Toshiba laptop

[G-BMML]

Hi all,

got given a used Tosh Satellite Pro, model No PS210E. Hdd is formated but when I try to get into the bios to change the boot order, it asks for a password, any help out there?

Desperate,

Bill.

[Bushfiva]

Many of the old Toshibas can be reset with a dongle that you insert in the parallel port. Others can be reset with cgsecurity's keydisk.exe. Google will point the way to both.

[Parapunter]

The easiest way would be to open it up & remove the battery powering the cmos/bios thus forcing it back to defaults on restart i.e. no password. Alternatively, you can look here: How do I reset a BIOS password?

I'm not sure whether something like that would have a jumper setting on the motherboard to reset the cmos as you often see on desktops mobos. Worth a look around google I would think.

[Bushfiva]

The easiest way would be to open it up & remove the battery powering the cmos/bios thus forcing it back to defaults on restart

Well, not on Toshiba notebooks it won't.

[The late XV105]

A thread with pages and pages on frustrated users who want their Toshiba BIOS reset http://tinyurl.com/668t72

Picking up on the USB method already mentioned above, from a quick scan of this thread it mentiones how to make a USB device that loops certain pins together, and also where to buy a USB device that will do it for you (www.pwcrack.com)

It also links to http://www.elfqrin.com/docs/biospw.html, although the info on this page is probably too technically advanced if you are asking here in the first page (meant nicely, not pointedly :-) It may be of use to someone technically savvy whose time you have access too, though.

[Bushfiva]

USB method already mentioned above

Parallel port.

[Parapunter]

Zat so Bush? Another nail in the coffin of laptops for me then!

[Bo Nalls]

There is a readily available freeware utility called 'KILLCMOS' on the net which claims to be able to reset the CMOS back to factory/default settings. You need to be able to boot the system up into a DOS environment though.

WARNING - This prog is only recommended for experienced users; it may void the warranty on your motherboard and may cause adverse affects. This is only to be used if all other options of fixing a system have been explored.

[The late XV105]

USB method already mentioned above

and

Parallel port.

Sorry; I wrote what I did from memory when I had read your post some hours earlier, the connection in my head being you had mentioned an external attachment so USB rang true when I read the linked page I then posted.