Check out some similar questions!

abiyzemede · Aug 29, 2005, 03:17 AM

Hi Everyone,

I have Toshiba Satellite 1800 Laptop. The Laptop has a BIOS password that I didn't know. When my company bought it for me it was set by a password. No one knows what the password is. Could you please Help me on this. I've tried a lot including resetin by using the parellel port. Please Help me.

ScottGem · Aug 29, 2005, 05:40 AM

Power On passwords can generally be reset in one of 2 ways. Either by use of a dip switch on the motherboard or pulling the battery for a period. However, this will reset all the CMOS settings, not just the password.

For a laptop I would pull the battery for at least 24 hours.

SESaskDFC · Aug 29, 2005, 06:09 AM

Howdy:

Toshiba eh? Too bad.. Unfortunately, pulling the battery on one of those isn't going to work.. We have a couple of them at work and, if the password is changed and forgotten, then ONLY way in is to send it to an authorized Toshiba repair depot..

They can reset the password for you..

Murray

fredg · Aug 29, 2005, 06:23 AM

Hi,
Bios passwords in some laptops are stored in a special chip on the motherboard and the only way to bypass this password is to replace this laptop security chip. Some laptop bios passwords cannot be bypassed or reset by removing or shorting the cmos battery.
If all else fails, you could try formatting the hard drive, and reinstalling windows.
Best of luck,
fredg

ScottGem · Aug 29, 2005, 09:17 AM

Originally Posted by fredg

Hi,
Bios passwords in some laptops are stored in a special chip on the motherboard and the only way to bypass this password is to replace this laptop security chip. Some laptop bios passwords cannot be bypassed or reset by removing or shorting the cmos battery.
If all else fails, you could try formatting the harddrive, and reinstalling windows.
Best of luck,
fredg

I have never heard of a BIOS password stored in a security chip. Some laptops do have additional security features like fingerprint recognition to secure laptops in case of loss or theft. But such things run in addition to a CMOS password not as part of it.

If one does have a power on password or additional security that prevents powering up without a password, fingerprint etc. then reformatting the hard drive will do NOTHING. The password would not be stored on the hard drive. Another dumb Fred suggestion.

Scott<>

ScottGem · Aug 29, 2005, 09:18 AM

Originally Posted by SESaskDFC

Howdy:

Toshiba eh?? Too bad.. Unfortunately, pulling the battery on one of those isn't going to work.. We have a couple of them at work and, if the password is changed and forgotten, then ONLY way in is to send it to an authorized Toshiba repair depot..

They can reset the password for you..

Murray

Thanks Murray. I'm not that familiar with Toshibas.

Scott<>

NeedKarma · Aug 29, 2005, 09:27 AM

Originally Posted by fredg

Hi,

If all else fails, you could try formatting the harddrive, and reinstalling windows.
Best of luck,
fredg

How is he going to reformat the hard drive when he can't even boot the computer?

Here is some info you can actually use:
http://www.tech-faq.com/reset-bios-password.shtml
http://www.uktsupport.co.uk/reference/biosp.htm

ScottGem · Aug 29, 2005, 11:47 AM

[QUOTE=NeedKarma]How is he going to reformat the hard drive when he can't even boot the computer?

Good point! I thought of that, but it wasn't clear whether he couldn't boot or just couldn't get into the CMOS settings.

fredg · Aug 30, 2005, 05:28 AM

Hi,
One boots to a floppy boot disk, or an install CD.
fredg

NeedKarma · Aug 30, 2005, 06:46 AM

Originally Posted by fredg

Hi,
One boots to a floppy boot disk, or an install CD.
fredg

Nope, before it even gets to which boot source you are asked for a bios password.

Hope this helps, have a great day.

ScottGem · Aug 30, 2005, 10:23 AM

Originally Posted by NeedKarma

Nope, before it even gets to which boot source you are asked for a bios password.

Hope this helps, have a great day.

Need,
Makes you kind of wonder doesn't it? How someone who claims to be:

A+ and Net+ certified by CompTia. Many years experience with installing/uninstalling operating systems, hard drives, RAM, etc.

Cannot know the basic fact that a CMOS/BIOS or poweron password is check during the POST which occurs before the boot process. Also shows how stubborn they are about admitting they goofed.

ice-x · Sep 18, 2005, 04:48 PM

If even the parallel device won't work, check this out:
https://www.regnow.com/softsell/nph-...items=1824-296

Deggles · Nov 1, 2005, 03:52 PM

I have the same problem guys, so please be good enough to share the success story! Thanks.

LTheobald · Nov 2, 2005, 01:51 AM

Deggles, if you didn't see it read this bit:

Originally Posted by SESaskDFC

Howdy:

Toshiba eh?? Too bad.. Unfortunately, pulling the battery on one of those isn't going to work.. We have a couple of them at work and, if the password is changed and forgotten, then ONLY way in is to send it to an authorized Toshiba repair depot..

They can reset the password for you..

Murray

If you have something other than a Toshiba, just go through the post from the start again - there's several links on how to reset the BIOS password (normally removing the motherboards battery).

Deggles · Nov 5, 2005, 03:07 AM

Hmmmm... not sure about that. Where there's a will there's a way. If Tosh can do it then it's possible. It may be that I have to read the bios password chip, and reset a certain hex address. I had to do that with an IBM once.

As I say, where there's a will there's a way!

Cheers anyway.

cbee55 · Nov 7, 2005, 05:09 PM

On the Satellite 1xxx range, you need to short out a couple of pad contacts usually under the memory expansion bay. Unfortunately I can't find which ones you need to short out on the Tosh Sat1800, as it's the only one that's not listed.

On older Tosh's you would use the parallel loopback to reset the password, as it is stored on an EPROM I believe, not stored on a CMOS/Battery Backed chip. On some newer Tosh laptops a dealer needs to send a form to Toshiba to get password unlocked.