Password Reset in Windows 98SE?

macman

I've just acquired a very clean Pentium 3 for nothing (thank you Freecycle). It boots up OK, but the owner couldn't remember the password (well she did say it has been in storage for five years).
It's not the user acount (like in XP) that is protected, it seems to be at the BIOS screen where it asks for the 'Current Password'.
It does give me the option of hitting 'delete' to go to set up, but doesn't give me time to actually do this before going to the password stage.
Anyone know a fix for this please?

PeterPerfect

You will need to reset the BIOS by possibly moving a jumper, restart the computer, and then place the jumper back. Where these jumpers are depends upon the motherboard. You will need to known the make and model of the computer system, or motherboard, and check on the web to see if anything relevant can be found.

converse

As PP says, a jumper reset will work, if you open up the case, the jumper reset may even be marked next to a couple of pins, short these out with the jumper block and restart.

gaming_guy

or you could just take out the bios battery (the ones like what are in watches) for 10mins or so.

that should do the same job as the jumper reset

damo24

If you can't find the jumper, try removing the bios battery and leaving it for about 10 minutes, replace the battery then re-start the computer.

Be warned though, once you re-set the bios you may need to re-set it to make sure the computer works properly.

totalsolutions

yeah but dont remove the battery contamination/grease from fingers shorts out the battery, but it's nearing it useful life and may need replacing for a pound or two. Look for 3 pins near the battery 1 and 2 will have a small jumper on it , move it to 2 and 3 for 30 secs and move to original position. Are you using it as a server then?

tomsutton529

be very very very carefull playing with jumpers and removeing batterys, you could end up with a flashed BIOS and a computer that no longer works. read the Motherboard manual to find out if there is a jumper to re-set the password. if not then you have to get some software to do it for you, Hirens Boot CD has the software to do most BIOS passwords.

weegie.geek

tomsutton529 wrote: »

be very very very carefull playing with jumpers and removeing batterys, you could end up with a flashed BIOS and a computer that no longer works. read the Motherboard manual to find out if there is a jumper to re-set the password. if not then you have to get some software to do it for you, Hirens Boot CD has the software to do most BIOS passwords.

And how do you propose the OP runs a boot cd when the machine won't post?

macman

Thanks everybody, removing BIOS battery did the trick, no reconfiguration was required. And it turned out to have XP Professional installed, which was an unexpected bonus.

tomsutton529

weegie.geek wrote: »

And how do you propose the OP runs a boot cd when the machine won't post?

you would have to hope you can access the boot menu by pressing F10 or something like that. if not couldnt they unplug the boot devices that are before the CD drive or would this cause another POST error.

weegie.geek

The whole point in the bios boot password is that it stops you doing that,, it stops at post, and won't let you go on until you enter the password. Nothing can boot until you enter the password.