Question

Recover BIOS password

Asked by: jejob007

Hi

I have Dell Optiplex GX260 PC at home and have password
protected my BIOS settings.Unfortunately I recently
forgot the password and want to retrieve it.I have tried many
information available in the internet but none of them worked
on my PC.I do not know if it is because its a branded PC.One
such methode I used is to break the password thru command
prompt using debug stmt.Its available in the following site..

http://www.computerhope.com/rdebug.htm

But this also doesnt work.

Is there any effective software available or any other methode
to break the password.I either need to reset it or recover it.

Thanks

jejo

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Asked On
2005-12-19 at 02:58:18ID21669026
Tags

bios

,

password

,

gx260

Topic

New Computer Users

Participating Experts
11
Points
30
Comments
18

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Answers

 

by: jhancePosted on 2005-12-19 at 05:16:11ID: 15510502

 

by: kbratton1Posted on 2005-12-19 at 11:39:55ID: 15513520

have you considered pulling the battery on the motherboard to let the BIOS reset to default?  I think this might do it.

Keith

 

by: nobusPosted on 2005-12-20 at 02:35:37ID: 15517366

on most newer pc's, these systems will not work.
you have to get into cantact with Dell, and show proof of ownership, before they will help.

 

by: dopyiiiPosted on 2005-12-20 at 12:46:11ID: 15521670

I'm with kbratton1.  Just pull the battery, unplug the computer, wait 30 seconds, plug the computer back in, put the batter back in, turn it on and your BIOS should be back to basics.  If that doesn't work, try again except try to boot the computer once with the battery out, then shut it down and put the battery back in.

I had a similar problem when I worked in a lab and inherited a bunch of computers with BIOS password and this cleared it right up for me.

 

by: davidis99Posted on 2005-12-21 at 12:52:26ID: 15529746

Checking Dell's website for the GX260, Dell has this answer:

"1. Disable or configure BIOS passwords on Dell™ desktop systems by using the system board jumper.

CAUTION
      CAUTION: Before you perform any of the following steps, read the Precautionary Measures warning (located on the Resources tab) for your personal safety and to prevent damage to the computer system from electrostatic discharge.

If a password has been lost, the password may be reset by removing a jumper on the system board.

      NOTICE: This process erases both the system and setup passwords.

      NOTE:       

For information about how to remove the password jumper and set a new password, click the link below and locate your system user guide:
System User's Guides

Refer to the System Setup Program section of your system's user's guide for detailed instructions on removing, and replacing the password jumper.
      

Disable or configure BIOS passwords on Dell™ desktop systems by using the system board jumper."

 

by: sparkmakerPosted on 2005-12-21 at 17:11:10ID: 15531284

davidis99 has the right idea, here is the documentation page from Dell for your computer. It gives you the details and the position of the jumpers
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/opgx260/en/ug/index.htm

 

by: WatzmanPosted on 2005-12-21 at 18:33:16ID: 15531568

First, I think you are confusing a Windows password with a BIOS password.

On desktops, BIOS passwords are normally reset by shorting two points on the motherboard with the computer turned off.  The battery is most often left installed, but in some cases can be or must be removed.  Normally the points are identified in the user manual, and there may be jumpers (but not always).  Pulling the battery may work but not in all cases.

This is very different from laptops, where the manufacturers provide quite a bit more security and it is MUCH harder to reset the BIOS (laptop) password.

 

by: gecko_au2003Posted on 2005-12-22 at 17:47:05ID: 15539460

I found this :

http://www.cgsecurity.org/index.html?cmospwd.html

The download can be gotten from that site but if you take a look at this download site :

http://www.softpedia.com/get/Security/Decrypting-Decoding/CmosPwd.shtml

Scroll down a bit and it explains how to use it.

Although saying that there is a read me on the main site.

 

by: WatzmanPosted on 2005-12-22 at 18:03:45ID: 15539514

This won't help in this situation and in general won't help for laptops (as it basically says in the softpedia reference).  The password is not stored in CMOS but in an EEROM security chip.

 

by: gecko_au2003Posted on 2005-12-22 at 18:07:19ID: 15539526

fair enough, Anyway I would have to agree with the suggestions above and I didnt want to make repeat suggestions. The one from dell would obviously be the one that would most apply, if that did not work then I would use the taking the cmos battery out as something to fall back on to not as a do it first and then try what dell suggested.

 

by: gecko_au2003Posted on 2005-12-22 at 18:18:30ID: 15539561

watzman do you mean an EEPROM or EEROM ?

 

by: lhladminPosted on 2005-12-28 at 10:35:07ID: 15564527

Sometimes you have to leave the BIOS battery out overnight to let the MOBO completely discharge the current.  

I have also taken the battery out, and then powered the PC for just a sec, so that the BIOS resetts itself back to default values.

Just suggestions.

 

by: BillDLPosted on 2006-01-16 at 01:04:59ID: 15708844

Stick to the Dell instructions as suggested by davidis99 and sparkmaker or you could screw up your system.
Dell have provided a jumper specifically designed for resetting the password, so there should be no need for 3rd-party utilities or debug scripts.

Specific sections from the page linked to by sparkmaker, although you should print and read the WHOLE page:

Read Carefully:
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/opgx260/en/ug/advfeat.htm#1110952

Inspect and print images and read warnings:
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/opgx260/en/ug/advfeat.htm#1117484

 

by: BillDLPosted on 2006-01-16 at 01:07:07ID: 15708850

Hmmm.  Just seen the date of this question.  Don't know why I bothered adding to it.

 

by: carrzkissPosted on 2006-01-19 at 12:32:50ID: 15742528

jejob007 - Please [Accept] someone as a Answer for this issue so it can be closed.
These Volunteer's give their time to assist in resolving issues.
Please Accept an answer.
Or let them know the status of your issue, so that they can better assist you.

Thank you
Carrzkiss
EE Volunteer Cleanup.

 

by: BillDLPosted on 2006-02-08 at 03:09:41ID: 15901212

It's well and truly abandoned.
Just delete the question and don't reimburse points..

 

by: BillDLPosted on 2006-02-09 at 21:36:33ID: 15919722

Hmm.  That was out of the blue :-)  Thank you, jejob007

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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