS password prompt is asking for the admin password or some AS Rock default.
Perry (4966)
1463660 2019-09-20 03:26:00 I have no clue how to bypass the password but it does sound like someone set an admin password in the BIOS.

Anyway just wanted to mention it's entirely possible the boot issues are just because the boot order changed when you powered up with the dodgy SATA cable.
As a shot in the dark you could try shuffling around what drives are connected to what cables to see if you can fluke the right boot order.

As others have mentioned also, if more than one drive was connected when windows was installed boot files can end up on more than one drive. I'm not sure if XP suffered from this particular quirk or not though or if it's just later windows versions.
If it's entirely on one drive and you know which one, just disconnect every other boot device and give it no choice and see what happens.
dugimodo (138)
1463661 2019-09-28 01:26:00 The most frustrating part of this problem is that following the manufacturer's instruction manual did not work. Black mark for AS Rock.

(Who reads manuals these days, anyway, did I hear you say?)

Anyway, the password was finally guessed correctly and the beast is now functional, with a replacement HDD installed.

Thanks to everyone who offered suggestions.
Perry (4966)
1463662 2019-09-28 09:41:00 You have to tell us how you guessed the password. We hate to be left in the air! linw (53)
1463663 2019-09-28 09:46:00 Sorry! Just luck, really. Plus comparing it to other passwords which may have been re-utilised, a second time. Took quite a few tries, though, as lock-out occurred on three successive errors and a re-boot was then needed. Very time-consuming. Perry (4966)
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