Laptop Bios problem

MarkW7

MarkW7

MarkW7

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Joined
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Manchester
Hello all!

I am about to by a; Fujitsu Siemens Lifebook S7010

Seems pretty good for £30? I thought there was a problem it seems the BIOS is locked and with a little more digging it wont boot to windows [Im guessing it needs a POST password?]
He says it asks for a BT Engineers password.
Is there a way to take these off? If so i've got a bargain of a laptop

Thanks.
 
There's normally a way to do it in the hardware [IE a password reset jumper] or similar - it's certainly the case with HP D530 desktops, and a few laptops have switches for it.

Tried googling it? Someone, somewhere, is bound to have tried it beforehand.

I'dd be careful though - if it's an eBay special, I'd be worried about whether it's nicked or not. A school I worked at had software on the machine that would phone home as soon as it was booted up. One call to the police and they'd get onto the ISP, get the details and go around and ask a few questions. Mmm, Kaseya systems maangement, mmm....
 
I'd be putting my own OS onit, i just need to get to that stage.

Does password jumping remove the POST password?
 
On a laptop you'll normally need to remove the CMOS battery, although as laptops are more likely to be stolen this is not always the case.

Basicly you're going to need to take it apart. Its part of my job to take apart laptops and I find it fiddly and fustrating even now. Id say google around a bit, if you do have to take it apart be slow, remember where each bit goes and be delicate with it.

Ideally you could find a dismantle guide.
 
Thanks, Would it boot to a live CD; Linux so i can test the wireless, hdd size, ram ect. To see if hes lieing about them :)
He just give me the old ' i dont know because its locked lol'
 
No, not if its a BIOS password you wont be able to do anything.

YOu can check the hard drive size by taking the hard drive out and reading the writing on it!

Best bet would be to go to the FujiSie site and get the manual and spec sheet
 
MarkW7 said:
Thanks, Would it boot to a live CD; Linux so i can test the wireless, hdd size, ram ect. To see if hes lieing about them :)
He just give me the old ' i dont know because it was nicked from a BT van lol'
Click to expand...



Corrected that for you.

Seriously, you want to be very, very careful of that. Companies like BT and other SME and large organisations remove the BIOS passwords and normally sell the machine either with the original OEM image, or with no OS at all. But they certainly don't let machines walk out the door with the BIOS password still on there IME...
 
I'll head over to the site now.

Some info from the manual;

Security panel
The security panel enables you to protect your notebook from unauthorised use with a password.
When a Security Panel password is activated, the notebook will not start without the correct
insertion of a password. The password is entered before the BIOS is read out and the hardware
activated.
The password is requested from all suspend and resume modes. This ensures a high level of
security even with the energy-saving mode activated.


BIOS password protection
You can protect you personal data from unauthorised access with various passwords. By combining
these different options, you can achieve maximum protection for your system.
Password protection for the BIOS setup
With the Supervisor password you prevent unauthorised opening of the BIOS Setup, and with it
access to important system settings. In the BIOS Setup you can also activate protection for the
operating system and your hard disk.
Password protection for the operating system
With corresponding settings in the BIOS Setup you can block starting of the operating system. Only
those who know the supervisor or user password can access the system.
Password protection for your hard disk
By activating the hard disk protection in the BIOS Setup you prevent unauthorised access to the hard
disk drive. The hard disk password is checked internally during each system start-up and ensures
that the hard disk can only be used in conjunction with the related device.


Brief overview of the security functions
Security function Type of protection Preparation
Kensington Lock Mechanical Mount and lock Kensington
MicroSaver (accessory)
Security panel Hardware password protection
with Supervisor and User
password. The passwords are
numeric combinations. More
than 750,000 combinations are
possible.
Install the programs provided
and specify the numeric
combinations for the Supervisor
and User passwords using
these programs.
BIOS password protection Password protection for BIOS
Setup, operating system and
hard disk with Supervisor and
User password. The passwords
consist of a maximum of eight
alphanumeric characters.
Specify at least one Supervisor
password in the BIOS Setup and
activate the password
protection for the operating
system and hard disk as
desired.
 
Last edited:
Silenced said:
YEA BITCH, YOU TELL 'EM!

Oh wait, technically I am since I like to download music..... Ummm. What... I didn't say anything?
Click to expand...

That's not a criminal offence, it's a civil tort - only a problem if the rights holder wishes to chase you up over it. You could download a gig of music you don't have rights to in front of a police station singing "I'm a filthy pirate, yo ho ho" and they couldn't touch you. IAMAL though ;)

Anyway, this laptop smells fishier than Whitby in the summer. I'd avoid by a wide sea mile, as if it's someone who's being watched by CID selling it [not outwith the realms of possibility by any means], you can be done for recieving stolen goods - especially as it's been made clear there is a password on it, and especially at that price....
 
J.B said:
On a laptop you'll normally need to remove the CMOS battery, although as laptops are more likely to be stolen this is not always the case.

Basicly you're going to need to take it apart. Its part of my job to take apart laptops and I find it fiddly and fustrating even now. Id say google around a bit, if you do have to take it apart be slow, remember where each bit goes and be delicate with it.

Ideally you could find a dismantle guide.
Click to expand...

+1^

Extremely frustrating. Be especially careful taking it apart. My stepdad nearly nuffed my mums laptop taking it apart not realising that the ribbons were holding it together slightly and nearly snapping them.

Not good if you do this, mind how you go ;)
 
Just found out he's also selling a monitor aswell for £20, so ill try and get both the items for £40 :D.

If i can't get it to work by reseting the bios it still gives me the HDD, dvd drive, RAM and stuff for spares so for £30 isnt a massive loss.
 
MarkW7 said:
Just found out he's also selling a monitor aswell for £20, so ill try and get both the items for £40 :D.

If i can't get it to work by reseting the bios it still gives me the HDD, dvd drive, RAM and stuff for spares so for £30 isnt a massive loss.
Click to expand...

Clearly the moral implications are lost on you then?
 
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