BIOS passwords are used to add some extra security to computers. You can
either set a password to prevent access to BIOS settings or to prevent PC from booting.
But sometimes this
extra security might become a pain when you forget the BIOS password or someone
changes your system BIOS password intentionally.
But there is no
need to worry. There are many known ways to reset / remove / bypass the
password:
- By removing CMOS battery
- By using motherboard jumper
- By using MS DOS command
- By using software
- By using Backdoor BIOS password
Now I'll try to
explain each method one by one:
DISCLAIMER: This information is intended for experienced users. It is not intended
for basic users, hackers, or computer thieves. Please do not try any of
following procedures if you are not familiar with computer hardware. We'll not
be responsible for the use or misuse of this information, including personal
injury, loss of data or hardware damage. So use it at your own risk.
By Removing CMOS
Battery:
Almost all motherboards use a small coin sized CMOS battery to store all BIOS settings along
with the password. To reset the password, unplug the PC, open the cabinet and
remove the CMOS battery for approx. 15-30 minutes and then
put it back. It'll reset all BIOS settings as well as the password and you'll
need to re-enter all settings.
If it fails, then
try to remove the battery for at least one hour.
By Using
Motherboard Jumper:
Almost all motherboards contain a jumper that can clear all CMOS
settings along with the BIOS password. The location of this jumper varies
depending upon the motherboard brand. You should read your motherboards manual to check its location. If you don't have the manual then look for the
jumpers near the CMOS battery. Most of the manufacturer label the jumper as
CLR, CLEAR, CLEAR CMOS, etc.
When you find the
jumper, look carefully. There will be 3 pins and the jumper will be joining the
center pin to either left or right pin. What you need to do, is remove the
jumper and join the center pin to the opposite pin. e.g. if the jumper joins
center pin to left pin, then remove it and join center pin to right pin. Now
wait for a few seconds and then again remove the jumper and join the center pin
to left pin.
Make sure to turn
the PC off before opening the cabinet and resetting the jumper.
By Using MS DOS
Command:
This method works only if you have access to the system when its turned
on because this method requires MS DOS. Open Command
Prompt from Programs menu and provide following commands one bye one:
debug
o 70 2E
o 71 FF
quit
NOTE: The first character
in the above commands is English alphabet "o" and not the number 0.
After providing the above commands, restart your system and it should
reset the CMOS Settings along with the BIOS password.
If you are curious
to know how it works? then let me explain the above commands:
In this method we are using the Debug tool of MS DOS. The "o" character present at first in these commands, outputs the values
to IO ports. The number 70 and 71 are port numbers which are used to access CMOS
memory. By providing FF value we are
telling CMOS that there is an invalid checksum and it resets the CMOS settings
as well as BIOS password.
By Using Software:
There are a few
software which can also reset CMOS settings or BIOS password or both within a
few clicks. But as stated above you should have access to a system which is
turned on and should have access to MS DOS or MS Windows:
By Using Backdoor
BIOS Password:
Some BIOS manufacturer put a backdoor password in BIOS which always
works irrespective of what password you have set in BIOS. Its a master password which is used for testing and troubleshooting purposes.
AMI BIOS Passwords:
A.M.I.
AAAMMMIII
AMI?SW
AMI_SW
AMI
BIOS
CONDO
HEWITT RAND
LKWPETER
MI
Oder
PASSWORD
AAAMMMIII
AMI?SW
AMI_SW
AMI
BIOS
CONDO
HEWITT RAND
LKWPETER
MI
Oder
PASSWORD
AWARD BIOS Passwords:
01322222
589589
589721
595595
598598
ALFAROME
ALLy
aLLy
aLLY
ALLY
aPAf
_award
award
AWARD_SW
AWARD?SW
AWARD SW
AWARD PW
AWKWARD
awkward
589589
589721
595595
598598
ALFAROME
ALLy
aLLy
aLLY
ALLY
aPAf
_award
award
AWARD_SW
AWARD?SW
AWARD SW
AWARD PW
AWKWARD
awkward
BIOSTARCONCAT
CONDO
Condo
d8on
djonet
HLT
J64
J256
J262
j332
j322
KDD
Lkwpeter
LKWPETER
PINT
pint
SER
SKY_FOX
SYXZ
syxz
shift + syxz
TTPTHA
ZAAADA
ZBAAACA
ZJAAADC
CONDO
Condo
d8on
djonet
HLT
J64
J256
J262
j332
j322
KDD
Lkwpeter
LKWPETER
PINT
pint
SER
SKY_FOX
SYXZ
syxz
shift + syxz
TTPTHA
ZAAADA
ZBAAACA
ZJAAADC
PHOENIX BIOS Passwords:
BIOS
CMOS
phoenixPHOENIX
CMOS
phoenixPHOENIX
Misc Common Passwords:
ALFAROME
BIOSTAR
biostar
biosstar
CMOS
cmos
LKWPETER
lkwpeter
setup
SETUP
Syxz
Wodj
BIOSTAR
biostar
biosstar
CMOS
cmos
LKWPETER
lkwpeter
setup
SETUP
Syxz
Wodj
Other Manufacturer BIOS Passwords:
Biostar - Biostar
Compaq - Compaq
Dell - Dell
Enox - xo11nE
Epox - central
Freetech - Posterie
IWill - iwill
Jetway - spooml
Packard Bell - bell9
QDI - QDI
Siemens - SKY_FOX
TMC - BIGO
Toshiba - Toshiba
VOBIS & IBM - merlin
Compaq - Compaq
Dell - Dell
Enox - xo11nE
Epox - central
Freetech - Posterie
IWill - iwill
Jetway - spooml
Packard Bell - bell9
QDI - QDI
Siemens - SKY_FOX
TMC - BIGO
Toshiba - Toshiba
VOBIS & IBM - merlin
NOTE: All these passwords
are case-sensitive and are changed from time to time by manufacturers
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