alt.certification.a-plus - Resetting Laptop BIOS

Author

Resetting Laptop BIOS

mhaase-at-springmind.com

2003-09-14, 11:26 pm

Hey all!

I need to reset a Laptop's BIOS, and cannot get to the battery itself.
I CAN however get to the BIOS chip, which is socketed.

Do y'all think pulling the chip for awhile have the same effect as
pulling the battery?

Thanks for your thoughts....

Ghost

2003-09-15, 12:28 am

In article < bu6amv4fkofmm90jkgcjhcstujqpp4
1qv1@4ax.com>,
mhaase-at-springmind.com (Mark Haase) wrote:

> Hey all!
>
> I need to reset a Laptop's BIOS, and cannot get to the battery itself.
> I CAN however get to the BIOS chip, which is socketed.
>
> Do y'all think pulling the chip for awhile have the same effect as
> pulling the battery?
>
> Thanks for your thoughts....

I dunno... but I have a concern about pulling a chip that has power
applied to it. If you damage the chip, the laptop immediately becomes a
paperweight...

Navin R. Johnson

2003-09-15, 2:25 am

On Sun, 14 Sep 2003 18:56:22 -0700, mhaase-at-springmind.com
<mhaase-at-springmind.com@> wrote:

>Hey all!
>
>I need to reset a Laptop's BIOS, and cannot get to the battery itself.
>I CAN however get to the BIOS chip, which is socketed.
>
>Do y'all think pulling the chip for awhile have the same effect as
>pulling the battery?
>
>Thanks for your thoughts....

It'll definitely work, but be sure to leave the chip sit out for at
least 15 minutes - on a grounded anti-static mat, and wear a wrist strap
when you work. CMOS chips are especially susceptible to ESD. Use a small
flat-bladed jewelers screwdriver to carefully - very carefully - pry up
the chip so that it comes straight out. If you bend any of the pins
you'll have to make them perfectly straight again before you re-insert
it. I've pulled at least a thousand (thousands?) chips in my career and
have inadvertantly bent more than a few chip legs to a 90 degree angle
so be very careful. Good luck.

NRJ

"Very funny Scotty..... Now beam down my clothes!"

mhaase-at-springmind.com

2003-09-15, 7:24 am

On Sun, 14 Sep 2003 20:54:37 -0700, user@user.com (Ghost) wrote:

>In article < bu6amv4fkofmm90jkgcjhcstujqpp4
1qv1@4ax.com>,
>mhaase-at-springmind.com (Mark Haase) wrote:
>
>> Hey all!
>>
>> I need to reset a Laptop's BIOS, and cannot get to the battery itself.
>> I CAN however get to the BIOS chip, which is socketed.
>>
>> Do y'all think pulling the chip for awhile have the same effect as
>> pulling the battery?
>>
>> Thanks for your thoughts....
>
>I dunno... but I have a concern about pulling a chip that has power
>applied to it. If you damage the chip, the laptop immediately becomes a
>paperweight...

Yeah but:

a) It's useless now...can't get by a password prompt

b) it's probably worth all of $50....it's a P-133!

Thanx for the help!

I resisted 'till I couldn't take it anymore.

(sigh) Address altered against Spam.

Replace the -at- and put the "spring-mind" in the correct order

Richard Ballard

2003-09-15, 7:24 am

In article < rh3bmv8u86pqmq2dajq5egq34947oh
rogr@4ax.com>,
mhaase-at-springmind.com <mhaase-at-springmind.com@> writes:

>On Sun, 14 Sep 2003 20:54:37 -0700,
>user@user.com (Ghost) wrote:
>
>>In article < bu6amv4fkofmm90jkgcjhcstujqpp4
1qv1@4ax.com>,
>>mhaase-at-springmind.com (Mark Haase) wrote:
>>
>>>Hey all!
>>>
>>>I need to reset a Laptop's BIOS, and cannot get to the battery
>>>itself. I CAN however get to the BIOS chip, which is socketed.
>>>
>>>Do y'all think pulling the chip for awhile have the same effect
>>>as pulling the battery?
>>>
>>>Thanks for your thoughts....
>>
>>I dunno... but I have a concern about pulling a chip that has
>>power applied to it. If you damage the chip, the laptop
>>immediately becomes a paperweight...
>
>Yeah but:
>
>a) It's useless now...can't get by a password prompt
>
>b) it's probably worth all of $50....it's a P-133!

Many motherboards have a removable jumper specifically designed
to allow user reinitialization of the PC's BIOS settings.

'Hope that helps.

Richard Ballard MSEE CNA4 KD0AZ
--
Consultant specializing in computer networks, imaging & security
Listed as rjballard in "Friends & Favorites" at www.amazon.com
Last book review: "Combatting Cult Mind Control"
by Steven Hassan

Ghost

2003-09-15, 6:26 pm

In article < rh3bmv8u86pqmq2dajq5egq34947oh
rogr@4ax.com>,
mhaase-at-springmind.com (Mark Haase) wrote:

> On Sun, 14 Sep 2003 20:54:37 -0700, user@user.com (Ghost) wrote:
>
> >In article < bu6amv4fkofmm90jkgcjhcstujqpp4
1qv1@4ax.com>,
> >mhaase-at-springmind.com (Mark Haase) wrote:
> >
> >> Hey all!
> >>
> >> I need to reset a Laptop's BIOS, and cannot get to the battery itself.
> >> I CAN however get to the BIOS chip, which is socketed.
> >>
> >> Do y'all think pulling the chip for awhile have the same effect as
> >> pulling the battery?
> >>
> >> Thanks for your thoughts....
> >
> >I dunno... but I have a concern about pulling a chip that has power
> >applied to it. If you damage the chip, the laptop immediately becomes a
> >paperweight...
>
>
> Yeah but:
>
> a) It's useless now...can't get by a password prompt
>
> b) it's probably worth all of $50....it's a P-133!
>
> Thanx for the help!
>
>
>
>
> I resisted 'till I couldn't take it anymore.
>
> (sigh) Address altered against Spam.
>
> Replace the -at- and put the "spring-mind" in the correct order

then take it apart.. somewhere inside will be the CMOS battery!

Ghost

2003-09-15, 6:26 pm

In article <20030915071217.23307.00003023@mb-m29.aol.com>,
rball84213@aol.com (Richard Ballard) wrote:

> In article < rh3bmv8u86pqmq2dajq5egq34947oh
rogr@4ax.com>,
> mhaase-at-springmind.com <mhaase-at-springmind.com@> writes:
>
> >On Sun, 14 Sep 2003 20:54:37 -0700,
> >user@user.com (Ghost) wrote:
> >
> >>In article < bu6amv4fkofmm90jkgcjhcstujqpp4
1qv1@4ax.com>,
> >>mhaase-at-springmind.com (Mark Haase) wrote:
> >>
> >>>Hey all!
> >>>
> >>>I need to reset a Laptop's BIOS, and cannot get to the battery
> >>>itself. I CAN however get to the BIOS chip, which is socketed.
> >>>
> >>>Do y'all think pulling the chip for awhile have the same effect
> >>>as pulling the battery?
> >>>
> >>>Thanks for your thoughts....
> >>
> >>I dunno... but I have a concern about pulling a chip that has
> >>power applied to it. If you damage the chip, the laptop
> >>immediately becomes a paperweight...
> >
> >Yeah but:
> >
> >a) It's useless now...can't get by a password prompt
> >
> >b) it's probably worth all of $50....it's a P-133!
>
> Many motherboards have a removable jumper specifically designed
> to allow user reinitialization of the PC's BIOS settings.
>
> 'Hope that helps.
>
> Richard Ballard MSEE CNA4 KD0AZ
> --
> Consultant specializing in computer networks, imaging & security
> Listed as rjballard in "Friends & Favorites" at www.amazon.com
> Last book review: "Combatting Cult Mind Control"
> by Steven Hassan

I have never seen a CMOS jumper on a laptop before- and I work on a lot of
laptops...

Barry Watzman

2003-09-15, 7:25 pm

What is he trying to do?

Removing power will NOT reset the password in most modern laptops. It's
stored in non-volatile flash memory, not in battery backed up memory, in
most models.

Ghost wrote:

> In article < bu6amv4fkofmm90jkgcjhcstujqpp4
1qv1@4ax.com>,
> mhaase-at-springmind.com (Mark Haase) wrote:
>
>
>>Hey all!
>>
>>I need to reset a Laptop's BIOS, and cannot get to the battery itself.
>>I CAN however get to the BIOS chip, which is socketed.
>>
>>Do y'all think pulling the chip for awhile have the same effect as
>>pulling the battery?
>>
>>Thanks for your thoughts....
>
>
> I dunno... but I have a concern about pulling a chip that has power
> applied to it. If you damage the chip, the laptop immediately becomes a
> paperweight...

mhaase-at-springmind.com

2003-09-15, 10:27 pm

On Mon, 15 Sep 2003 15:38:16 -0700, Barry Watzman <Watzman@neo.rr.com>
wrote:

>What is he trying to do?
>
>Removing power will NOT reset the password in most modern laptops. It's
>stored in non-volatile flash memory, not in battery backed up memory, in
>most models.

Yes, that's what I'm trying to do (reset the password). As to
"modern", the thing is circa 1995. Does that fall into the "modern"
category?

FWIW, I DID remove the chip for about 12 hours, and it did NOT reset
the password - you were right.

Any ideas on a plan of action? There's something holding the two
halves together that I haven't been able to find yet, and I'm a
little tenuous about dismantling the whole thing - I don't do much
laptop work at all and even though the thing isn't worth much, I'm
reluctant to risk not being able to get it all back together and
leaving it worse than I found it.

What's the Hypocratic Oath start with? "First, do no harm"?

Thanks for any suggestions!

>Ghost wrote:
>
>> In article < bu6amv4fkofmm90jkgcjhcstujqpp4
1qv1@4ax.com>,
>> mhaase-at-springmind.com (Mark Haase) wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Hey all!
>>>
>>>I need to reset a Laptop's BIOS, and cannot get to the battery itself.
>>>I CAN however get to the BIOS chip, which is socketed.
>>>
>>>Do y'all think pulling the chip for awhile have the same effect as
>>>pulling the battery?
>>>
>>>Thanks for your thoughts....
>>
>>
>> I dunno... but I have a concern about pulling a chip that has power
>> applied to it. If you damage the chip, the laptop immediately becomes a
>> paperweight...

I resisted 'till I couldn't take it anymore.

(sigh) Address altered against Spam.

Replace the -at- and put the "spring-mind" in the correct order

Ghost

2003-09-15, 11:27 pm

In article < e2rcmvsru27e5cadmirqa7ogc8gfjg
rt66@4ax.com>,
mhaase-at-springmind.com (Mark Haase) wrote:

> On Mon, 15 Sep 2003 15:38:16 -0700, Barry Watzman <Watzman@neo.rr.com>
> wrote:
>
> >What is he trying to do?
> >
> >Removing power will NOT reset the password in most modern laptops. It's
> >stored in non-volatile flash memory, not in battery backed up memory, in
> >most models.
>
> Yes, that's what I'm trying to do (reset the password). As to
> "modern", the thing is circa 1995. Does that fall into the "modern"
> category?
>
> FWIW, I DID remove the chip for about 12 hours, and it did NOT reset
> the password - you were right.
>
> Any ideas on a plan of action? There's something holding the two
> halves together that I haven't been able to find yet, and I'm a
> little tenuous about dismantling the whole thing - I don't do much
> laptop work at all and even though the thing isn't worth much, I'm
> reluctant to risk not being able to get it all back together and
> leaving it worse than I found it.
>
> What's the Hypocratic Oath start with? "First, do no harm"?
>
> Thanks for any suggestions!
>

Try doing a google search for the manufacturer of the laptop and keywords
such as: +password +reset +cmos

Barry Watzman

2003-09-16, 12:26 am

Re: "As to "modern", the thing is circa 1995. Does that fall into the
"modern" >>category?"

It probably does, for this purpose. Laptops have used flash memory for
longer than desktops. The last laptops that I saw in which the password
could be reset by removing the battery were some early 1990's Compaq
486's. I have Zenith 386 and 486 Z-Notes, from 1992-1993, and they
cannot be reset by removing the battery. This varies by model, of
course, but in any Pentium based laptop -- even a Pentium 75 -- it's
very unlikely that you can remove the password by disconnecting the battery.

What kind of laptop is it? Be specific.

The procedure for resetting the password varies greatly from laptop to
laptop, from mfgr. to mfgr. Some commonly used techniques are:

1. Insert a special diskette (a VERY special diskette) into the floppy
drive before turning on power.

2. Connect a special "password removal dongle" to the parallel printer
port socket.

3. Momentarily short two point on the motherboard while turning on
power. The points are normally accessible without major disassembly
(often they are in the memory expansion area, but they are completely
unmarked).

Ghost wrote:

> In article < e2rcmvsru27e5cadmirqa7ogc8gfjg
rt66@4ax.com>,
> mhaase-at-springmind.com (Mark Haase) wrote:
>
>
>>On Mon, 15 Sep 2003 15:38:16 -0700, Barry Watzman <Watzman@neo.rr.com>
>>wrote:
>>
>>
>>>What is he trying to do?
>>>
>>>Removing power will NOT reset the password in most modern laptops. It's
>>>stored in non-volatile flash memory, not in battery backed up memory, in
>>>most models.
>>
>>Yes, that's what I'm trying to do (reset the password). As to
>>"modern", the thing is circa 1995. Does that fall into the "modern"
>>category?
>>
>>FWIW, I DID remove the chip for about 12 hours, and it did NOT reset
>>the password - you were right.
>>
>>Any ideas on a plan of action? There's something holding the two
>>halves together that I haven't been able to find yet, and I'm a
>>little tenuous about dismantling the whole thing - I don't do much
>>laptop work at all and even though the thing isn't worth much, I'm
>>reluctant to risk not being able to get it all back together and
>>leaving it worse than I found it.
>>
>>What's the Hypocratic Oath start with? "First, do no harm"?
>>
>>Thanks for any suggestions!
>>
>
>
>
> Try doing a google search for the manufacturer of the laptop and keywords
> such as: +password +reset +cmos

mhaase-at-springmind.com

2003-09-16, 12:27 am

On Mon, 15 Sep 2003 20:32:46 -0700, Barry Watzman <Watzman@neo.rr.com>
wrote:

>Re: "As to "modern", the thing is circa 1995. Does that fall into the
>"modern" >>category?"
>
>It probably does, for this purpose. Laptops have used flash memory for
>longer than desktops. The last laptops that I saw in which the password
>could be reset by removing the battery were some early 1990's Compaq
>486's. I have Zenith 386 and 486 Z-Notes, from 1992-1993, and they
>cannot be reset by removing the battery. This varies by model, of
>course, but in any Pentium based laptop -- even a Pentium 75 -- it's
>very unlikely that you can remove the password by disconnecting the battery.
>
>What kind of laptop is it? Be specific.
>
>The procedure for resetting the password varies greatly from laptop to
>laptop, from mfgr. to mfgr. Some commonly used techniques are:
>
>1. Insert a special diskette (a VERY special diskette) into the floppy
>drive before turning on power.
>
>2. Connect a special "password removal dongle" to the parallel printer
>port socket.
>
>3. Momentarily short two point on the motherboard while turning on
>power. The points are normally accessible without major disassembly
>(often they are in the memory expansion area, but they are completely
>unmarked).

Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find much about it on line.
It's an Everex "4500 Series". That's the only identifying markings on
it.

I've posted in a few possible NG's looking for someone who might have
info on it, but no luck yet.

As always...any help is appreciated.

>Ghost wrote:
>
>> In article < e2rcmvsru27e5cadmirqa7ogc8gfjg
rt66@4ax.com>,
>> mhaase-at-springmind.com (Mark Haase) wrote:
>>
>>
>>>On Mon, 15 Sep 2003 15:38:16 -0700, Barry Watzman <Watzman@neo.rr.com>
>>>wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>What is he trying to do?
>>>>
>>>>Removing power will NOT reset the password in most modern laptops. It's
>>>>stored in non-volatile flash memory, not in battery backed up memory, in
>>>>most models.
>>>
>>>Yes, that's what I'm trying to do (reset the password). As to
>>>"modern", the thing is circa 1995. Does that fall into the "modern"
>>>category?
>>>
>>>FWIW, I DID remove the chip for about 12 hours, and it did NOT reset
>>>the password - you were right.
>>>
>>>Any ideas on a plan of action? There's something holding the two
>>>halves together that I haven't been able to find yet, and I'm a
>>>little tenuous about dismantling the whole thing - I don't do much
>>>laptop work at all and even though the thing isn't worth much, I'm
>>>reluctant to risk not being able to get it all back together and
>>>leaving it worse than I found it.
>>>
>>>What's the Hypocratic Oath start with? "First, do no harm"?
>>>
>>>Thanks for any suggestions!
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Try doing a google search for the manufacturer of the laptop and keywords
>> such as: +password +reset +cmos

I resisted 'till I couldn't take it anymore.

(sigh) Address altered against Spam.

Replace the -at- and put the "spring-mind" in the correct order

mhaase-at-springmind.com

2003-09-16, 1:26 am

On Mon, 15 Sep 2003 19:31:34 -0700, user@user.com (Ghost) wrote:

>In article < e2rcmvsru27e5cadmirqa7ogc8gfjg
rt66@4ax.com>,
>mhaase-at-springmind.com (Mark Haase) wrote:
>
>> On Mon, 15 Sep 2003 15:38:16 -0700, Barry Watzman <Watzman@neo.rr.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>> >What is he trying to do?
>> >
>> >Removing power will NOT reset the password in most modern laptops. It's
>> >stored in non-volatile flash memory, not in battery backed up memory, in
>> >most models.
>>
>> Yes, that's what I'm trying to do (reset the password). As to
>> "modern", the thing is circa 1995. Does that fall into the "modern"
>> category?
>>
>> FWIW, I DID remove the chip for about 12 hours, and it did NOT reset
>> the password - you were right.
>>
>> Any ideas on a plan of action? There's something holding the two
>> halves together that I haven't been able to find yet, and I'm a
>> little tenuous about dismantling the whole thing - I don't do much
>> laptop work at all and even though the thing isn't worth much, I'm
>> reluctant to risk not being able to get it all back together and
>> leaving it worse than I found it.
>>
>> What's the Hypocratic Oath start with? "First, do no harm"?
>>
>> Thanks for any suggestions!
>>
>
>
>Try doing a google search for the manufacturer of the laptop and keywords
>such as: +password +reset +cmos

Yup, tried it already...no joy. It's an "Everex 4500 Series", and
not too much seems available.

I resisted 'till I couldn't take it anymore.

(sigh) Address altered against Spam.

Replace the -at- and put the "spring-mind" in the correct order

Ghost

2003-09-16, 10:24 am

In article < vo1dmv440ssuojq8cdi97vulhg8s5f
hv02@4ax.com>,
mhaase-at-springmind.com (Mark Haase) wrote:

> On Mon, 15 Sep 2003 19:31:34 -0700, user@user.com (Ghost) wrote:
>
> >In article < e2rcmvsru27e5cadmirqa7ogc8gfjg
rt66@4ax.com>,
> >mhaase-at-springmind.com (Mark Haase) wrote:
> >
> >> On Mon, 15 Sep 2003 15:38:16 -0700, Barry Watzman <Watzman@neo.rr.com>
> >> wrote:
> >>
> >> >What is he trying to do?
> >> >
> >> >Removing power will NOT reset the password in most modern laptops. It's
> >> >stored in non-volatile flash memory, not in battery backed up memory, in
> >> >most models.
> >>
> >> Yes, that's what I'm trying to do (reset the password). As to
> >> "modern", the thing is circa 1995. Does that fall into the "modern"
> >> category?
> >>
> >> FWIW, I DID remove the chip for about 12 hours, and it did NOT reset
> >> the password - you were right.
> >>
> >> Any ideas on a plan of action? There's something holding the two
> >> halves together that I haven't been able to find yet, and I'm a
> >> little tenuous about dismantling the whole thing - I don't do much
> >> laptop work at all and even though the thing isn't worth much, I'm
> >> reluctant to risk not being able to get it all back together and
> >> leaving it worse than I found it.
> >>
> >> What's the Hypocratic Oath start with? "First, do no harm"?
> >>
> >> Thanks for any suggestions!
> >>
> >
> >
> >Try doing a google search for the manufacturer of the laptop and keywords
> >such as: +password +reset +cmos
>
>
> Yup, tried it already...no joy. It's an "Everex 4500 Series", and
> not too much seems available.
>
>
>
>
> I resisted 'till I couldn't take it anymore.
>
> (sigh) Address altered against Spam.
>
> Replace the -at- and put the "spring-mind" in the correct order

I did a google search for: +everex +password +reset +cmos

I found plenty of stuff...

http://freepctech.com/pc/002/files009.shtml has a few utilities you might use..

ftp://ftp.fluidlight.com/pub/nospin...cmospwd-2.9.zip (freeware)

ftp://ftp.fluidlight.com/pub/nospin_files/biosfind.zip (shareware)

ftp://ftp.fluidlight.com/pub/nospin_files/bios1351.zip (freeware)

or try this method:
http://www.just-computer-links.com/...n95/n1041971488

There are tons of other links as well...

Barry Watzman

2003-09-16, 10:24 am

Well, it should have an FCC ID sticker with a registration number. This
can be plugged into a search engine at the FCC web site and will return
the ID of the actual manufacturer, which is probably either Compal or
Quanta.

mhaase-at-springmind.com wrote:
> On Mon, 15 Sep 2003 20:32:46 -0700, Barry Watzman <Watzman@neo.rr.com>
> wrote:
>
>
>>Re: "As to "modern", the thing is circa 1995. Does that fall into the
>>"modern" >>category?"
>>
>>It probably does, for this purpose. Laptops have used flash memory for
>>longer than desktops. The last laptops that I saw in which the password
>>could be reset by removing the battery were some early 1990's Compaq
>>486's. I have Zenith 386 and 486 Z-Notes, from 1992-1993, and they
>>cannot be reset by removing the battery. This varies by model, of
>>course, but in any Pentium based laptop -- even a Pentium 75 -- it's
>>very unlikely that you can remove the password by disconnecting the battery.
>>
>>What kind of laptop is it? Be specific.
>>
>>The procedure for resetting the password varies greatly from laptop to
>>laptop, from mfgr. to mfgr. Some commonly used techniques are:
>>
>>1. Insert a special diskette (a VERY special diskette) into the floppy
>>drive before turning on power.
>>
>>2. Connect a special "password removal dongle" to the parallel printer
>>port socket.
>>
>>3. Momentarily short two point on the motherboard while turning on
>>power. The points are normally accessible without major disassembly
>>(often they are in the memory expansion area, but they are completely
>>unmarked).
>
>
> Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find much about it on line.
> It's an Everex "4500 Series". That's the only identifying markings on
> it.
>
> I've posted in a few possible NG's looking for someone who might have
> info on it, but no luck yet.
>
> As always...any help is appreciated.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>>Ghost wrote:
>>
>>
>>>In article < e2rcmvsru27e5cadmirqa7ogc8gfjg
rt66@4ax.com>,
>>>mhaase-at-springmind.com (Mark Haase) wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>On Mon, 15 Sep 2003 15:38:16 -0700, Barry Watzman <Watzman@neo.rr.com>
>>>>wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>What is he trying to do?
>>>>>
>>>>>Removing power will NOT reset the password in most modern laptops. It's
>>>>>stored in non-volatile flash memory, not in battery backed up memory, in
>>>>>most models.
>>>>
>>>>Yes, that's what I'm trying to do (reset the password). As to
>>>>"modern", the thing is circa 1995. Does that fall into the "modern"
>>>>category?
>>>>
>>>>FWIW, I DID remove the chip for about 12 hours, and it did NOT reset
>>>>the password - you were right.
>>>>
>>>>Any ideas on a plan of action? There's something holding the two
>>>>halves together that I haven't been able to find yet, and I'm a
>>>>little tenuous about dismantling the whole thing - I don't do much
>>>>laptop work at all and even though the thing isn't worth much, I'm
>>>>reluctant to risk not being able to get it all back together and
>>>>leaving it worse than I found it.
>>>>
>>>>What's the Hypocratic Oath start with? "First, do no harm"?
>>>>
>>>>Thanks for any suggestions!
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>Try doing a google search for the manufacturer of the laptop and keywords
>>>such as: +password +reset +cmos
>
>
>
>
> I resisted 'till I couldn't take it anymore.
>
> (sigh) Address altered against Spam.
>
> Replace the -at- and put the "spring-mind" in the correct order
>
>
>

Barry Watzman

2003-09-16, 10:24 am

mhaase-at-springmind.com

2003-09-16, 8:25 pm

On Tue, 16 Sep 2003 06:32:24 -0700, user@user.com (Ghost) wrote:

>In article < vo1dmv440ssuojq8cdi97vulhg8s5f
hv02@4ax.com>,
>mhaase-at-springmind.com (Mark Haase) wrote:
>
>> On Mon, 15 Sep 2003 19:31:34 -0700, user@user.com (Ghost) wrote:
>>
>> >In article < e2rcmvsru27e5cadmirqa7ogc8gfjg
rt66@4ax.com>,
>> >mhaase-at-springmind.com (Mark Haase) wrote:
>> >
>> >> On Mon, 15 Sep 2003 15:38:16 -0700, Barry Watzman <Watzman@neo.rr.com>
>> >> wrote:
>> >>
>> >> >What is he trying to do?
>> >> >
>> >> >Removing power will NOT reset the password in most modern laptops. It's
>> >> >stored in non-volatile flash memory, not in battery backed up memory, in
>> >> >most models.
>> >>
>> >> Yes, that's what I'm trying to do (reset the password). As to
>> >> "modern", the thing is circa 1995. Does that fall into the "modern"
>> >> category?
>> >>
>> >> FWIW, I DID remove the chip for about 12 hours, and it did NOT reset
>> >> the password - you were right.
>> >>
>> >> Any ideas on a plan of action? There's something holding the two
>> >> halves together that I haven't been able to find yet, and I'm a
>> >> little tenuous about dismantling the whole thing - I don't do much
>> >> laptop work at all and even though the thing isn't worth much, I'm
>> >> reluctant to risk not being able to get it all back together and
>> >> leaving it worse than I found it.
>> >>
>> >> What's the Hypocratic Oath start with? "First, do no harm"?
>> >>
>> >> Thanks for any suggestions!
>> >>
>> >
>> >
>> >Try doing a google search for the manufacturer of the laptop and keywords
>> >such as: +password +reset +cmos
>>
>>
>> Yup, tried it already...no joy. It's an "Everex 4500 Series", and
>> not too much seems available.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> I resisted 'till I couldn't take it anymore.
>>
>> (sigh) Address altered against Spam.
>>
>> Replace the -at- and put the "spring-mind" in the correct order
>
>
>
>I did a google search for: +everex +password +reset +cmos
>
>
>I found plenty of stuff...
>
>
>http://freepctech.com/pc/002/files009.shtml has a few utilities you might use..
>
>ftp://ftp.fluidlight.com/pub/nospin...cmospwd-2.9.zip (freeware)
>
>ftp://ftp.fluidlight.com/pub/nospin_files/biosfind.zip (shareware)
>
>ftp://ftp.fluidlight.com/pub/nospin_files/bios1351.zip (freeware)
>
>
>
>or try this method:
>http://www.just-computer-links.com/...n95/n1041971488
>
>There are tons of other links as well...

Yeah, what I meant was I found those....but most of them require that
the machine at least boot...which it won't do because of the password.
I did try the key disk & parallel port trick with no luck.

Given the value of the machine, we may just have a lost cause here.

Unless I can turn up something else, I will probably just advise her
that I can (proabably) recover her data from the HD, but the machine
itself may be hopeless.

thanks!

I resisted 'till I couldn't take it anymore.

(sigh) Address altered against Spam.

Replace the -at- and put the "spring-mind" in the correct order

mhaase-at-springmind.com

2003-09-16, 8:25 pm

On Tue, 16 Sep 2003 07:22:40 -0700, Barry Watzman <Watzman@neo.rr.com>
wrote:

>Well, it should have an FCC ID sticker with a registration number. This
>can be plugged into a search engine at the FCC web site and will return
>the ID of the actual manufacturer, which is probably either Compal or
>Quanta.

Good thought, but no dice. Everex itself is the manufacturer, and
they're gone. I remember buying Everex video & controller cards back
in the early 90's -- EVEREX "Ever for Excellence" or some such.

As I mentioned to Ghost, given the value of the machine, we may just
have a lost cause here.

Unless I can turn up something else, I will probably just advise her
that I can (proabably) recover her data from the HD, but the machine
itself may be hopeless.

>
>
>mhaase-at-springmind.com wrote:
>> On Mon, 15 Sep 2003 20:32:46 -0700, Barry Watzman <Watzman@neo.rr.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Re: "As to "modern", the thing is circa 1995. Does that fall into the
>>>"modern" >>category?"
>>>
>>>It probably does, for this purpose. Laptops have used flash memory for
>>>longer than desktops. The last laptops that I saw in which the password
>>>could be reset by removing the battery were some early 1990's Compaq
>>>486's. I have Zenith 386 and 486 Z-Notes, from 1992-1993, and they
>>>cannot be reset by removing the battery. This varies by model, of
>>>course, but in any Pentium based laptop -- even a Pentium 75 -- it's
>>>very unlikely that you can remove the password by disconnecting the battery.
>>>
>>>What kind of laptop is it? Be specific.
>>>
>>>The procedure for resetting the password varies greatly from laptop to
>>>laptop, from mfgr. to mfgr. Some commonly used techniques are:
>>>
>>>1. Insert a special diskette (a VERY special diskette) into the floppy
>>>drive before turning on power.
>>>
>>>2. Connect a special "password removal dongle" to the parallel printer
>>>port socket.
>>>
>>>3. Momentarily short two point on the motherboard while turning on
>>>power. The points are normally accessible without major disassembly
>>>(often they are in the memory expansion area, but they are completely
>>>unmarked).
>>
>>
>> Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find much about it on line.
>> It's an Everex "4500 Series". That's the only identifying markings on
>> it.
>>
>> I've posted in a few possible NG's looking for someone who might have
>> info on it, but no luck yet.
>>
>> As always...any help is appreciated.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>>Ghost wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>In article < e2rcmvsru27e5cadmirqa7ogc8gfjg
rt66@4ax.com>,
>>>>mhaase-at-springmind.com (Mark Haase) wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>On Mon, 15 Sep 2003 15:38:16 -0700, Barry Watzman <Watzman@neo.rr.com>
>>>>>wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>What is he trying to do?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Removing power will NOT reset the password in most modern laptops. It's
>>>>>>stored in non-volatile flash memory, not in battery backed up memory, in
>>>>>>most models.
>>>>>
>>>>>Yes, that's what I'm trying to do (reset the password). As to
>>>>>"modern", the thing is circa 1995. Does that fall into the "modern"
>>>>>category?
>>>>>
>>>>>FWIW, I DID remove the chip for about 12 hours, and it did NOT reset
>>>>>the password - you were right.
>>>>>
>>>>>Any ideas on a plan of action? There's something holding the two
>>>>>halves together that I haven't been able to find yet, and I'm a
>>>>>little tenuous about dismantling the whole thing - I don't do much
>>>>>laptop work at all and even though the thing isn't worth much, I'm
>>>>>reluctant to risk not being able to get it all back together and
>>>>>leaving it worse than I found it.
>>>>>
>>>>>What's the Hypocratic Oath start with? "First, do no harm"?
>>>>>
>>>>>Thanks for any suggestions!
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Try doing a google search for the manufacturer of the laptop and keywords
>>>>such as: +password +reset +cmos
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> I resisted 'till I couldn't take it anymore.
>>
>> (sigh) Address altered against Spam.
>>
>> Replace the -at- and put the "spring-mind" in the correct order
>>
>>
>>

I resisted 'till I couldn't take it anymore.

(sigh) Address altered against Spam.

Replace the -at- and put the "spring-mind" in the correct order

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