Passwords

The only way that I know of to get around a password protected bios is to discharge the cmos. Usually a jumper on the motherboard (it's JP5 on my 486 board, and I think that is kinda standard..) On mine I would move the jumper from the 1-2 positionto the 2-3 position. You may also have to wait for a minute or two for it discharge. Do you have any documentation on your motherboard, mabey you can find it on the internet....

1st method - easiest: Open the computer case, and look on the motherboard for a small battery. It should be about the size of a nickel. If your motherboard has this type of battery, most of the time you can clear the CMOS by removing it. Sometimes it will clear just by removing it for 1 second, some take hours or so. Make sure you put it back in. After doing this, the system clock, hard drive settings, etc. will all be reset. You'll need to reset them.

2nd method - Look for a jumper on the motherboard that says- Clear passwords, or Clear setup password, or erase setup, or something like that. Usually, you can move the jumper to the proper pins, and then move it back and it will be cleared. You will have to correct the settings as in the above method.
- Steve Cody

Hi there,

The above answers both right. I want to add some more info:
- First, unplug the power cable before doing anything. It will not have any effect if you just shutdown the computer only.
- Sometime removing the battery will not work.
- For setting jumper: In BIOS you may find a jumper with the word "Clear CMOS" beside. If it is a 2 pin jumper then take it out for 1 minute. Put it back again. If it is a 3 pin jumper then change the pin for 1 minute. Chang it back to previous position.
-Plus the power cable again and turn computer on.
- Other way may be more simple: Emter the password "CONCAT". Most of the time it works for old mainboards.

Good luck,

Duong beo

The easiest way if your not sure about jumpers etc. is definitely to remove the battery for a short while to discharge the CMOS.

This should reset all CMOS settings to the default ones.

I agree with other postings about removing the cmos battery, that should work. If not, then reverse the jumper pins from 1-2 to 2-3 on JP5 (or other is manual is available and it directs you to another jumper). But while the case is open, make sure you write down the info on the hard drive(s). You will need to re-input the heads, sectors, and cylinder, and possibly landing zones. Otherwise the system won't be able to boot.
Good luck.
John

On some older motherboards, especially ones that had soldered "barrel" batteries that have gone bad, an external battery will be velcroed to the inside of the case, with a 4 pin plug having red and black wires at either end. This will connect to a 4pin header on the mb. Unplugging this battery will cause the cmos to discharge.
Most of the information in the previous answers is good, but you really should try to find a manual or jumper list for your specific board. Try putting any part numberson the board into www.metacrawler.com. If you don't have the right jumper, you are wasting your time. Also, the BIOS chip often has a sticker on it that says AMIBIOS or AWARD. The jumper you are looking for will probably be very near that chip. I recommend checking www.windrivers.com/identity/mboard/index.htm or www.motherboards.org. You will be glad you spent the time to get the right info.
John Kozura IV
IS Manager
AICPA/PDI

It sounds like a bios level password that can be deleted (along with all the other bios settings) by disconnecting the battery and reconnecting it after waiting 15 mins.

There are very different kinds of Motherboards, some with jumpers, and batteries that you can disconnect, etc. When that is not possible, in the case the old motherboards that have a barrel-like battery, you can try this risky way: take a clip, and short circuit both ends of the battery for no more than 1 second. I have done it several times, and when you get it for more that that the BIOS will get burned. I told you this is very risky. Some other kind of motherboards, do not appear to have a battery installed. It is, but is within the BIOS chip. All you can do to it, is get another BIOS like the one is in the motherboard and replace it, or simply take of the motherboard and wait for about 3-4 months while the battery built-in discharges.

All the previous answers are good. I would only add that in some instances where I have been unable to locate a CMOS discharge jumper, I have accomplished the task by either A) removing the battery and shorting the contacts or B) removing the BIOS chip and shorting all the pins against a metal surface (like the top of the power supply) and then replacing it in the socket. One of these usually is guaranteed to remove all settings.

Ok all above were good answers.
One more thing try searching depending on your BIOS for a BIOS Password Crackers
Go to
http://www.password-crackers.com/crack.html