bios password -laptop

Discussion in 'Computer Science & Culture' started by cato, Jan 25, 2006.

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  1. cato less hate, more science Registered Senior Member

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    hey I got a good deal on a laptop, but the catch was that it had an unknown bios password. I was planning on just sending it in some place to have a new security chip put in, which would cost upwards of $100.

    my question is: is there another way? I have heard that many laptops store their bios in flash, so you can't clear them with a dipswitch, or by removing the CMOS battery. however, I don't know what models that apples to.

    so I was thinking, are there any hacker tricks that can get it? moreover, some flash memory will die after being unpowered long enough, how long does that take?

    I was also intrigued by an idea I had. it would not be practical in my situation, but I was wondering what you thought of my idea. I was thinking "what if you had another computer run a brute force password cracker somehow hooked to the keyboard input of the bios protected computer?"

    anyway, it is a Compaq presario 1500.

    if you don't trust me (i.e. think I stole it) I can show you the winning bid email.

    any help would be great, but I am still waiting on a new power supply, so I can't power it up yet.

    since I would not want to compromise the security of any laptop owners out there, you can PM me some solution if you think they could be used by the wrong hands.
     
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  3. Well, you've got options. Look up the make and model for the board and locate a board manual - it should locate for you the correct jumpers y'need to flash wipe CMOS. If you can't find the manual, try it the old fashioned way and, with the power off naturally, reset each jumper you can find one at a time, see if that clears things out.

    Alternatively, here's a list of generic manufacturers passwords - personally I recomend trying these first.


    AWARD BIOS
    AWARD SW, AWARD_SW, Award SW, AWARD PW, _award, awkward, J64, j256, j262, j332, j322, 01322222, 589589, 589721, 595595, 598598, HLT, SER, SKY_FOX, aLLy, aLLY, Condo, CONCAT, TTPTHA, aPAf, HLT, KDD, ZBAAACA, ZAAADA, ZJAAADC, djonet, %øåñòü ïpîáåëîâ%, %äåâÿòü ïpîáåëîâ%

    AMI BIOS
    AMI, A.M.I., AMI SW, AMI_SW, BIOS, PASSWORD, HEWITT RAND, Oder

    Other passwords you may try (for AMI/AWARD or other BIOSes)
    LKWPETER, lkwpeter, BIOSTAR, biostar, BIOSSTAR, biosstar, ALFAROME, Syxz, Wodj

    Note that the key associated to "_" in the US keyboard corresponds to "?" in some European keyboards (such as Italian and German ones), so -- for example -- you should type AWARD?SW when using those keyboards. Also remember that passwords are Case Sensitive. The last two passwords in the AWARD BIOS list are in Russian.


    Flashing BIOS via software

    If you have access to the computer when it's turned on, you could try one of those programs that remove the password from the BIOS, by invalidating its memory.

    However, it might happen you don't have one of those programs when you have access to the computer, so you'd better learn how to do manually what they do. You can reset the BIOS to its default values using the MS-DOS tool DEBUG (type DEBUG at the command prompt. You'd better do it in pure MS-DOS mode, not from a MS-DOS shell window in Windows). Once you are in the debug environment enter the following commands:

    AMI/AWARD BIOS

    O 70 17
    O 71 17
    Q

    PHOENIX BIOS

    O 70 FF
    O 71 17
    Q

    GENERIC

    Invalidates CMOS RAM.
    Should work on all AT motherboards
    (XT motherboards don't have CMOS)
    O 70 2E
    O 71 FF
    Q

    Your idea of linking up and using a mass password engine might work. Like I say, y'have options, it's just finding something that works. Definately try consulting the manufacturers website though.

    Hope that helps. A

     
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  5. cato less hate, more science Registered Senior Member

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    I think I may have found a program that can restore the original bios settings. I am still waiting on the power supply, so I can't really do anything yet. =]
     
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  7. kevinalm Registered Senior Member

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    Whoa, back the truck up. If all you want to do is reset the cmos settings and bios pasword, why not use the paper clip hole reset button that most manufacturers provide for the purpose? At least the older laptops had them. Check the owner's manual. Reflashing the bios is drastic, potentially risky and usually unecessary.
     
  8. cato less hate, more science Registered Senior Member

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    I am not sure laptops will allow that. I think most store the password in flash memory, to be more secure. but like I said, I will have to wait till the power adapter gets here before I try it.

    I don't have the owners manual, I got it second hand.
     
  9. kevinalm Registered Senior Member

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    993
    Upon reflection, it is possible that more modern laptops don't allow this. Security measure. It's just that I've had a bad experience flashing bios so I tend to save that as a last resort. I've got a low mileage pci udma card I'd sell _real_ cheap.

    Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!

    If you can figure out how to disconnect the backup battery, I'd try that first.
     
  10. cato less hate, more science Registered Senior Member

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    if I do try to flash the cmos, should I just bridge the wires? or would it be better to do so with a resistor, to kinda take the spike out of it? perhaps a cap/resistor combo would be more safe :/
     
  11. Stryder Keeper of "good" ideas. Valued Senior Member

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    A laptop that I dealt with once didn't have a batterie, however the CMOS discharge jumper was located near where the RAM was inserted on the bottom of the laptop (through the little panel). It didn't have a jumper on it, so I had to use a conductive element to discharge the CMOS.

    You shouldn't need to go as far as the original owner tried which meant pretty much dismattling the CPU and Graphics Chipset, and pulling the RAM out.
     
  12. cato less hate, more science Registered Senior Member

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    yeah, I am still waiting on the power supply, the ebay seller is a real dunce.
     
  13. leopold Valued Senior Member

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    if you know what voltage the laptop uses you can buy a power supply at radio shack
    the power requirements should be stamped on the laptop somewhere
     
  14. cato less hate, more science Registered Senior Member

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    I would rather have the exact one for my laptop. then I don't have to worry about burning anything out or having problems.
     
  15. cato less hate, more science Registered Senior Member

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  16. You'd be thinking no correctly.

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  17. leopold Valued Senior Member

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    i am not sure

    but according to what i can find online
    one has 200 pins the other has 450 pins
     
  18. Stryder Keeper of "good" ideas. Valued Senior Member

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    Like My Anonymous said, but Leopold missed.

    The PC2100 is an older RAM type, (in fact the same type as my machine) and the one you mentioned from the advert would be incompatible.
     
  19. leopold Valued Senior Member

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    thats why i said "i'm not sure"
    because i didn't know

    you wanna know how much i know about ram?
    my computer has some ram in it
     
  20. cato less hate, more science Registered Senior Member

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    so what would I look for to tell it would not work with my machine?
     
  21. Whatever number proceeds PC2-xxxx - Whatever's currently installed is the right value for the make and model of the board - consult the board manual (I believe I pasted a linky for this very purpose previously) - it should tell you what values will work, as well as RAM population rules, etc.

    Shelling out for RAM's not a thing y'want to make a punt on just on the off chance it might work - you either use the right type or you'll crap out the board. There aren't really any compromises or half measures y'can make in that regard.

    Best case scenario if you put the wrong sort in - GF Protection trips in, cuts the power to everything, the machine won't boot at all until y'take the incorrect RAM chips out.

    Worst case, you pop the processor and write off the motherboard at the same time.

    Always consult the boards specification manual first.
     
  22. cato less hate, more science Registered Senior Member

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    the user manual above is a corrupt file. wont open =]
     
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