Question

Removing CMOS Battery / Bypass BIOS Pwd / Clear CMOS Jumper -> Digital HiNote VP500

Asked by: ke3ken

I've got a
 
Type: Digital  (DEC) HiNote VP500 laptop.
BIOS: Phoenix NoteBIOS 4.0
OS: Corel Linux (version unknown)

I need to bypass the BIOS pwassword i don't know how...I`ve tried all the "backdoor passwords" for Phoenix, but none of them work (Big suprise). I`ve also tried to locate the CMOS jumper or Dipswitch settings, but I was unable to (where are they?). 3rd; I`ve tried removing the CMOS Battery, but it seems the thing is stuck (glued onto the motherboard ?)

My question(s):
i.   Is there in fact a backdoor password that will work on this BIOS ?
ii.  Can anyone tell me where I can find motherboard drawings to locate the jumper or dipswitch ?
iii. Is the CMOS battery glued onto the motherboard, or have just not used enough force ?
iiii.Is there anything else I can do that will get this computer up and running again ?

BTW: I can`t flash the BIOS using diskdrive because (tada) I`ve also forgotten the pwd to Corel Linux (both usr and admin) The laptop automaticly requests a pwd upon startup, can`t enter BIOS to change Boot Sequence (not that it matters, but anyway...)

Thank you all !

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Asked On
2003-08-31 at 05:08:51ID20724931
Tags

cmos

,

bios

,

password

Topic

General Computer Systems

Participating Experts
3
Points
125
Comments
4

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Answers

 

by: ridPosted on 2003-08-31 at 07:13:53ID: 9257063

bad news:
The start-up password may in fact be in effect for the hard drive, if you can't boot up without the pw. This is not
good. It will not be reset, even if you reset CMOS. You need to talk to the vendor of this machine and get the
password. Or get a new hard drive AND reset CMOS. The CMOS battery may be of a type that has small leads that
are soldered to the board. Again, not good. You can unsolder the old one or cut the leads and solder in a new battery.
Glueing the battery to the board seems simply stupid, but I suppose it's possible...

No info on manufacturer's site?

/RID

 

by: ke3kenPosted on 2003-08-31 at 08:16:18ID: 9257189

Nope, more or less no info on manufacturers site....also; removed hd, still pw, so thats not the issue...still trying to find jumpers..

 

by: wdr503Posted on 2003-08-31 at 11:27:20ID: 9257782

Try these links, they have bios passwords from the bios manufactors. See if any of them work. You will need to know which bios you have. Also make note that some will only take three tries before it locks you out completely.

http://www.plasma-online.de/index.html?content=http%3A//www.plasma-online.de/english/help/solutions/bios_password.html

http://www.techtv.com/screensavers/print/0,23102,3339616,00.html

http://www.inwardboundretreat.com/search.asp?keywords=password%20bios%20remove

You can also try some of these,
http://www.listsoft.com/tips/132/
http://www.computing.net/windows95/wwwboard/forum/142165.html

Hope they work for you.

 

by: coral47Posted on 2003-08-31 at 22:38:32ID: 9259720

Some laptops have this problem or one like it:

Appendix B - Hewlett-Packard Password

Removal Policy
If the user forgets the system password, there is a master password that will
unlock the OmniBook. The user calls Technical Support to determine this
master password as follows:
1. Support will tell the user the keys to type at the password entry screen:
[Alt][Shift][f10]
2. The OmniBook generates and displays an encoded master password.
This is displayed under the normal password entry area. At this point, this
is the only password that will unlock the OmniBook unless the user
presses [ESC] to remove the encoded master from the password entry
screen. Then the user's stored password can be entered.
3. The user reads the encoded master password to Support.
4. Support runs a program that decodes the encoded password, and reads
the decoded password (alphanumeric) to the user.
5. The user types in the decoded password.
6. OmniBook decodes the encoded master password it generated and
compares it to the decoded password typed in by the user.
7. If the two passwords match, the OmniBook is unlocked. The forgotten
password is automatically erased. Support can then guide the user
through the process of entering a new password.
8. If the two passwords do not match, the previous sequence must be
repeated until the user correctly enters a master password.
The encoded master password is an eight-character alphanumeric sequence
that the OmniBook generates at random every time the appropriate keys are
pressed in the password entry screen. Because it is generated randomly, a
master password can only be used to unlock the OmniBook once. If the user
forgets the password at another time, it will require another call to Support. (If
the user presses the appropriate keys by mistake, pressing [ESC] will allow
entering the stored password.)
The password descramble programs for the HP OmniBook Notebook PCs are
protected as HP Company Private information. They may not be copied,
backed-up, printed or distributed. There are only six official copies of each
program.
In addition to the program being protected, its use is also controlled. Hewlett-
Packard and authorized support providers must ensure with written evidence
that the OmniBook that is being "descrambled" is actually in the hands of the
unit's actual and current owner. This requires a sales receipt showing the unit
serial number and owner's name, or a written statement from the owner
attesting that he or she is the owner of the unit. The statement can be a fax
copy of the document. The fact that the unit is in the hands of an HP
representative on behalf of the customer is not evidence of ownership. In
addition, HP will not descramble a unit for any non-owner, even if it involves
law enforcement agencies. If you receive such a request, you should notify
management and HP Corporate Legal immediately. (These requests may
require a court order prior to our participation.)
Further, you must log the name, serial number and date of the running of the
descramble program, and file the written backup with the log. The log and
backup are subject to standard record retention process and review.
The final issue relating to descramble of passwords is that HP cannot provide
information to users that would assist them in improperly descrambling a
password and opening a unit.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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