Laptop password problem

[Giles53]

I bought a used Winbook FX laptop that will not let me into the BIOS unless I first insert a floppy containing the password. I don't have this floppy, nor does the original owner. Winbook wants me to return the machine to them (at $$$), but does anyone know a way I can do it myself? I have tried getting to the CMOS back-up battery to disconnect that, but it will involve virtually disassembling the entire computer, so deeply hidden inside is it. Any ideas?

 

[WildDreamer]

This little proggie might be able to get the pw for you:

CmosPwd

 

[BD2003]

Stop stealing laptops.

 

[Giles53]

Thanks, I'll have my lawer contact you.

 

[Giles53]

Thanks, I'll have my lawyer contact you.

 

[CTweak]

OK, then stop buying stolen laptops!

j/k

 

[BD2003]

Geez, dont get your panties in a bunch. I'd suggest returning the laptop to who you bought it from, because in all likelyhood it is stolen.

 

[hoihtah]

hmm.... let's not be so quick to point fingers...
we the anandtechies don't assume.
'cause when you assume... you make an a$s out of u and me.

i'm sure it's not stolen.

am i just to naive?

 

[Giles53]

Please let this be the final word on the subject.
The lap-top is not stolen, just rather old (133 MHz), and when it was new (about 5 years ago) the original purchaser passworded the BIOS (nothing else) using a floppy. Over the years he misplaced that floppy. (Have you never lost a floppy?) If I was in to stealing lap-tops (which I'm not), it sure as hell wouldn't be a Winbook FX circa 1995, with a 800Meg HDD, and 8 megs of RAM, and about 1 meg of video RAM.
Honest!

 

[Looney]

How the hell would any of you know if it was stolen or not? None of you ever misplaced or forgot a password before?

I had this same problem about 2 years ago when i was trying to unlock passwords for some 486-100 notebooks, and they weren't stolen either. With notebooks, you RARELY have to access the bios, so it's even easier to forget your password after that many years.

BTW, i couldn't figure it out either

 

[CTweak]

Wow ... I guess you guys didn't notice my big smiley face or the "j/k" on my post ... as in "Just kidding!" I didn't really think it was stolen!

 

[CTweak]

And actually I can sympathize because I had an older Pentium laptop that I passworded. Pulled it out after a year or 2 in storage and totally forget what the password was. Never did get it to boot up either even after disconnecting the CMOS battery - it ended up in the trash!

 

[medic]

You may have to carefully take it apart to look for a jumper labelled CLRCMOS, CLRTC ect. or to remove the battery.

Try here:

Or here:

Info:

 

[Giles53]

Thanks WildDreamer,
My problem was I had an old Winbook FX which had had the BIOS passworded, and now no one knew the password. (and yes, it was legally purchased from someone I knew well!)
I followed your lead and checked out the site below:
http://www.esiea.fr/public_html/Christophe.GRENIER/cmospwd.html
I downloaded the program cmospwd and used it thus:
Booted the computer (Winbook FX) to DOS with a floppy containing just Command.com
switched to a: drive and typed cmospwd /k (hit enter), then selected option 1 (enter again).
Rebooted computer and hit F2 to get into BIOS. I was allowed in with no problem at all. Previously it had demanded a password.
Success!!!!
(A universal password with early Phoenix BIOSes, was simply phoenix, and if you couldn't spell it, there it was at the top of the screen....nothing like security is there? However the BIOS I had (Notebios 4.0 dated 08/27/96) was clearly not early enough as this did not work.
The computer on rebooting gave some comment about CMOS checksum error, but a quick trip through BIOS followed by saving the settings sorted that out.
Thanks for your help.