The best method to reset
a BIOS password depends on what BIOS the computer has. Common BIOS's
include AMI, Award, IBM and Phoenix. Numerous other BIOS's do exist, but
these are the most common.
Some BIOS's allow you to require a password be entered before the system
will boot. Some BIOS's allow you to require a password to be entered
before the BIOS setup may be accessed.
The general categories of solutions to reset a BIOS password are:
* Using a Backdoor BIOS Password
* Resetting the BIOS Password using Software
* Resetting the BIOS Password using Hardware
* Vendor Specific Solutions for resetting the BIOS Password
Using a Backdoor BIOS Password
Some BIOS manufacturers implement a backdoor password. The backdoor
password is a BIOS password that works, no matter what the user sets the
BIOS password to. These passwords are typically used for testing and
maintenance. Manufacturers typically change the backdoor BIOS passwords
from time to time.
AMI Backdoor BIOS Passwords
Reported AMI backdoor BIOS passwords include A.M.I., AAAMMMIII, AMI?SW ,
AMI_SW, BIOS, CONDO, HEWITT RAND, LKWPETER, MI, and PASSWORD.
Award Backdoor BIOS Passwords
One reported Award backdoor BIOS password is eight spaces. Other
reported Award backdoor BIOS passwords include 01322222, 589589, 589721,
595595, 598598 , ALFAROME, ALLY, ALLy, aLLY, aLLy, aPAf, award, AWARD
PW, AWARD SW, AWARD?SW, AWARD_PW, AWARD_SW, AWKWARD, awkward, BIOSTAR,
CONCAT, CONDO, Condo, condo, d8on, djonet, HLT, J256, J262, j262, j322,
j332, J64, KDD, LKWPETER, Lkwpeter, PINT, pint, SER, SKY_FOX, SYXZ,
syxz, TTPTHA, ZAAAADA, ZAAADA, ZBAAACA, and ZJAAADC.
Phoenix Backdoor BIOS Passwords
Reported Phoenix BIOS backdoor passwords include BIOS, CMOS, phoenix, and PHOENIX.
Backdoor BIOS Passwords from Other Manufacturers
Reported BIOS backdoor passwords for other manufacturers include:
Manufacturer BIOS Password
VOBIS & IBM merlin
Dell Dell
Biostar Biostar
Compaq Compaq
Enox xo11nE
Epox central
Freetech Posterie
IWill iwill
Jetway spooml
Packard Bell bell9
QDI QDI
Siemens SKY_FOX
SOYO SY_MB
TMC BIGO
Toshiba Toshiba
Remember that what you see listed may not be the actual backdoor BIOS
password, this BIOS password may simply have the same checksum as the
real backdoor BIOS password. For Award BIOS, this checksum is stored at
F000:EC60.
Resetting the BIOS Password using Software
Every system must store the BIOS password information somewhere. If you
are able to access the machine after it has been booted successfully,
you may be able to view the BIOS password. You must know the memory
address where the BIOS password is stored, and the format in which the
BIOS password is stored. Or, you must have a program that knows these
things.
You can write your own program to read the BIOS password from the CMOS
memory on a PC by writing the address of the byte of CMOS memory that
you wish to read in port 0x370, and then reading the contents of port
0x371.
!BIOS will recover the BIOS password for most common BIOS versions, including IBM, American Megatrends Inc, Award and Phoenix.
CmosPwd will recover the BIOS password for the following BIOS versions:
* ACER/IBM BIOS
* AMI BIOS
* AMI WinBIOS 2.5
* Award 4.5x/4.6x/6.0
* Compaq (1992)
* Compaq (New version)
* IBM (PS/2, Activa, Thinkpad)
* Packard Bell
* Phoenix 1.00.09.AC0 (1994), a486 1.03, 1.04, 1.10 A03, 4.05 rev 1.02.943, 4.06 rev 1.13.1107
* Phoenix 4 release 6 (User)
* Gateway Solo - Phoenix 4.0 release 6
* Toshiba
* Zenith AMI
Resetting the BIOS Password using Hardware
If you cannot access the machine after if has been powered up, it is
still possible to get past the BIOS password. The BIOS password is
stored in CMOS memory that is maintained while the PC is powered off by a
small battery, which is attached to the motherboard. If you remove this
battery, all CMOS information (including the BIOS password) will be
lost. You will need to re-enter the correct CMOS setup information to
use the machine. The machines owner or user will most likely be alarmed
when it is discovered that the BIOS password has been deleted.
On some motherboards, the battery is soldered to the motherboard, making
it difficult to remove. If this is the case, you have another
alternative. Somewhere on the motherboard you should find a jumper that
will clear the BIOS password. If you have the motherboard documentation,
you will know where that jumper is. If not, the jumper may be labeled
on the motherboard. If you are not fortunate enough for either of these
to be the case, you may be able to guess which jumper is the correct
jumper. This jumper is usually standing alone near the battery. If you
cannot locate this jumper, you might short both of the points where the
battery connects to the motherboard.
If all else fails, you may have to clear the BIOS password by resetting
the RTC (Real Time Clock) IC (Integrated Circuit) on your motherboard.
Many RTC's require an external battery. If your RTC is one of this type,
you can clear the BIOS password just by unsocketing the RTC and
reseating it.
RTC's which require external batteries include:
* Dallas Semiconductor DS12885S
* TI benchmarq bq3258S
* Motorola MC146818AP
* Hitachi HD146818AP
* Samsung KS82C6818A
Most RTC chips with integrated batteries can be reset to clear the BIOS
password by shorting two pins together for a few seconds.
You will see more than one option for some chips due to testing by
various people in the field. Remember to remove power from the system
before shorting these pins.
RTC Chip Pins
Dallas DS1287A
TI benchmarq bp3287AMT 3 (N.C.) and 21 (NC/RCL)
Chips & Technologies P82C206 12 (GND) and 32 (5V)
-or-
74 (GND) and 75 (5V)
OPTi F82C206 3 and 26
Dallas Semiconductor DS12887A 3 (N.C.) and 21 (RCLR)
You should be able to discover how to reset the BIOS password stored in
most RTC (Real Time Clock) chips by reading the manufacturers data sheet
for that RTC. Some RTC's, like the Dallas DS1287 and TI benchmarq
bq3287mt cannot be cleared. The solution to resetting the BIOS password
on systems with those RTC's is to purchase a replacement RTC chip. How
inconvenient!
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SOURCE: How do you reset/break a dell Vostro Bios
1.Power down the computer by clicking the "Start" and "Shut Down" button. Allow the computer to turn off entirely and wait about 30 seconds. Unhook the AC adapter from the computer. Turn the computer over and locate the battery compartment near the display hinges. Push the latches away from each other to unlock the battery. Remove the battery from the laptop.
2. Locate the memory compartment found on the opposite end of the laptop's bottom. Unscrew and remove the single phillips-head screw using a precision screwdriver. Pry the metal door off the laptop using the screwdriver.
3. Locate the memory module. Directly under the module is a blue plastic sleeve connected to the mainboard with a single wire. Disconnect the wire and wait about 30 seconds. Reconnect the wire to the mainboard and replace the metal memory door. Secure the door to the laptop by tightening the phillips screw with the screwdriver.
4. Reinstall the laptop battery, inserting the tabs first and clicking downward. Plug the AC adapter back into the laptop. Flip the computer over and power on the system. Enter the BIOS and change the password if desired, or leave it blank for no password prompt.
(Source: How to Reset the BIOS Password on a Dell Vostro 1500 Laptop ' eHow.com)
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SOURCE: how can i remove password from laptop dell vostro a860?
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