how do i get by the password when booting up my kids computer.  i am
trying to reformat.  i have a boot disk in the floppy and a boot cd
but it will not let me get by the password screen

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Request for Question Clarification by legolas-ga on 22 Dec 2002 12:43 PST

The password screen? Do you mean it's asking for a password AFTER you
see the Windows boot screen, or is it asking for the password as soon
as you turn the machine on: and BEFORE the Windows logo shows up?

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Clarification of Question by kurtsr-ga on 22 Dec 2002 13:02 PST

it is asking for the password during the boot up process.   before the windows logo

Hello kurtsr, 

After reading your question I am fairly certain that you are talking
about a BIOS password.

PART A: You know it is a BIOS password when you don't even see the
WIndows boot up sequence before it asks for a password. I had this
problem myself at one point, and believe that the easiest thing for
you to do would be to take out the round battery inside the computer
for a few hours and this should reset the bios. If this is not a BIOS
password, see part B below for the appropriate answer.

Operating Systems: BIOS password
http://www.experts-exchange.com/Operating_Systems/Q_20306860.html

The website listed above has links to three programs that can clear
your BIOS password and reset your BIOS to the default settings
(basically the settings the BIOS shipped with). Only the first two
links appear to be working, but again I recommend that you take out
the battery which should do exactly the same thing. If taking out the
battery doesn't work (I had mine out for 24 hours) you can try this
application:
KillCMOS: http://www.fortunecity.com/skyscraper/corel/192/lvl20.html

PART B: If the password is after the windows boot up screen, all you
have to do is to enter the bios (usually by hitting the DEL key on
your keyboard when your computer first comes on, but the instructions
should appear as soon as your computer boots up.) You then have to set
the options so that your Floppy Disk is your first boot device, and
your CD-ROM the second boot device.

I hope this is the answer you were looking for. If you need any
clarifications regarding this answer, please let me know and I will do
my best to further assist you as best as I can.

tisme-ga


Search Strategy:

reset bios password
://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=reset+bios+password

thank, that worked by taking out the battery for just a few seconds

Hi kurtsr-ga,

Unfortunatly, most bioses do not lose their memory within only a few
hours. If you remove the battery from the mainboard, it can take days
or weeks to fully lose it's charge (and memory of the password).

Also, since you can not *BOOT* the computer at all without a power-on
password, you can't use any of the software listed.

Here's what you need to do: on most/many mainboards, there is a jumper
that will 'clear CMOS'. You may need to consult your manual for it's
location. Short it, and say goodbye to the password. If that doesn't
work, if you can post your bios make and type (i.e. Award, AMI,
Compaq), there are 'service default' password that can be used to
reset the computer (most boards have these passwords).

Legolas-ga
Google Answers Researcher

Please note: this is a comment only. tisme-ga "Answered" your
question, and it is tisme-ga that will be paid. If tisme's suggestions
do not work, please ask him for clarification of his answer based on
my comments.

Hi legolas,

You are right that the program listed above will not work. I was
thinking for some reason that the bios was asking for the password
only when the boot disks were being used... but this of course isn't
how it works.

I have however never heard of a battery taking longer than 24 hours to
clear the BIOS password. At any rate, the question appears to be
answered now.

tisme-ga