[floppybootstomp]

I've just been given a couple of old machines that a school I was working at were throwing out.

I want to give one to a friend and I'll run Win 98 on the other. They're Aopen boards, Celeron 1.7Ghz CPU's; 256Mb RAM; DVD drive; floppy drive; on board graphics (although they do have an AGP slot); on board ethernet & sound; 20Gb Hard Disk.

Only problem is, the BIOS is password protected. I've tried clearing BIOS with the jumper and also took the battery out for a couple of minutes but it's still password protected.

I'm assuming even if I was able to identify the motherboard and flash the BIOS, the password protection would remain?

I can wait until the school's IT person returns in about ten days time after the school summer holiday and get the password then, but is there a way round this problem?

I wanted to boot from a floppy and format the hard drive but I can't set the boot priority if I can't access the BIOS.

[floppybootstomp]

I've identified the motherboard, it's an Aopen MX46 U2-CN.

However, it appears it's an OEM board used by system builders and Aopen don't list a Bios for it.

They have bios's for the MX46 U2 & MX46 U2-GN, both of which I tried but the Bios update software warned me I had the wrong Bios.

I've done a quick Google search for this Bios but as yet am having no luck.

Current Bios version is V1.06 (R1.06TR).

[Rush]

Can`t you just reset the bios to its default settings ?

What OS were/are they running currently ?

[feckit]

See if the password is password?

[floppybootstomp]

Originally Posted by Rush

Can`t you just reset the bios to its default settings ?

Nope. I can't access any part of the Bios at all.

And as I mentioned, doing a CMOS reset doesn't help either.

And feckit, password isn't password, but nice try.

[Adywebb]

THIS any good Flops?


Edit: If its either an AWARD or AMI bios, there are some useful utilities at the bottom of THIS

[Rush]

I was going to suggest this

Next, move the jumpers from the their default location (Example: from across pins #1 and #2 as above) and then place the jumper across pins #2 and #3.

but leave them out of jumpers 1 and 2 for about a minute ?

[floppybootstomp]

Ady, I'm going to give you a big wet girly kiss

That worked

It's an Award/Phoenix Bios.

I made a boot floppy, loaded the DOS version of the software onto it and ran it from a DOS prompt.

It didn't actually find the password but it did manage to kill it.

Woot! Thanks again

[floppybootstomp]

Originally Posted by Rush

I was going to suggest this



but leave them out of jumpers 1 and 2 for about a minute ?

That was the first thing I done, but nevermind, Ady's software link worked.

Thanks for your input

[floppybootstomp]

Just realised, I'm not completely out of the woods yet, now I need to find drivers for the onboard video, sound & LAN, for both Win98 & XP. And they're not listed at Aopen's site.

Should be fun, here we go.....