Need into a locked Lappy!

[markjs]

....It was loaned by a friend to a friend of theirs and came back with a broken display and locked by password....

It's an Acer Travelmate 2200, and the party that broke it will not give the password to it's owner (they say they forgot). I have zero idea how to do this with a lappy, with a desktop sure but a lappy? Is it simple as a jumper somewhere? Thanks in advance!

 

[wedi42]

need to know if it's a bios password or windows...

 

[Brainonska511]

If it is a Windows password, you can use a portable version of Linux to get the Windows password (I'm not sure on the details, you'd have to google it for more info).

 

[wedi42]

for a windows password i've used this service before:
http://www.loginrecovery.com/
~$25usd but it wasn't my money.

 

[computeerrgghh]

For windows password, I would try Knoppix STD live CD. You can check this url for instructions on how to reset it. http://www.astahost.com/how-reset-nt-password-using-knoppix-std-t8716.html

 

[markjs]

I think it's a BIOS password as it never gets to windows.....

 

[otispunkmeyer]

Originally posted by: markjs
I think it's a BIOS password as it never gets to windows.....

well cant you

remove the HDD, connect it to a PC as a 2nd drive (not boot) then see if you can access stuff?

im pretty sure thats how i fixed my mates computer when windows knacked up. i took his drive(his only HDD), connected it to my rig, fired up windows and i was able to just browse his hard drive from there, i saved all his stuff, formatted, he re-installed XP on his machine, then i give him back all his data.

he had a passworded account too.

i know that doesnt help you with the password situation if it is a Bios password, but it might help you see whats on the HDD and if anything bad is on it. either the borrower is a complete tard, or theyre hiding something.

 

[markjs]

How do I get a laptop drive working on a sesktop machine?

 

[Synomenon]

If the laptop's hard drive is SATA and your desktop has SATA ports, just plug it in. If it's an ATA hard drive, you'll need an adapter.

 

[aidanjm]

Originally posted by: markjs
How do I get a laptop drive working on a sesktop machine?

if it's an old-ish laptop, the laptop drive will be IDE, so you need a small adapter plug like this which will let you plug the drive into a desktop motherboard via a standard cable:

http://insidecomputer.stores.yahoo.net/la2tode3hadr.html

http://www.datapro.net/products/1920.html

 

[aidanjm]

on desktop motherboards, sometimes you can reset/ eliminate the BIOS password by pulling the motherboard battery out for several minutes, don't know if there is an equivalent approach with a lap top

 

[HaxorNubcake]

just pull out the cmos battery?

 

[SergeC]

Remove the CMOS battery.

No matter what you do to the HDD, that bios password will still be there.