dcr25568
asked on
How do I reset the supervisor password on the BIOS of a Toshiba M30?
I've just inherited a Toshiba M30 from my company and discovered that the previous user had set a supervisor
password on the BIOS of the laptop. Since the former user is no longer with the company, I have to reset the
password so that I can access BIOS and begin rebuilding the machine.
The BIOS is a Phoenix BIOS and I have already tried using various backdoor supervisor passwords
(phoenix, toshi99, etc.) but none have worked. I have also disconnected the battery to the CMOS and left it
disconnected for over an hour, but the BIOS is still password protected. I have tried looking for a clear
password dipswitch on the motherboard but have not been able to find one. Are there any other possible
solutions I can try or can anyone direct me to resources that could help?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Some additional notes:
The laptop does not have a disk drive, nor can the boot options be changed from HDD boot up without going
through the supervisor password protected BIOS
password on the BIOS of the laptop. Since the former user is no longer with the company, I have to reset the
password so that I can access BIOS and begin rebuilding the machine.
The BIOS is a Phoenix BIOS and I have already tried using various backdoor supervisor passwords
(phoenix, toshi99, etc.) but none have worked. I have also disconnected the battery to the CMOS and left it
disconnected for over an hour, but the BIOS is still password protected. I have tried looking for a clear
password dipswitch on the motherboard but have not been able to find one. Are there any other possible
solutions I can try or can anyone direct me to resources that could help?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Some additional notes:
The laptop does not have a disk drive, nor can the boot options be changed from HDD boot up without going
through the supervisor password protected BIOS
you could probably also remove the cmos battery for a bit to clear the system password (provided you are into tearing apart the laptop and the battery is not soldered to the motherboard. Had that work on a compaq just 3 days ago.
jeff
jeff
ASKER
The problem does not affect OS bootup, but unfortunately the former user seems to have been a bit
disgruntled and sort of handicapped the machine by uninstalling some processes...
The BIOS password problem only affects any changes made to BIOS. Essentially, I'm locked out of any
BIOS settings until I can provide the correct supervisor password or can reset the password.
Removing the CMOS battery for more than an hour did not do anything, unfortunately. I went back into
BIOS and was still locked out of the settings.
disgruntled and sort of handicapped the machine by uninstalling some processes...
The BIOS password problem only affects any changes made to BIOS. Essentially, I'm locked out of any
BIOS settings until I can provide the correct supervisor password or can reset the password.
Removing the CMOS battery for more than an hour did not do anything, unfortunately. I went back into
BIOS and was still locked out of the settings.
dcr25568,
I have had to take extreme messures before. You could download the latest bios firmware and flash the bios. This usually will remove any passwords and resets the bios to defaults.
God Bless
Gary
I have had to take extreme messures before. You could download the latest bios firmware and flash the bios. This usually will remove any passwords and resets the bios to defaults.
God Bless
Gary
ASKER
There is a slight problem with flashing the BIOS with new firmware. Since I am locked out of BIOS
I cannot change the boot preferences to boot straight to the harddrive. Therefore, I cannot
boot a floppy that would load up the new firmware for the BIOS.
Pressing F12 will not allow me to change the boot preferences either upon computer start.
I cannot change the boot preferences to boot straight to the harddrive. Therefore, I cannot
boot a floppy that would load up the new firmware for the BIOS.
Pressing F12 will not allow me to change the boot preferences either upon computer start.
dcr25568,
OK, try this. Some bios Mfg's put in backdoor passwords. These are some common Phoenix backdoor passwords.
phoenix PHOENIX CMOS BIOS
These are case sensitive.
Good luck.
Gary
OK, try this. Some bios Mfg's put in backdoor passwords. These are some common Phoenix backdoor passwords.
phoenix PHOENIX CMOS BIOS
These are case sensitive.
Good luck.
Gary
ASKER
Hmm...
I just tried those passwords out just now and I am still receiving "password invalid"...
I just tried those passwords out just now and I am still receiving "password invalid"...
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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Most Toshiba laptops can be convinced to boot without their power-on BIOS password by attaching a dongle to the serial port which crosses a number of the pins. just connect the pins together: password can then be changed in toshiba console in windows (only tested windows xp)
Pins
1-5-10
2-11
3-17
4-12
6-16
7-13
8-14
9-15
Some Toshiba's can be convinced to bypass the startup BIOS password if you hold down the <LEFT-SHIFT> key while booting the system.
Pins
1-5-10
2-11
3-17
4-12
6-16
7-13
8-14
9-15
Some Toshiba's can be convinced to bypass the startup BIOS password if you hold down the <LEFT-SHIFT> key while booting the system.
I found that pins solution online and i whould give you a link to the website but I don't remember where it is ... but i used a d09m to rj45 converter and removed the rj45 part and crossed the pins like they talked about. amazingly this did the trick.
The jumpered parallel pin solution above only works on ancient models.
Older models need a USB key
Neither method works on newer models.
See
http://www.pwcrack.com/security_chips_toshiba.shtml
for full details.
Older models need a USB key
Neither method works on newer models.
See
http://www.pwcrack.com/security_chips_toshiba.shtml
for full details.
Most Toshiba laptops and some desktop systems will bypass the BIOS password if the left shift key is held down during boot
God Bless