Hacking in to a laptop PC

[Kaustav]

Hi,
I have a Compaq Armada 3500 laptop. It has has NT4 on it. No one knows the login or Admin password. When pressing the appropriate key down during boot sequence to access BIOS settings to set boot off CD ROM, the BIOS asks for a BIOS password! How do I get in to this PC?
Thanks,
Kaustav

 

[Pretender]

Maybe check the compaq website for master bios passwords, or perhaps remove the HD and put in a new one, hopefully the BIOS auto detects devices.

 

[Robor]

Write Compaq an Email and ask them how to clear the CMOS (set it back to default settings). At least that way you can get into the system so you can change it to boot from floppy and format it.

Rob

 

[JohnGalt]

yes robor is right, just need to discharge the cmos and everything should be set. As for the NT password, i don't think that's possible to hack.

 

[Windogg]

To get into NT4, there is a Linux passwork cracker I use at work for people who get temporary amnesia. Its can be downloaded, I just don't remember where. Works perfectly.

Windogg

 

[Kill_Phil]

and the linux password cracker works for nt4?

 

[claw]

Here's what the manual says:

If You Forget Your Power-On Password
IMPORTANT: You cannot use the computer if you forget your
power-on password. Therefore, Compaq recommends that you
record your password and put it in a safe place.
If you forget your power-on password, the computer must be
disassembled and memory cleared. Contact your Compaq
authorized dealer, reseller, or service provider for assistance.

From page 13-9 of ftp://ftp.compaq.com/pub/supportinformation/techpubs/user_reference_guides/310296-002.pdf

The same probably applies to the Setup Password.

 

[Ghost]

Go to http://www.l0pht.com They have a tool known as L0phtcrack that can crack any NT passwords. Or so they say....

 

[BlackFalcon]

I'm not absolutely sure that this will work for a Compaq but its worth a shot. The reason it might not work is that Compaq and other OEMs like them usually build their own motherboards and evil junk they've put on it.

Important!: Before attempting this make sure you understand all the BIOS settings and can set them up yourself. Having the manual might help and might not depending on if Compaq.

What we are going to do will cause the BIOS to revert to its factory default settings. (That's if the Compaq board works like every other board I've ever seen.) Sometimes there is a jumper on the motherboard that will reset the BIOS. Hunt around and look for it. If there isn't one no big deal. The answer to our problems is simple. Unplug the computer from powersources (the wall, UPS, etc.). Now remove the battery that is on the motherboard. It will look somewhat like a watch battery.

TA-DA! The motherboard now will forget everything ever told to it about passwords. Wait a few seconds to make sure all the electricity has time to throughly disapate. Now, put the battery back and fire the thing up. Go into you BIOS and enter in the settings that you need. That should be all you have to do to solve the BIOS password problem.

Of course, this will not help with NT passwords.

 

[Windogg]

Well the Linux "cracker" doesn't really break the password. It just gives it a new one. Works like a charm when I need to do system maintainance. I just change the password to something like "ABC123" or "QWERTY" and leave a Post-It with the new password.

Windogg

 

[BlackFalcon]

OH NO! :Q
I just noticed that you said it was a laptop. ARGH! Is it still under warranty? If not you might as well crack it open assuming it will go back together and give my last post a try. The principle will still work. Just make sure to unplug the big hefty laptop battery too. Never been inside a laptop though.
Good luck.

 

[vailr]

If all else fails, you could get a laptop-to-3 1/2" drive adapter. Phusically remove HD from laptop & install as 2nd drive on a desktop machine. Reformat & >> no more password problem. IOpener hackers are familiar with this procedure.

 

[ThurzNite]

try one of the universal bios pw's. Like "award_pw". I just read that yesterday while combing through astalavista.box.sk. search for bios password or something like that. I'd do the search for you, but supervisor's right behind me and she's gonna think I'm trying to hack or something.
Also, you'll find the linux boot disk there somewhere to do the pw. I was gonna download it last night, but fell asleep at the keyboard. Oh well!
As for lophtcrack or whatever that program is, I tried it but it still hasn't cracked a 6 character pw that I'm trying and it's been running for 3 days on my 300a@450.
Good luck

 

[Ulfwald]

Look for the BIOS battery, disconnect ALL power, then remove the battery, wait about 15 mins, then replace it. This will in effect reset the bios back to default.