BIOS password

[sixburningflags]

Alright - i found an old laptop - and it has a BIOS password at boot. I don't know how to get around this - as I've heard you can't mess with the CMOS jumpers or whatever on the mobo with a laptop the same was as you can with a desktop.

anyone have any suggestions on how i can get around this?

CHIPS 65554 PCI & VL Accelerated VGA Bios
VBIOS Version 1.40.a6

Its an old Gateway 2000 Solo laptop.

I'd really love to make this into a travel linux box but I've got to figure out how to get around this damn BIOS password first.

Any help is GREATLY appreciated. Thanks

[Hayl]

the best thing to do is to go to the Gateway Notebook Support Page (http://support.gateway.com/support/supinfo/index.asp?pg=2&file=mo.html) and look it up in their documentation. there is likely a way to reset the BIOS password.

[o0zi]

Isn't there a hack you can type into DOS's DEBUG that removes the BIOS password, or won't that work on a laptop?

For generic BIOSes:
O 70 2E
O 71 FF
Q

For Award/Ami BIOSes:
O 70 17
O 71 17
Q

For Phoenix BIOSes:
O 70 FF
O 71 17
Q

Just type those lines in when you're running the debug command. There's probably a Linux utility you could use to do it as well, but I have no idea what it is.

[rmalejandre]

In some BIOS models if you hold the left shift key during power on, you can bypass the password.

Also, depending on the BIOS, there may be a default password that you can type in. Check this out:

http://www.f-secure.com/v-descs/raadioga.shtml

I hope this helps.

[JThundley]

He's still locked out from doing that though isn't he? That is cool though, never heard of that one before.

This is a really crappy site I just found, but take a look anyway:

dumb site (http://www.plasma-online.de/index.html?content=http%3A//www.plasma-online.de/english/help/solutions/bios_password.html)

[Satanic Atheist]

I don't think you'll be able to sort anything with jumpers on the mainboard, and actually finding the right one with a technical manual will be pretty tough.

Try the default passwords (if there is one) and at the very least you can try "gateway" or "2000" or "gw2000" which a lot of companies set the password to.

The most reliable way to remove the password on a laptop is take out the battery and the CMOS battery and leave it for 2-3 days (just to make sure) and it should erase itself.

James

[Gertrude]

leave it for 2-3 days

2-3 minutes should be fine.

I have cleared them in seconds.

[Satanic Atheist]

I've left one out overnight and it still didn't clear by the morning. I guess each board is different, but I would leave it out for ages "just to make sure".

James

[bwkaz]

If you yoink the CMOS backup battery, then short the battery terminals, the CMOS SRAM will usually discharge faster.

[hard candy]

yoink

Is that like Michigan "yoinked" Michigan State's chain this past week?? :D

[bwkaz]

:D

Something like that...