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My BIOS is password-protected, so that I can't access the BIOS settings (I don't have problems with booting into Windows XP). The BIOS is made by American Megatrends (AMI). I've been trying some utilities to reset the BIOS from Windows, but I don't think that's possible (I don't want to mess up my computer and I find Command Prompt to be quite difficult to use). I've attempted to reset the CMOS through a hardware method, but I can't find a switch/plug/button to do so. The only place I haven't checked is under the RAM, because they're held quite firmly and I don't want to brake anything, since I'm not used to working with hardware componenets. So, is there any way for me to reset the BIOS? Thank you very much.

Alexandru
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4 Answers4

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CmosPwd claims to support AMI BIOSes, perhaps you should give that a try. Or, of course, call the manufacturer.

Hello71
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On SOME computers (usually higher-end models) BIOS passwords are stored on chips designed to even meet Department of Defense standards (still not always perfect as this post will show, but hard enough to keep out most ordinary users), and are stored in secure chips. Although you may find a complicated hack on the Internet, requiring some electronic equipement and skill to execute (I will post an example below to show how much skill is involved, but it is not specific to your computer, and a link to free software for reading the chip), for the most part, this is beyond most people's capabilities...and that is a big "IF".

This issue is not solved by removing a battery or removing jumpers on the board.

For the most part, the solution ends up being replacing the motherboard, OR replacing the chip. I found a company on eBay that sells these chips (not too expensive at all), and they specialize in writing replacement chips, and could POSSIBLY send you a new chip, and instructions on how to replace it.

http://myworld.ebay.com/bios_fix_depot&ssPageName=STRK:MEFSX:SELLERID

http://solve-pc.blogspot.com/2008/11/ibm-thinkpad-r40-supervisor-password.html

http://hdst1.heliohost.org/dl/ (free software to read the chip)

KCotreau
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The Ultimate Boot CD has some BIOS password cracking tools, although they are very unlikely to work - Laptop BIOSes don't all store the password in the same way, and they differ a lot more than their desktop counterparts.

If you do try the utilities on the UBCD, be very careful to follow the instructions, as some of them only apply to desktop BIOSes, and will permanently nuke your laptop BIOS.

Unfortunately there's not really many ways to get around a BIOS password - Especially one on a laptop =(

You should also ask Asus Tech Support, in case they have a tool for this kind of scenario.

William Lawn Stewart
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The easiest thing you can do is to unplug the power and (normal) battery from the laptop.

Next, unplug the CMOS battery (usually located in a user replaceable area, but not always).

Wait a good few hours.

When you boot up, the majority of the time, all BIOS values should be reset.

This works on the majority of motherboards/laptops out there.

William Hilsum
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