Lost Bios Password

_Jimlad_ · 2 Feb 2007 at 11:24

hi my friend has a Compaq nc6320, quite new, she set a password word and now can't remember what it is! she needs to get access to the bios now and is not sure as i am how to do this?

anyone got any ideas?

thanks Jim

DevilsAdvocate · 2 Feb 2007 at 11:26

Removing the CMOS battery should sort it, I think! Someone else will be able to clarify I'm sure.

Yewen · 2 Feb 2007 at 11:48

Remove the battery over night on most boards will sort this, can take 30mins + for it to go though.

Done it many times on charity computers I have needed to get into.

_Jimlad_ · 2 Feb 2007 at 12:22

i see, just off hand do you think being a laptop it will be harder to get to (sorry not seen it yet) i just wondered about some sort of 'crack' but did not know if that was legal, or good damage the computer.

squiffy · 2 Feb 2007 at 12:26

Since it's a laptop it'll need to go back to Compaq.

_Jimlad_ · 2 Feb 2007 at 12:33

squiffy said:
Since it's a laptop it'll need to go back to Compaq.

really? is that because if i open the case i lose my waranty?

squiffy · 2 Feb 2007 at 12:39

Crazy Fool said:
really? is that because if i open the case i lose my waranty?

well there's that but usually laptop bios's have a hardware lock once the pw is entered incorrectly 3 times. It's not a simple job of just removing battery. Usually a new bios chip or sometimes a whole new board is needed.

There's a HD password/code too, I think if you take it out and plug it into another computer it'll be encrypted.

All the above "my knowledge" which could be off, just stuff I've read over the years.

_Jimlad_ · 2 Feb 2007 at 12:45

squiffy said:
well there's that but usually laptop bios's have a hardware lock once the pw is entered incorrectly 3 times. It's not a simple job of just removing battery. Usually a new bios chip or sometimes a whole new board is needed.

There's a HD password/code too, I think if you take it out and plug it into another computer it'll be encrypted.

All the above "my knowledge" which could be off, just stuff I've read over the years.

ok thanks, i know the password has not been entered wrongly at all, she wrote it done (numbers) and lost the paper, so she has not even had 1 attempt yet... thanks for the info