BIOS password

[Doctor Luz]

What can I do for starting a computer which the BIOS password has been set? Nothing?

In case that the bad guy who created the BIOS password starts the computer, Is there any way for searchin the BIOS paswords?
maybe the BIOS passwords can be seen ROM memory segment?
and what tool can i use for seeing them?

Thank you

[Kdr Kane]

You must open the computer and reset the BIOS to clear the password.

The method varies by manufacturer.

[Doctor Luz]

I'm not a hardware expert so are you saying I can do it only with the aid of my screwdriver?

Then what should I do and where should I search? I don't have the manufacturer's manual.

Thanks

[Kdr Kane]

In that case, you should take it to a qualified computer repair technician.

[TheCPUWizard]

...saying I can do it only with the aid of my screwdriver?

I have been sucessful with a hammer and a wrench, but yes it does require a physical action on the motherboard. Some (typically older ones) would reset if the battery was removed for a significant amount of time. Most require an action such as pressing a small button, moving a jumper, etc.

If you have the hardware manual for the computer, you may be able to do it yourself, otherwise follow KdrKane's advice.

[Andreas Masur]

As the others have already mentioned on some mainboards you can reset the BIOS settings by removing the battery or placing a jumper. Dell and Compaq PC's for example usually have a jumper which needs to be set correctly to reset the BIOS.

If this does not help - and before going to a qualified computer repair technician - you can try something different...

Every manufacturer has some standard passwords. Depending on the manufacturer you can try

AWARD BIOS

AWARD SW, AWARD_SW, _award, awkward, HLT, SER, SKY_FOX, aLLy, aLLY, CONCAT, TTPTHA, aPAf, HLT, KDD, ZAAADA, ZJAAADC, djonet

AMI BIOS
AMI, A.M.I., AMI SW, AMI_SW, BIOS, PASSWORD


Other known passwords for AMI/AWARD and other
LKWPETER, lkwpeter, BIOSTAR, biostar, BIOSSTAR, biosstar

You can also do a search on the internet for more...

[Doctor Luz]

Thanks to all for the information. Now I haven't found yet the motherboard manual but is a matter of time.

About searching the passwords after the computer has been switched on and windwos has started, Have you any idea?

Do you know if there is any specific memory location where BIOS is loaded? And is there any program in Windows (like the DOS debug) for watching that memory location?

[gjs368]

About searching the passwords after the computer has been switched on and windwos has started, Have you any idea?

I am not sure if this is your original problem or if you are thinking ahead to when the machine gets past the BIOS password prompt, but if you are getting as far as booting into Windows right now, the password issue is not related to BIOS; a BIOS password will pause for input before allowing the machine to boot. Windows has password routines of its own that have nothing to do with BIOS.

[Doctor Luz]

The problem is the following:

There is a place where there are some computers for public use. A friend of mine works there. Some bad guy has set the BIOS passwords in one computer and now that computer can't be used by anybody except him.

My friend asked me for help in removing the BIOS passwords.

Now I think there are two solutions:

1) Open the computer and eeset the BIOS as were told before

2) Wait until the bad guy returns and starts the computer, then my friend could throw out the bad guy and search for the passwords with the aid of some program. This is why I asked if the BIOS is loaded at some specific memory location and how to watch those memory contents. (expecting that the passwords will appear there)

[gjs368]

For a BIOS password, your best and quickest solution would be to determine how to force a BIOS reset as has already been outlined above. If you can't figure out the proper procedure for yourself, a competent computer technician can do the job in pretty short order and get the machine back up and running.

[TheCPUWizard]

Of course your friend who owns the place should have set the manager (aka setup) password originally, then this problem could not have happened!

[Doctor Luz]

Originally posted by TheCPUWizard
Of course your friend who owns the place should have set the manager (aka setup) password originally, then this problem could not have happened!

That's exacly what I said to him !!!!

But really he is only a worker which does not want to have troubles with his boss and of course he does not owns that place.

[Doctor Luz]

Finaly a solution without opening the computer.

The 'Debug' tool has done the work.

Executing the 'debug' tool my friend entered the following lines

o 70 17
o 71 ff
q

This caused a "BIOS checksum falliure" and defaults were loaded.

I don't use debug since I had my old 8088. Anybody knows what is the 'o' command and why this numbers?

[Kdr Kane]

Output.

You just wrote two bytes to ports 0x70h and 0x71h. The first one is the index register and the second one is the register that was indexed. Both were to the CMOS chip on board. So, you wrote 0xffh to the data register 0x17 within the chip. The checksum didn't match and the BIOS sees the CMOS being corrupted.

This method will not work in Windows NT/2K/XP OSes. You still must open the case and physically reset the CMOS.

[razaulhassan]

one of the best ways to remove the bios password is shut down the computer cut the power supply , when there is no power supply open the cabinet ,you can see the MOTHER BOARD , in the MOTHER BOARD u can see a BATTERY or CELL remove the BATTERY and then place it again where it was .when u will switch on your computer will be without password and its in DEFAULT mode.

u can set your own password and please choose the boot devices.