Help! I have no idea what my BIOS password is and need to log into change my boot settings. What can I do?
I got this question from a friend of mine who needed to change the BIOS settings on his machine, but had absolutely no idea what it was. Luckily there are a couple of options he could go with, one using a software solution and the other using a possible backdoor to the BIOS.
The software option involes one of a couple of packages (depending on the BIOS manufacturer). One of these is called CmosPwd and works with the following BIOSes:
- ACER/IBM BIOS
- AMI BIOS
- AMI WinBIOS 2.5
- Award 4.5x/4.6x/6.0
- Compaq (1992)
- Compaq (New version)
- IBM (PS/2, Activa, Thinkpad)
- Packard Bell
- Phoenix 1.00.09.AC0 (1994), a486 1.03, 1.04, 1.10 A03, 4.05 rev 1.02.943, 4.06 rev 1.13.1107
- Phoenix 4 release 6 (User)
- Gateway Solo – Phoenix 4.0 release 6
- Toshiba
- Zenith AMI
The other option is !BIOS which can decrypt the passwords used in some most common BIOS (including various bioses/versions by IBM, American Megatrends Inc, Award and Phoenix).
The option option available is to try and find a backdoor for the BIOS that you’re using. A backdoor is a spare login left in the BIOS to enable testers and engineers to be able to get in. Using these is a matter of luck and trial and error and may vary depending on the BIOS your computer uses. Here are some options:
AMI Backdoor BIOS Passwords
Try one of the following: A.M.I., AAAMMMIII, AMI?SW , AMI_SW, BIOS, CONDO, HEWITT RAND, LKWPETER, MI, and PASSWORD.
Award Backdoor BIOS Passwords
Try eight spaces. You can also try 01322222, 589589, 589721, 595595, 598598 , ALFAROME, ALLY, ALLy, aLLY, aLLy, aPAf, award, AWARD PW, AWARD SW, AWARD?SW, AWARD_PW, AWARD_SW, AWKWARD, awkward, BIOSTAR, CONCAT, CONDO, Condo, condo, d8on, djonet, HLT, J256, J262, j262, j322, j332, J64, KDD, LKWPETER, Lkwpeter, PINT, pint, SER, SKY_FOX, SYXZ, syxz, TTPTHA, ZAAAADA, ZAAADA, ZBAAACA, and ZJAAADC.
Phoenix Backdoor BIOS Passwords
Try BIOS, CMOS, phoenix, and PHOENIX.
Here are some other backdoor password you can try for the following BIOS manufacturers
- VOBIS & IBM – merlin
- Dell – Dell
- Biostar – Biostar
- Compaq – Compaq
- Enox – xo11nE
- Epox – central
- Freetech – Posterie
- IWill – iwill
- Jetway – spooml
- Packard Bell – bell9
- QDI – QDI
- Siemens – SKY_FOX
- SOYO – SY_MB
- TMC – BIGO
- Toshiba – Toshiba
As you can see there are quite a few options, but there is a certain amount of luck. It’s like using exercise equipment at a gym. It doesn’t matter which you use first, eventually you may have to try them all!
i have a sony vaio PCG 663m note book laptop, and my lili bro locked the bios and for the password. i have tried removing the cmos and other backdoor passwords and it didnt work. please can someone help me by sending any reset or backdoor pass word to me . my emaial is benluxmi@yahoo.com or benluxmi@gmail.com. thanks
A. By Using the Motherboard Jumper:
In most motherboards CMOS battery is soldered, which makes it difficult to remove the battery. In this case we use another method.
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 motherboard 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.
B. By Using Software:
I have found that BIOS/CMOS Password Recovery Tool is the most effective.:
BIOS/CMOS Password Recovery Tool is a program that works instantly to remove any lost or forgotten BIOS/CMOS password. Simply boot your PC to DOS and execute the program, and get access to forgotten BIOS/CMOS passwords in just seconds
BIOS/CMOS Password Recovery Tool Service: http://www.biospasswordrecovery.com/