I have a compaq armada 1585dmt laptop. When powered on I get a power on password which I don't know, my kids got it from their Grandma and it booted up fine when they got but it has sat for a couple years now. I removed the RTC battery and battery pack and did get Windows 95 to boot up but then my mouse or keyboard does not work so I am stuck there. Is there a master password or some way to get the keyboard and mouse to work? Thank you, Doris Christian [email protected]

look for something at the bottom of the screen (e.g press F12) and it will take you to the BIOS go under a tab that may say "boot" or "security" and work from there

If you can get the cover off your notebook safetly,take out the cmos battery and put it back in,then power up your notebook...that may work:)

Tap the F8 Key as soon as the Laptop is powered on, keep tapping it till it brings you to Boot Choice Menu Options.. Options such as: Safe Mode, Safe Mode w/ Networking, Last Known Good Config..etc... are listed here..

Press and hold the F12 Key If You Need To Get To Boot Choices.. Such As Boot From CDrom, Boot From LAN, Boot From USB Device..

Follow the instructions of the service manual for the Armada 1700 (you need to have some skills):

2.2 Clearing Passwords
The power-on password prevents use of the computer until the password is entered. The setup password prevents unauthorized changes to Computer Setup. To clear the passwords, you must remove all power from the system board. If you do not know the passwords, use the following procedure to clear the password:

1. Remove all battery packs from the battery bay and MultiBay, if applicable.
2. Disconnect the AC power.
3. Remove the real-time clock battery.
4. Wait five minutes.
5. Reconnect the AC power.
6. Restart the computer. During Power-On Self Test (POST, a "162 System Options not set" message appears.
7. Shut down the computer, then disconnect AC power again.
8. Replace the real-time clock battery.
9. Install the battery pack(s).
10.Proceed with the troubleshooting procedures.

Point 10 means you need to do the setup via disquette to set the date and time again, to avoid the "162 system option not set" message of the POST.


Lucas from Argentina

Download the Ophcrack LiveCD, burn it to a CD, boot the laptop off it and it will crack the password for you.

http://ophcrack.sourceforge.net/

RESTART:
PRESS F8 AFTER RESTART:
CHOOSE: SAFE MOOD:
AFTER THAT MAKE SYSTEM RESTORE FOLLOW THIS INSTRUCTION:
http://laptop-driver.blogspot.com/2008/09/system-restore.html

IF NOT WORKIN AFTER PRESS F8.
RESTART AND PRESS F2,
YOU SHOULD ENTER THE BIOS(BLUE SCREEN)
THIS IS TO TEST IF F2 WORK MEAN YOU WINDOWS XP/VISTA CORRUPT.
YOU NEED TO REPAIR OR FORMAT IT.
(IF YOU KNOW HOW TO REPAIR WINDOWS JUST DO IT OTHERWISE IF YOU NOT REALLY WANT TO KNOW JUST FIND SOMEONE WHO COULD DO THAT.
JUST SHARING =)

lol congrats! Have fun!

I JUST LET IT SET AND IT FINALLY SHUT DOWN ON ITS OWN AND WILL NOW POWER UP.

remove the battery and directly connect to power and see.

I think that has to do with the BIOS if it cant boot compeletly. Try pressing the key indicated to enter into SETUP if you cant just try and look for a jumper on the motherboard that is written CMOS it may be a button or something.