How to Reset / Bypass (hack) BIOS Password

BIOS passwords can add an additional layer of security for desktop and laptop computers. This is used to prevent a person to change BIOS settings or to prevent the PC from booting without a password. Unfortunately, BIOS passwords can also be a burden if users forget their password, or change the password to intentionally on a company's IT department. Sending the unit back to the factory to reset the BIOS password can be expensive and usually not covered by the warranty. Do not worry, all is not lost. There are several tricks that can be used to bypass or reset the BIOS
DISCLAIMER This article is intended for IT professionals and systems administrators with experience of computer hardware services. This is not intended for home users, hackers, or business intrusion / theft of computers to crack on a stolen PC. Please do not try one of these procedures if you are unfamiliar with computer hardware, and please use this information responsibly. I am not responsible for any use or misuse of this material, including data loss, hardware damage, or personal injury.
Before attempting to bypass the BIOS password on your computer, please take a minute to contact the support staff hardware manufacturer directly and ask for a recommended method of security through the BIOS. In the event producers can not (or will not) help you, there are a number of methods that can be used to bypass or reset the BIOS password yourself. They include: • Using the manufacturers backdoor password to access BIOS • Use password cracking software • Reset the CMOS using the jumpers. • Removing the CMOS battery for at least 10 minutes • Overloading the keyboard buffer • Using a professional service
Please remember that most BIOS passwords do not protect the hard drive, so if you need to recover data, simply remove the hard drive and install it on the same system, or configure it as a slave drive in an existing system. Exceptions to this are laptops, especially IBM Thinkpads, which silently lock the hard drive if the supervisor password is enabled. If the supervisor password is reset without resetting and hard drives as well, you will not be able to access data on the drive.
The first way Backdoor password Many BIOS manufacturers have provided backdoor passwords that can be used to access the BIOS setup in case you lose your password. This password is case sensitive, so you may want try out different combinations. Please note that the key individuals in the U.S. keyboard related in some European keyboards. Laptops typically have better BIOS security than desktop systems, and we are not aware of any backdoor passwords that will work with name brand laptops.
WARNING: Some BIOS configurations will lock you out of the system completely if you type the wrong password more than 3 times. Reading the manufacturer's documentation for BIOS settings before you begin typing in a password
Award BIOS backdoor passwords: Ally Ally Ally Ally ALFAROME aPAf _award AWARD_SW AWARD? SW AWARD SW AWARD PW bumbling awkward BIOSTAR CONCAT condo Condo d8on djonet HLT j256 j262 j332 j322 J64 exchangeable lkwpeter lkwpeter Pint pint SER SKY_FOX SYXZ syxz shift + syxz TTPTHA ZAAADA ZBAAACA ZJAAADC 01,322,222 589589 589721 595595 598598 AMI BIOS backdoor passwords: AMI BIOS PASSWORD AAAMMMIII Hewitt RAND AMI? SW AMI lkwpeter AMI_SW Condo
Phoenix BIOS backdoor passwords: phoenix, Phoenix, CMOS, BIOS MISC. GENERAL password BIOSTAR BIOSTAR ALFAROME biosstar cmos setup CMOS SETUP lkwpeter lkwpeter Syxz Wodj OTHER BIOS password by the manufacturer Password Manufacturer VOBIS & IBM merlin Dell Dell Biostar Biostar Compaq Compaq Enox xo11nE Epox center Freetech Posterie Iwill IWill Jetway spooml Packard Bell bell9 QDI QDI Siemens SKY_FOX TMC Installer fails Toshiba Toshiba TOSHIBA BIOS Most Toshiba laptops and some desktop systems will bypass the BIOS password if the left shift key is held down during boot IBM BIOS APTIVA Press both mouse buttons repeatedly during the boot.
Backdoor password Many BIOS manufacturers have provided backdoor passwords that can be used to access the BIOS setup in case you lose your password. This password is case sensitive, so you may want try out different combinations. Please note that the key individuals in the U.S. keyboard related in some European keyboards. Laptops typically have better BIOS security than desktop systems, and we are not aware of any backdoor passwords that will work with name brand laptops. WARNING: Some BIOS configurations will lock you out of the system completely if you type the wrong password more than 3 times. Reading the manufacturer's documentation for BIOS settings before you begin typing in a password.
Award BIOS backdoor passwords: Ally Ally Ally Ally ALFAROME aPAf _award AWARD_SW AWARD? SW AWARD SW AWARD PW bumbling awkward BIOSTAR CONCAT condo Condo d8on djonet HLT j256 j262 j332 j322 J64 exchangeable lkwpeter lkwpeter Pint pint SER SKY_FOX SYXZ syxz shift + syxz TTPTHA ZAAADA ZBAAACA ZJAAADC 01,322,222 589589 589721 595595 598598 AMI BIOS backdoor passwords: AMI BIOS PASSWORD AAAMMMIII Hewitt RAND AMI? SW AMI lkwpeter AMI_SW Condo Phoenix BIOS backdoor passwords: phoenix, Phoenix, CMOS, BIOS MISC. GENERAL password BIOSTAR BIOSTAR ALFAROME biosstar cmos setup CMOS SETUP lkwpeter lkwpeter Syxz Wodj OTHER BIOS password by the manufacturer Password Manufacturer VOBIS & IBM merlin Dell Dell Biostar Biostar Compaq Compaq Enox xo11nE Epox center Freetech Posterie Iwill IWill Jetway spooml Packard Bell bell9 QDI QDI Siemens SKY_FOX TMC Installer fails Toshiba Toshiba TOSHIBA BIOS Most Toshiba laptops and some desktop systems will bypass the BIOS password if the left shift key is held down during boot IBM BIOS APTIVA Press both mouse buttons repeatedly during the boot.
Both Ways Password cracking software The following software can be used to reset the BIOS on many chipsets. If your PC is locked with a BIOS administrator password that will not allow access to the floppy drive, this utility may not work. Also, because this utility does not come from the manufacturer, use with caution and at your own risk. • CMOS password recovery tools 3.1 • RemPass • KILLCMOS
Third mode Using the Motherboard "Clear CMOS" Jumper or switch settings Many motherboards feature a set of jumper or dipswitch that will clear CMOS and remove all the settings in it, including BIOS passwords. The location of this jumper / dipswitch will vary depending on the motherboard manufacturer and ideally you should always refer to your motherboard or computer manufacturers documentation. If documentation is unavailable, the jumpers / dipswitch may sometimes be found along the edge of the motherboard, next to the CMOS battery, or near the processor. Some manufacturers may label CLEAR - CLEAR CMOS - CLR - CLRPWD - passwd - PASSWORD - PWD.
On laptop computers, dipswitch usually found under the keyboard or in a compartment at the bottom of the laptop.
Please remember to unplug your PC and use a grounding strip before reaching into your PC and touching the motherboard. Once you find and jumper switches, turn on the computer and the examiner whether the password is blank. If you have, turn on the computer and return the jumper or dipswitch to its original position.
Fourth mode Removing the CMOS Battery CMOS settings on most systems are buffered by a small battery plugged in to the motherboard. (It looks like a small battery watches). If you unplug the PC and remove the battery for 10-15 minutes, the CMOS may reset itself and the password would be empty. (Together with the other machine specific settings, so make sure you are familiar with manually reconfiguring the BIOS settings before you do.) Some manufacturers backup the power to the CMOS chipset by using a capacitor, so if your first attempt fails, leave the battery out (with system unplugged) for 24 hours. Some batteries are actually soldered onto the motherboard making this task more difficult. Unsoldering battery incorrectly may damage the motherboard and other components, so please do not try this if you are inexperienced. Another option might be to remove the CMOS chip from the motherboard within a certain timeframe. Note: Cancellation of the battery to reset the CMOS will not work for all PCs, and almost all newer laptops store their BIOS passwords in a way that does not require continuous power, so the revocation of the CMOS battery may not work at all. IBM Thinkpad laptops lock the hard drive as the BIOS when the supervisor password. If you reset the BIOS password, but can not reset the hard drive password, you may not be able to access the drive and will remain locked, even if you place it in a new laptop. IBM Thinkpads have special jumper switches on the motherboard, and this should be used to reset the system.
Five Ways Overloading the KeyBoard Buffer On some older computer systems, you can force to enter the CMOS setup screen with the boot by overloading the keyboard buffer. This can be done by booting with a keyboard or mouse unattached to the systems, or on some systems by hitting the ESC key over 100 times in rapid succession.
Sixth mode Jumping the Solder Beads on the CMOS It is also possible to reset the CMOS by connecting or "menjumper" on the chipset. There are too many chipsets to do a breakdown of which points to jump on individual chipsets, and this solderan location can vary by manufacturer, so go check the computer and motherboard documentation for details. This technique is not recommended for the inexperienced and should be only used as a "last resort".
Seventh mode Using a professional service.