Hi
I've just bought an old Gateway PC (processor is 80486DX) I want to get into BIOS Setup but it's password protected. Do you know an easyish way to get round this !?
Thanks for any advice
Bob


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Bobbybee

try opening the case and taking the little battery out. leave it out for 20-45 minutes or so. not sure, but it might work.

Originally posted by wpublic:
try opening the case and taking the little battery out. leave it out for 20-45 minutes or so. not sure, but it might work.

If I take the battery out and lose the Bios settings can I replace them OK?
Because I dont have a copy of the current settings?



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Bobbybee

Thanks for advice re. removing the battery. As I cant make a note of my Bios settings will that be a problem when I lose them all?

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Bobbybee

No shouldnt be a problem, only thing i do in the bios is disabled the com ports.

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Murph's Law: 1.Everything takes longer than you think
2.If anything can go wrong it will
3.Nothing is as easy as it looks

Thanx for that. I will try that .. as soon as I find the battery!
Is it a diffrent kind in this machine? Cant see any big "watch" battery.

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Bobbybee

If that doesnt work:

Do you have the motherboard manual? There should be a jumper used on the motherboard to clear the password and save the BIOS settings.

Erik

Bob....

That Mboard doesn't have the coin size Lithium Cell battery. Has the "old" soldered in type.

As posted previously, look real close on the Mboard for a jumper that says PSWD Clr. Will be a second jumper that says CMOS CLR in case you should want to set all the BIOS settings back to default.


Luck.

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....How long is a minute... depends on which side of the Bathroom door you're on. ......
..........

If your PC has an Award BIOS, try the following passwords, AWARD SW, AWARD_SW, Award SW, AWARD PW, award.

If you have an AMI BIOS try AMI, A.M.I., AMI SW, AMISW, BIOS, PASSWORDS.


It’s also worth trying these, BIOSTAR, biostar, BIOSSTAR, biosstar.

also,for Phoenix you can try clearing the password from memory instead of re-setting CMOS. To do this, you need to be in MS DOS mode, then type DEBUG and at the prompt type:

O 7O FF O 71 17 Q

press enter and reboot.

whhhooopsss- hadn't noticed that ranchdog had already given the answer (better than mine)

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

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sea1_69@hotmail.com

homepage (http://www.seanweb1.homestead.com/3.html)



[This message has been edited by sea69 (edited 02-01-2002).]

Thanx fr all yr tips. Im working on it! I dont have a manual, it is a Phoenix bios but the passwords dont work. Cant find the right jumpers.
Worst of all I cant even find the battery http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif Well i gotta laugh or Id cry.
I looked hard coz I know there are barrel types etc as well as the button kind. I can see the bios chip tho. All tips will be gratefully received!


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Bobbybee

Bob....

I'm looking at an "old" Intel 80486DX manual that I finally found
in a drawer where I left it some time ago.

The different Mboard jumpers are along the edge of the board in the memory slots area.

The one you are looking for is labeled ENA/DIS PSWD. This should be silk-screened onto the board. If the CPU is in the top left corner,
look along the bottom edge... in kind of the middle. Should see 3 sets
of jumpers. PSWD should be the one to the right (lower half).


Luck.

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....How long is a minute... depends on which side of the Bathroom door you're on. ......
..........

[This message has been edited by ranchdog (edited 02-02-2002).]

I found the battery! Quite large actually but it was hiding away under the floppy drive and cables. As you suggested it might be, its soldered in. Thanks for the tips re. jumpersRanchdog. I checked them out but saw none with a label like PSWRD. It sounds like the layout on my M/Board may be different to the plan you have on that 486. e.g. no jumpers near the memory sockets.
Bye for now
Bob

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Bobbybee

Bob.....

Do you have a RAM clear jumper?

Some reading at this Link for maybe an idea or two:

http://www.resource800.com/dalfaq.html#My%20system%20has%20an%20HT12888A%20ma de%20by%20Houston%20Technologies.%20%20Can%20I%20r eplace%20this%20device

Luck.

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....How long is a minute... depends on which side of the Bathroom door you're on. ......
..........

I checked that site and yes that is the CMOS chip I have!
That contains the battery too. So far I cant see a RAMCLEAR
jumper. From what I read so far on that site it looks like its gonna be tricky? !!
Thanx, Bob

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Bobbybee

Good web site! Someone with the same prob as me and it doesnt look hopeful. Yes its the same cmos/battery chip DS12887. It looks like only the one which ends in an "A" might have a clearram jumper.
Cheers!
Bob

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Bobbybee

Problem solved!
Went to DOS type DEBUG (enter and type)
o 70 2e (enter)
o 71 ff (enter)
q (enter and quit to DOS)
Reboot and BIOS set up is clear. Enter default values, Auto Config Hrd Drve etc.
I'm pleased and thanks a lot for all your help on that.

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Bobbybee

Bobby... You get an AttaBoy.


http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

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....How long is a minute... depends on which side of the Bathroom door you're on. ......
..........

Well, thanx again Ranchdog!

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Bobbybee