Desktop
by syscokid
Assuming it's not a laptop...
Open up the computer. Locate the CMOS chip on the motherboard. There may be a jumper in close proximity to the chip. Pull the jumper. That will reset the BIOS defaults and wipe out the password. Then restore thejumper.
If you can't locate a jumper, pull the CMOS battery. How long you should leave it out is a matter of some discussion. Leave it out for 15 minutes or so. That too will retore the BIOS defaults. Then replace the battery.
If you cannot get into the BIOS program, your only remaining option is to try to clear the CMOS memory that holds BIOS settings. Included in this memory is the password, so this will let you get back into the PC.
Turn off the PC. Hold down the{Insert} key and then turn the PC on and wait for it to boot. On some PCs, this will clear and reset the CMOS memory for you. (On most PCs it will not work, so don't be discouraged.)
Try the same thing with the {Delete} key. Again, it usually won't work.
Look in your motherboard or system documentation for any evidence of a CMOS clear jumper. This is a jumper on the motherboard that can be used to clear the CMOS memory; many newer motherboards have them. Follow the instructions for its use as described in the documentation; usually this means opening the PC, changing the jumper to a special setting, and then booting the PC. The CMOS memory will be cleared. Then you power the PC down and put the jumper back to its previous position.
If you do not have a CMOS clear jumper, your next option is to try disconnecting the CMOS battery. This is easy to do if the battery on the motherboard is removable or user-replaceable. If you see on the motherboard what looks like a flat round wristwatch or calculator battery in a holder, that's it. Some older motherboards use batteries that sit off the motherboard and connect with a wire. If the battery can be disconnected, then disconnect or remove it. Wait for about two hours (you may need to vary the amount of time; if two hours isn't enough, try leaving it overnight) and then plug it back in, and the CMOS should be cleared and reset.
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On some systems, the CMOS battery is integrated within the BIOS chip. You may have success with removing the chip for a few minutes and then replacing it. Just be very careful to take anti-static precautions.
Your motherboard may have a battery that is soldered to the motherboard. You may not see a battery on the motherboard at all; if this is the case then your motherboard probably uses a battery that is integrated into the real-time clock chip (or else, you weren't looking closely enough :^) ). Unfortunately, on a motherboard without a removable battery and with no CMOS clear jumper, clearing the CMOS memory is difficult to do. At this point you should contact your manufacturer for technical support.
If it's a fairly new computer, however, there will most likely be that jumper.
Good luck,
Maxwell
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By the way, if you don't have a manual for your motherboard to locate the jumper, you can most likely find one on the manufacturer's web site.
Maxwell
by gsfromws
by b_pope
A lot of whats included has already been mentioned, but heres somes sections of a article I keep on hand, there's a few other options within.
Before attempting to bypass the BIOS password on a computer, please take a minute to contact the hardware manufacturer support staff directly and ask for their recommended methods of bypassing the BIOS security. In the event the manufacturer cannot (or will not) help you, there are a number of methods that can be used to bypass or reset the BIOS password yourself. They include:
Using a manufacturers backdoor password to access the BIOS
Use password cracking software
Reset the CMOS using the jumpers or solider beads.
Removing the CMOS battery for at least 10 minutes
Overloading the keyboard buffer
Using a professional service
Please remember that most BIOS passwords do not protect the hard drive, so if you need to recover the data, simply remove the hard drive and install it in an identical system, or configure it as a slave drive in an existing system. The exception to this are laptops, especially IBM Thinkpads, which silently lock the hard drive if the supervisor password is enabled. If the supervisor password is reset without resetting the and hard drive as well, you will be unable to access the data on the drive.
by b_pope
Backdoor passwords
Many BIOS manufacturers have provided backdoor passwords that can be used to access the BIOS setup in the event you have lost your password. These passwords are case sensitive, so you may wish to try a variety of combinations. Keep in mind that the key associated to "_" in the US keyboard corresponds to "?" in some European keyboards. Laptops typically have better BIOS security than desktop systems, and we are not aware of any backdoor passwords that will work with name brand laptops.
WARNING: Some BIOS configurations will lock you out of the system completely if you type in an incorrect password more than 3 times. Read your manufacturers documentation for the BIOS setting before you begin typing in passwords
Password cracking software
The following software can be used to either crack or reset the BIOS on many chipsets. If your PC is locked with a BIOS administrator password that will not allow access to the floppy drive, these utilities may not work. Also, since these utilities do not come from the manufacturer, use them cautiously and at your own risk.
Cmos password recovery tools 3.1
!BIOS (get the how-to article)
RemPass
KILLCMOS
by b_pope
Using the Motherboard "Clear CMOS" Jumper or Dipswitch settings
Many motherboards feature a set of jumpers or dipswitches that will clear the CMOS and wipe all of the custom settings including BIOS passwords. The locations of these jumpers / dipswitches will vary depending on the motherboard manufacturer and ideally you should always refer to the motherboard or computer manufacturers documentation. If the documentation is unavailable, the jumpers/dipswitches can sometimes be found along the edge of the motherboard, next to the CMOS battery, or near the processor. Some manufacturers may label the jumper / dipswitch CLEAR - CLEAR CMOS - CLR - CLRPWD - PASSWD - PASSWORD - PWD. On laptop computers, the dipswitches are usually found under the keyboard or within a compartment at the bottom of the laptop.
Please remember to unplug your PC and use a grounding strip before reaching into your PC and touching the motherboard. Once you locate and rest the jumper switches, turn the computer on and check if the password has been cleared. If it has, turn the computer off and return the jumpers or dipswitches to its original position.
by b_pope
Removing the CMOS Battery
The CMOS settings on most systems are buffered by a small battery that is attached to the motherboard. (It looks like a small watch battery). If you unplug the PC and remove the battery for 10-15 minutes, the CMOS may reset itself and the password should be blank. (Along with any other machine specific settings, so be sure you are familiar with manually reconfiguring the BIOS settings before you do this.) Some manufacturers backup the power to the CMOS chipset by using a capacitor, so if your first attempt fails, leave the battery out (with the system unplugged) for at least 24 hours. Some batteries are actually soldered onto the motherboard making this task more difficult. Unsoldering the battery incorrectly may damage your motherboard and other components, so please don't attempt this if you are inexperienced. Another option may be to remove the CMOS chip from the motherboard for a period of time.
Note: Removing the battery to reset the CMOS will not work for all PC's, and almost all of the newer laptops store their BIOS passwords in a manner which does not require continuous power, so removing the CMOS battery may not work at all. IBM Thinkpad laptops lock the hard drive as well as the BIOS when the supervisor password is set. If you reset the BIOS password, but cannot reset the hard drive password, you may not be able to access the drive and it will remain locked, even if you place it in a new laptop. IBM Thinkpads have special jumper switches on the motherboard, and these should be used to reset the system.
by b_pope
Overloading the KeyBoard Buffer
On some older computer systems, you can force the CMOS to enter it's setup screen on boot by overloading the keyboard buffer. This can be done by booting with the keyboard or mouse unattached to the systems, or on some systems by hitting the ESC key over 100 times in rapid succession
Jumping the Solider Beads on the CMOS
It is also possible to reset the CMOS by connecting or "jumping" specific solider beads on the chipset. There are too many chipsets to do a breakdown of which points to jump on individual chipsets, and the location of these solider beads can vary by manufacturer, so please check your computer and motherboard documentation for details. This technique is not recommended for the inexperienced and should be only be used as a "last ditch" effort.
Using a professional service
If the manufacturer of the laptop or desktop PC can't or won't reset the BIOS password, you still have the option of using a professional service. Password Crackers, Inc., offers a variety of services for desktop and laptop computers for between $100 and $400. For most of these services, you'll need to provide some type of legitimate proof of ownership. This may be difficult if you've acquired the computer second hand or from an online auction
If this happens to be a Dell laptop you can call Dell support and give them the Service Tag number and BIOS rev. They can give you a backdoor password to get in.
Ive done this twice before.
by gsfromws
by maddiuex
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