Mobo sets bios-password by itself

[sdlomi2]

I just installed WinXP Pro SP2 using Gigabyte mobo GA-P35-DS3L rev.2, no
problems with seemingly troublefree install. I have NEVER used a bios
password and did not this time either. However, when I pressed "DEL" to
enter bios it was password-protected. All seems to work otherwise--sound,
video, dvd, etc. Help, please. Thank you, sdlomi2.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I just installed WinXP Pro SP2 using Gigabyte mobo GA-P35-DS3L
rev.2, no problems with seemingly troublefree install. I have
NEVER used a bios password and did not this time either. However,
when I pressed "DEL" to enter bios it was password-protected. All
seems to work otherwise--sound, video, dvd, etc.

The BIOS has nothing to do with the Operating System. The BIOS exists
independent of what OS you have installed.

Check the manual for your motherboard to see how you reset the BIOS using
hardware means (usually a jumper on the motherboard that you short.)

http://www.gigabyte.lv/products/mb/manual/ga-p35-ds3l_10.html

*warning* - the download for the manual seemed to be going rather slow for
me - so expect a wait if you don't have your actual manual anymore.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I just installed WinXP Pro SP2 using Gigabyte mobo GA-P35-DS3L
rev.2, no problems with seemingly troublefree install. I have
NEVER used a bios password and did not this time either. However,
when I pressed "DEL" to enter bios it was password-protected. All
seems to work otherwise--sound, video, dvd, etc.

The BIOS has nothing to do with the Operating System. The BIOS
exists independent of what OS you have installed.

Check the manual for your motherboard to see how you reset the BIOS
using hardware means (usually a jumper on the motherboard that you
short.)
http://www.gigabyte.lv/products/mb/manual/ga-p35-ds3l_10.html

*warning* - the download for the manual seemed to be going rather
slow for me - so expect a wait if you don't have your actual manual
anymore.

From your manual:

Q:How do I clear the CMOS values?

A: If your motherboard has a clearing CMOS jumper, refer to the instructions
on the CLR_CMOS jumper in Chapter 1 (copied below) to short the jumper to
clear the CMOS values (jumper near the round cmos battery**). If your board
doesn't have this jumper, refer to the instructions on the motherboard
battery in Chapter 1. You can temporarily remove the battery from the
battery holder to stop supplying power to the CMOS, which will clear the
CMOS values after about one minute. Refer to the steps below:

1. Turn off your computer and unplug the power cord.
2. Gently remove the battery from the battery holder and wait for one
minute. (Or use a metal object like a screwdriver to touch the positive and
negative terminals of the battery holder, making them short for 5 seconds.)
3. Replace the battery.
4. Plug in the power cord and restart your computer.
5. Press <Delete> to enter BIOS Setup. Select "Load Fail-Safe Defaults" (or
"Load Optimized Defaults") to load BIOS default settings.
6. Saves changes and exit BIOS Setup (select "Save & Exit Setup") to restart
your computer.


** CLR_CMOS (Clearing CMOS Jumper)
Open: Normal
Short: Clear CMOS Values

Use this jumper to clear the CMOS values (e.g. date information and BIOS
configurations) and reset the CMOS values to factory defaults. To clear the
CMOS values, place a jumper cap on the two pins to temporarily short the two
pins or use a metal object like a screwdriver to touch the two pins for a
few seconds.

- Always turn off your computer and unplug the power cord from the power
outlet before clearing the CMOS values.
- After clearing the CMOS values and before turning on your computer, be
sure to remove the jumper cap from the jumper. Failure to do so may cause
damage to the motherboard.
- After system restart, go to BIOS Setup to load factory defaults (select
Load Optimized Defaults) or manually configure the BIOS settings (refer to
Chapter 2, "BIOS Setup," for BIOS configurations).

 

[sdlomi2]

From your manual:

Q:How do I clear the CMOS values?

A: If your motherboard has a clearing CMOS jumper, refer to the
instructions on the CLR_CMOS jumper in Chapter 1 (copied below) to short
the jumper to clear the CMOS values (jumper near the round cmos
battery**). If your board doesn't have this jumper, refer to the
instructions on the motherboard battery in Chapter 1. You can temporarily
remove the battery from the battery holder to stop supplying power to the
CMOS, which will clear the CMOS values after about one minute. Refer to
the steps below:

1. Turn off your computer and unplug the power cord.
2. Gently remove the battery from the battery holder and wait for one
minute. (Or use a metal object like a screwdriver to touch the positive
and negative terminals of the battery holder, making them short for 5
seconds.)
3. Replace the battery.
4. Plug in the power cord and restart your computer.
5. Press <Delete> to enter BIOS Setup. Select "Load Fail-Safe Defaults"
(or "Load Optimized Defaults") to load BIOS default settings.
6. Saves changes and exit BIOS Setup (select "Save & Exit Setup") to
restart your computer.


** CLR_CMOS (Clearing CMOS Jumper)
Open: Normal
Short: Clear CMOS Values

Use this jumper to clear the CMOS values (e.g. date information and BIOS
configurations) and reset the CMOS values to factory defaults. To clear
the CMOS values, place a jumper cap on the two pins to temporarily short
the two pins or use a metal object like a screwdriver to touch the two
pins for a few seconds.

- Always turn off your computer and unplug the power cord from the power
outlet before clearing the CMOS values.
- After clearing the CMOS values and before turning on your computer, be
sure to remove the jumper cap from the jumper. Failure to do so may cause
damage to the motherboard.
- After system restart, go to BIOS Setup to load factory defaults (select
Load Optimized Defaults) or manually configure the BIOS settings (refer to
Chapter 2, "BIOS Setup," for BIOS configurations).

Thanks, Shenan. Will go straight and do as you (and the manual)
suggested. atb, sdlomi2