Bios Password won't work after reinstall

[cyndy10]

Ihad the BIOS passworded because others in the house didn't understand the importance, kept goingin there, so it was passworded.

After a virus, I needed to reinstall XP, hadproblems, the screen suggested checking hardware and software, all ok, then suggested disabling the BIOS memory cache and shadowing. I did that. XP installed, although it took 10 hours, and the machine is now no more than a paperweight, considering how slow it is, plus it's set toboot from the CD-Rom...

Anyway, after the install, the BIOS password does NOT work. IT DID BEFORE. I did reset to "default settings" before I disabled the cache and shadowing, and the password worked, I think...

Anyway, I absolutely MUST getin the BIOS. I remember seeing some BIOS password program recovery program somewhere, I REALLY need some help, can anyone PLEASE tell me what to do?

One odd thing is the MB manual said the password should be 8 characters, mine was 10 - or it just never took the last 2 digits even though I typed them.

Please! Can someone tell me howto fix this?

If I'm slow to respond, you know why..., but frankly I think I'llleave this browser open until I get this fixed, it took 10 minutes to open.

Also, Explorer.exe will NOT run.

Thanks...
Cyndy

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1) AMD Athlon 750MHz, 365Ram, onboard Audio and Video.
2) AMD K6/2 550Mhz, 194RAM, Monster Fusion, and Vortex/Aureal Sound...
3) Linksys router and Cable Modem.

[Limerick]

Hi Cyncy10,

Sorry to see you have to deal with such as this. If this were mine, I'd pop the hood on the machine and look to see if there is a "jumper" on the mainboard that will drain (read that as reset) the CMOS settings. If not, look for a round, flat battery about the size of a quarter or less. Remove that for a few minutes and this will drain the settings. That will remove the password.

Good luck!

Limerick

[cyndy10]

Is there only one battery in there?

I found the "Clear CMOS" jumper, it says to cap it, where is it safe to rob one from, can I improvise, or should I just dothe battery method?

Thanks...


------------------
1) AMD Athlon 750MHz, 365Ram, onboard Audio and Video.
2) AMD K6/2 550Mhz, 194RAM, Monster Fusion, and Vortex/Aureal Sound...
3) Linksys router and Cable Modem.

[This message has been edited by cyndy10 (edited 03-22-2002).]

[Limerick]

Hi cyndy10,

Yes, there would be only one battery of that description. However, you could also use a small screwdriver to short the connections on that jumper. (With the power turned off.)

Limerick

[cyndy10]

DUH...

Upon looking further down thepage, it shows to remove the cap from "default" and move it to "Clear", or atleast that's what it looks like.

I'm going to shut down, pray, and do this, ...I should be back in about 10 minutes if successful, or 30 if not...

Thanks again...

------------------
1) AMD Athlon 750MHz, 365Ram, onboard Audio and Video.
2) AMD K6/2 550Mhz, 194RAM, Monster Fusion, and Vortex/Aureal Sound...
3) Linksys router and Cable Modem.

[cyndy10]

WHAT A MIRACLE!!

My paperweight has just turned into a computer!!

Now I REALLY appreciate VirtualDr, and my cable modem.

My God, this is SO MUCH BETTER!!

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!!!

<B>One last question, I should shut down and put that jumper back, right? Can it wait for an hour or so?</B>



------------------
1) AMD Athlon 750MHz, 365Ram, onboard Audio and Video.
2) AMD K6/2 550Mhz, 194RAM, Monster Fusion, and Vortex/Aureal Sound...
3) Linksys router and Cable Modem.

[Limerick]

Hi cyndy10,

Hey! You mean I finally got one right!? You're welcome. It's always a pleasure to see that someone has been helped on here! Way to go!

As to the position of the jumper, without it being moved back where it was, I don't think it can retain any settings that you want to be retained when you power off. I'd change it back right now, but that's up to you.

Limerick

[cyndy10]

Limerick...

When I put the jumper back and booted, it still gave the option of:

Press F1 to Continue -OR- DEL to enter setup...

Is that ok? I double-checked the jumper, it is back in the original position.

Thanks...
Cyndy

PS Limerick, you made the stress of the entire night's nightmare reinstall magically disappear, a BIG relief, Thanks again...

------------------
1) AMD Athlon 750MHz, 365Ram, onboard Audio and Video.
2) AMD K6/2 550Mhz, 194RAM, Monster Fusion, and Vortex/Aureal Sound...
3) Linksys router and Cable Modem.

[Limerick]

Hi cyndy10,

It sounds like you just need to go into the BIOS, save the settings, and exit. That should clear it for you. Or, are you indicating that it does that every time you boot? If the latter, there may be some setting in the BIOS that you can disable to keep that from popping up each time.

Limerick

[cyndy10]

Nope, it turns outin only did it the once (afetr I put the jumpers back) I rebootedthis morning and it's fine, skipped that...

Cyndy

Thanks again Limerick, you have no idea how much you helped, you were fast, and totally correct!

------------------
1) AMD Athlon 750MHz, 365Ram, onboard Audio and Video.
2) AMD K6/2 550Mhz, 194RAM, Monster Fusion, and Vortex/Aureal Sound...
3) Linksys router and Cable Modem.