Neowin Forums > Bios password

Neowin Forums > Help & Discussion Center > PDA, Tablet & Mobile Devices

huwwatkins

Jan 12 2005, 19:33

Hi
Just after a quick bit of help. I've been given a Compaq Armada M300. Its a P3 somthing or other, only problem is there is a bios start up password, which means its pretty much useless (hence why it was given).

I've tried searching round the net and the only thing i've come up with it removing the bios battery and shorting the 2 pins; which didn't work. I've also seen on some toshibas it can be done by shorting various pins on the parallell port, but found northing for the compaq. So if anyone have any ideas, I'd be most greatful

Cheers

Huw

bfoos

Jan 12 2005, 19:48

Taken from another forum.

CODE

I know that this will work with a M300 because I have done it successfuly.

Unplug the power cord. Remove the main laptop battery, if any. Look at the bottom of the laptop you will see a small, almost round door. Open it and find the little battery with two wires soldered on each side.
disconnedt the battery, only the positive one will suffice. Now short the wires, connect them together for a few seconds and release. Then hold the power button down while you pull the reset key (on the edge of the laptop) a few times. ( You have not connected the power cord yet). Now wait about 15 minutes. Connect the power cord and turn the laptop on. Wait for the complete boot. Success will show by a blinking cursor at the top right hand side.
The CMOS that holds the power on password is clear now. Turn off the laptop, put the friggin' little battery together, connect the power cord and reboot. While you are tapping on F10 key to get into bios. Set it to factory default and exit.
You are done. If windows starts to load but it asks you for another password it is another story. You need to format the hard drive and reinstal windows.
Enjoy the lil laptop now, dude.
Babak

Dunno if that will help.

huwwatkins

Jan 12 2005, 20:02

Hi
Thanks for finding that, I'll give it a go tomomorrow. Can I ask where you found it? I've been looking for quite a while now.

cheers

bfoos

Jan 12 2005, 20:06

Sure and NP.

http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/...threadId=224016

MegaManXcalibur

Jan 14 2005, 03:23

If that doesn't work I know some Compaq desktops (I would asume some laptops as well) would let you into the BIOS after entering the wrong password three times in a row (great backdoor huh?).

huwwatkins

Jan 14 2005, 11:13

Well, taking the battery out etc, worked

so the password is removed. just one more problem now, it seems if i turn the laptop off after it being on for more than a few minutes it will refuse to turn back on. However if i come back the next morning the process is repeated

and the laptop springs to life as soon as i plug the power cord in. Annoying, so close, yet so far. Ideas?

Cheers

groberts

Jan 14 2005, 14:44

do you always have it plugged in? sounds like the battery is 100% completey dead.

huwwatkins

Jan 15 2005, 17:07

Hmm, think i've found the problem. Combination of a faulty power supply and a flat battery

lylesback2

Jan 15 2005, 18:19

just clear CMOS. it will delete the password!

This is a "lo-fi" version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please click here.