Rebuilding aged laptop with BIOS password - arrggghhh!

StockportGerbil

Folks :-
I've been given a Toshiba 1620CDS laptop running Windows ME. I would like to replace the ME with XP, but a password has been set on the BIOS and it boots from the hard disc first. I've tried everything I can think of to reset the password (tried the defaults, run a program which claimed to decrypt the password, disassembled the laptop to find a jumper etc.)

I've also tried to build XP on top of ME, but that fails because you have to run the XP setup from within ME.

Does anyone have any bright ideas?

Thanks

Kevin

espresso

Worth a try?

mustrum_ridcully

Have you tried disconnecting the battery for the bios (give it a while before reconnecting it, oh and remove the normal battery and mains just to make sure)?

It's typically a 0.5-1 inch 'watch style' button battery, possibly mounted directly onto the motherboard or sealed in plastic (green, yellow or blue is what I've seen) and attached via a short lead.

I don't know the model but it is possible that if you remove the cover for the memory sockets the battery will be there.

Chippy_Minton

See http://www.tech-faq.com/reset-bios-password.shtml for methods to reset the BIOS password, including keydisk.exe for Toshiba laptops.

There's also a DIY method for generating a keydisk here --> http://www.expage.com/page/toshibapassword

webhamster

Use a linux live on it , its very old for xp , but you might have a better system with ubunutu instead of xp.

caspol

Hi, I had a similar problem with an old Toshiba laptop but was able to fix it using a special dongle that I got off eBay. Essentially it is a specially wired parallel port connector that you plug in and then switch on the machine. It automatically removes BIOS and admin passwords. At the time i think it only cost me £4-5 so well worth the price as laptop was useless otherwise. I had a quick look for the dongle but can;t find it anywhere as I have just moved house, sorry. As i say have a look on eBay for toshiba password removal and you should find it...

beastwez

Yep, im Toshiba qualified engineer and the printer port dongle is the way to go. I sold my dongle ages ago and needed it again afterwards, so i got a 25pin parallel cable and cut the end off. got a pin layout of the toshiba dongle off the internet, took it into a radio shop who soldered the right wires into place. job done cost me less than 3quid!

Browntoa

beastwez

you are'nt allowed links in your signature I'm afraid

beastwez

sorry didnt know. will change. cheers

IcyEars

If you've disasembled it, do what Ridcully suggests. Remove the main battery and the power adaptor then find the CMOS battery on the motherboard (which is what provides the power to retain the BIOS settings). Remove this battery (normally they are a CR3032 and replaceable because they only last about 3 years anyway) and leave the unit for about 30 minutes just to make sure it has lost all the settings.

Reconnect all the power sources and when you boot it up, enter setup and you shouldn't be asked for a password. I usually restore defaults once I get in the BIOS just to make sure it doesn't start with any dodgy settings, but you should now be able to change your boot priority and install XP or Linux or whatever you decide.

StockportGerbil

Chaps (and chappesses) :-
Thanks for the advice. I've tried the keydisk already and discovered the boot order is set to hard disc, cd and then nothing - so the key disk doesn't work. I've tried the suggested passwords and the left shift key with no joy.

I really don't fancy taking the laptop to bits any more than I already have done as bitter experience has taught me the things are a swine to put back together. However in the process of removing the keyboard and hard disc no cmos battery was evident.

I guess it's time to rustle up an old printer cable....

Thanks for the suggestions

Kev