Bios password

[celsiusat]

Hi all,

I was seeing this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCLgdlUMVfI , titled (In troduction to data recovery by eli atherton).

in this video it is mentioned that "Forget a bios password for a laptop computer - you would probably need to buy a new laptop"

to what extent this is true ???

[nidzo732]

Well, in most cases you can reset the bios by pulling out the battery (the little one on the motherboard), or with jumper. More instructions here.

[efflandt]

Removing an internal battery or resetting the BIOS does not necessarily clear a BIOS password, especially for laptops. Otherwise someone who steals a laptop, or whose business locks them out of CMOS setup, could easily get around that, which would totally negate the security of setting a BIOS password.

While desktops may have a way of resetting BIOS password with a motherboard switch or jumper, laptops or other portable and easily stolen computers often require sending it to the manufacturer to clear a BIOS password. So don't forget it, or if buying a used computer, make sure that CMOS setup is not locked with a password (which could be a signed that it was stolen or the actual owner does not know it is being sold).

[haqking]

There are many software tools to clear a BIOS password such as CMOSPWD, and many others assuming booting is available.

Though i have never come across any that cannot be circumvented through hardware battery removal, jumper shorting etc, though im sure there are some out there, i have just never come across one as yet in about 20+ years.