reformat/password problem

[Guest]

i need to reformat my drive since i lost my password.I have nothing really i
need to save on my drive.Problem is as soon as my computer turns on,the
"compact" logo comes up and asks for a password.I cannot do a thing and was
wondering if i can reformat anyway around this password.Im using windows
XP.Thanks.

 

[John Jay Smith]

thats probably a bios password, unrelated to windows

 

[Patrick Keenan]

i need to reformat my drive since i lost my password.

From what you describe, formatting won't help; in fact you won't be able to
format.

I have nothing really i
need to save on my drive.Problem is as soon as my computer turns on,the
"compact" logo

Compaq, you mean? It is a Compaq - brand PC? What model, exactly?
Laptop? Desktop?

comes up and asks for a password.

That's a system BIOS password, and reinstalling XP wont' help. XP isn't
involved in this password.

In fact, it won't matter whether there's even a hard drive physically
installed or not. You'll still get that password.

I cannot do a thing and was
wondering if i can reformat anyway around this password.Im using windows
XP.

At the point the BIOS password appears, the OS is not relevant.

You should as Compaq how to clear BIOS passwords on your system. I've done
this on non-Compaq desktop systems by unplugging the system, removing the
battery and jumpering the BIOS-reset pins. Some systems - particularly
laptops - for security reasons do not permit this and the manufacturer has
to be consulted.

If you can't find the jumpers on the motherboard, you can try removing the
battery and not using the PC for a couple of days; the charge supporting the
BIOS settings (and password) may leak by then and reset the password, along
with other system settings such as date and time.

Start with the manual for your system, check the Compaq support site, if you
need to, call Compaq support. You need to know the exact model of your
PC.

HTH
-pk

 

[thecreator]

Hi George,

Open up the computer. Unplug the computer. Remove the BIOS Battery for
about 30 seconds, then reinstall the BIOS Battery. This will reset the
Compaq Bios and remove the Password. You will need to Set up Compaq BIOS
again, according to your likes, like for Boot Order.

Once you do this, Windows XP should boot up fine, unless there is a
password for the operating system as well.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

thecreator wrote:

Open up the computer. Unplug the computer.

Unplugging *before* you open the case is much safer.

Remove the BIOS Battery
for about 30 seconds, then reinstall the BIOS Battery. This will
reset the Compaq Bios and remove the Password. You will need to Set
up Compaq BIOS again, according to your likes, like for Boot Order.

Removing the battery will reset the BIOS. but 30 seconds is rarely
sufficient. It usually takes 15 minutes or so, sometimes more--as much as
several hours.

 

[Ted Zieglar]

"Removing the battery will reset the BIOS. but 30 seconds is rarely
sufficient. It usually takes 15 minutes or so, sometimes more--as much
as several hours."

Now there's something (else) I didn't know. What's holding the BIOS
information in the CMOS for so long without a battery? Maybe I need to
brush up on my physics.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

"Removing the battery will reset the BIOS. but 30 seconds is rarely
sufficient. It usually takes 15 minutes or so, sometimes more--as much
as several hours."

Now there's something (else) I didn't know. What's holding the BIOS
information in the CMOS for so long without a battery? Maybe I need to
brush up on my physics.

If it were to attaempt to answer, I'd almost certainly get the deatils
wrong, so I'll pass and let someone who understands the issues better than I
do provide an answer.