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I have a Toshiba Portege M200. To my knowledge, there is a way to hardware reset the device completely. This resets the BIOS and all of it's settings. With older Toshiba laptops, one did so with shorting the JOPEN1 jumpers on the board, but I can't find these jumpers on this board.
How do I do this?
by winnt7 Accepted solution
by thumbsup2 Accepted solution
by winnt7 Accepted solution
Well, I bought the item used on eBay. It seemed like a really good deal, $90. I had called Toshiba and they told that the warranty is good until March 2009.
I figured Toshiba would help me get rid of the password on it. I have the challenge code by pressing Ctrl-TAB-Ctrl-Enter at the password prompt, and they *should be able to give me the needed response code so I can unlock the unit and use it. However...
Toshiba will not help me. I spoke first with two reps who said that the company they send units to would help me with the response code over the phone. They had lied. I called back and asked to speak to their supervisor, who was not there. So, I left a message for the supervisor, and with a bitter taste in my mouth about being lied to.
I understand that people don't usually answer these questions because of stolen laptops. Even if on the off chance that the item is stolen, then why is the warranty still good? Also, it's not my fault the item may have been stolen. Ebay should have a more refined screening process for this stuff.
In any case, if one requires proof that I bought this item and didn't steal it myself, check out the item number: 130222470754, and ask the winner of the auction of the question, and I will respond.
So, what I am left with is an awful customer service story and a laptop I wish would work. I can't afford a new laptop, and the asus eee isn't a great solution becuase of the dinky keyboard. Thanks!
by thumbsup2 Accepted solution
Newer laptops, especially Toshiba, don't have jumpers to reset the BIOS like the old ones did. BIOS passwords are now stored in the circuitry and nothing you do will erase or bypass it. So, I'm afraid you're out of luck unless you can get some satisfaction through the eBay complaint process.
Have you tried contacting the person who sold it to you and asking them the answer to the challenge question? This answer would have been provided to Toshiba when it was purchased and, since you can't answer the question correctly, they won't give you the code to unlock the unit.
By the way, Toshiba wouldn't have a clue if the laptop had been stollen or not. All they know is to not give out the code unless the challenge question is answered accurately. If and when you get this straightened out, be sure to transfer ownership through Toshiba so they can change the challenge question to something only you can answer.
by thechas Accepted solution
Have you tried contacting your nearest Toshiba service center?
Over the years here, we have had a number of different solutions discussed for resetting the password on laptops. One that I recall for some Toshiba models involved a special dongle that attached to a port. For some models of HP laptops, the "fix" for a BIOS password is to replace the BIOS ROM chip and then load the BIOS.
My point here is, the most reliable way to get the password on a laptop reset is to work with a factory authorized service center and pay the fee.
An alternative would be to search the hack and crack sites for methods to reset the password on your Toshiba. CAUTION: Many of the hack and crack sites are heavily infected with mal-ware and viri. Proceed with extreme caution if you go this route.
As to ebay, stolen items have been a problem from day 1. ebay relies on buyers to help police the sellers and keep things honest.
I did not look up the auction. But, was it known that there was a password set on the laptop when you placed your bid? If so, I myself would not have bid on this. Even if I trusted the seller.
The laptop manufactures continue to make it harder to reset the system password in order to make a stolen laptop nearly worthless. If it was easy for you to reset the password, it would be just as easy for a thief or fence to reset it. The result would be an increase in the street value of stolen laptops.
As a side note, it is fairly easy to look up closed auctions on ebay and reference them. Just as you do not know if the laptop was stolen or not, we still have no way to verify that your need is legitimate.
Chas
by older mycroft Accepted solution
Toshiba are under no obligation to you, as you never bought any product from them. Consequently no customer contract exists between you and them.
As to the warranty being 'still good' - what is your point? The Portege is covered under warranty if anything goes wrong with it. But there's nothing wrong with it - the password is working, protecting the laptop.
Did you happen to mention to these service personnel that 'lied to you' that you had bought the laptop as a job lot of parts? I'll bet you didn't. ;)
by Former member Accepted solution
If you want to reset the bios then just go into it and click on "load default settings" or something similar. Though you will have to reset which boots first in the boot option section. You do not need to "jump this or jump that", just click on "load default settings". then save and exit. Do a complete shutdown, then reboot. :) Please remember you might need your bios password (if you have one) to access the bios next time.
Please post back if you have any more problems or questions.
by older mycroft Accepted solution
I checked out your supplied auction number, and according to ebay, the item (for which the auction is now closed) is listed as:
[b]Toshiba Portege M200 Tablet 1.6Ghz parts/repair[/b]
Yet, you would have us believe that you feel hard done by because the Tosh is unusable ?
I think not. ;)
by winnt7 Accepted solution
No, I am not stupid, and I am not trying to fool anyone.
The item listing is closed because I bought the damn thing. Duh.
I didn't know that getting rid of the password would be so difficult on this model.
I guess my best option is to just go and get the work done for $90. Hell, after all of this, even with the extra $90 *and* buying a hard drive *and even* if I bought an extra battery for it, it's still cheaper than the other units. Other units were selling for like $500. This unit was $120 including shipping. It'll come around to under $300 altogether, which I think is pretty decent.
I'll just have to be a little more careful when shopping and a little less impulsive with my visa :D. Lesson learned :).
I'll make sure to get the warranty transfered to me.
by thumbsup2 Accepted solution
Replacing the hard drive and buying another battery will not solve your current problem. The BIOS password is not stored on the hard drive. You will still need to either get the access code so you can use the laptop or replace the motherboard, or at the very least, the BIOS chip, which will require taking it to a service center to do the work for you because you don't have the proper tools. That's going to cost far more $$$ than you've allowed for this because THEN, the OS will see that it has been placed on a new computer and may well need to be repaired or reinstalled which requires the original CD. Did you get one of those with this unit?
By the time you're done getting this $120 project to the point that you can actually use it, you'll find those $500 units were a far better deal in the long run.
by older mycroft Accepted solution
Unfortunately, it may well turn out to be your accountability that is more suspect.
In the UK there is a law called the [u]Theft Act 1968[/u] where it states:
[i]A person handles stolen goods if, (otherwise than in the course of stealing) knowing or believing them to be stolen.[/i]
The maximum sentence for receiving/handling stolen goods is 14 years in prison - since 2005 it is no longer deemed as trivial crime, thereby including items such as mobile phones and laptops.
You will clearly have to submit this laptop to a 'puter tech for the necessary work to be carried out. What might they find if they scan the entire laptop case with an Ultra Violet lamp? Perhaps the postcode and house number of the original owner?
The reward for the laptop's safe return might be greater than they were going to charge you for their expertise.
I suspect similar applies on your side of the Big Pond.
Just food for thought. ;)
by winnt7 Accepted solution
i had no reason to believe it was stolen until i got the item and noticed that there is a sticker that says "Aimee Davenport" that came with it. it wasn't attached, just in a crumpled ball.
i'm in canada, and this particular laptop was manufactured, bought and sold in the USA. i bought a laptop as parts/repair off of ebay, thinking i could repair it, and i can't.
i've committed no crime here.
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