From: Errol Smith 
Reply-To: Fidonet Classic_Computer Echo 

At 10:26 PM 24/12/2005, you wrote:
> ML> I have an old Sony VIAO which I would like to change the BIOS on in
> ML> order to install a CD-ROM or USB floppy device.  However, the BIOS
> ML> setup function is password locked and I can't get to it.  Can
> ML> somebody post the key combination or tell me the hardware shuffle
> ML> requirement which is needed to clear the BIOS password so I can get
> ML> to it?
>
>I don't know if it's going to be of any help, but on older PC sytems that I
>have had to bust the BIOS password for (even as recent as a few days ago for
>somebody else) the proceedure I follow is to first look up the BIOS version on
>the internet and see if there are any default backdoor passwords to get into
>it... if that fails, next is to use a variety of seekers that can get the
>password that exists for you... if that fails, remove the battery from the
>motherboard while you're having dinner, and then upon reinserting the battery
>and firing up the system all BIOS functions should be back to default, and any
>previous passwords gone. Of course, on the last measure I mentioned,
anything not "default" may not be usable so you'd better know the
settings for the hardware that existed previously if that BIOS doesn't have
an "auto"
>setting for the different types of hardware that pre-existed.

 Some systems (and almost all modern motherboards) have a "BIOS
reset" jumper. If you boot the machine with this jumper installed, it
resets the BIOS to all defaults including passwords. Remove the jumper,
reboot the machine and set the BIOS up how you want.
 Have a look around the system board for such a jumper. It is not always
clearly marked (if it exists). If you can find a systemboard/user manual
for the system it might tell you if/where it is.
 Also some (generally older) systems lose all bios setup information if the
backup battery is removed (or flat). You could try that also.


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