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Help! Tech S.O.S (Off topic)
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Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 13
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 13 |
Hey Folks,
Maybe this forum can help me out.
I've been using an Asus Laptop with Windows 10 for about four months.
Last week for no apparent reason that I can surmise, when I pressed the start button on the laptop...instead of loading I got one of those DOS type of screens asking me for a password. It never booted up.
Went through the normal types of fix like typing in "Admin", that didn't work. Tried to just bypass by hitting the enter button. That didn't work.
Contacted the previous owner and asked him if he had a special security password for starting up computer. He gave me three possible options. They didn't work.
On older OS's like XP and Win 7...8, when you start a computer up you have a few seconds to hit either F1, or F11 (don't remember at the moment) to bypass start up and go straight to the BIOS internally, but I'm clueless on that. With this win 10 though there's no option like that so I have to sort of just guess and hit the different F keys. So far nothing.
Anyone out here possibly clue me in on what happened?
I'll be getting a new "used but trusted friend gift" Tower next week with a lot larger HD and a lot more Ram but if this is a Win 10 Glitch, I'd like to know before the fact to avoid this weird thing happening again.
Thanks.
Marty
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Help! Tech S.O.S (Off topic)
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,488
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,488 |
Depending on the chipset sometimes the Delete key opens the BIOS. I've even seen the escape key long ago. This determined by the chipset as Windows has not yet taken control, so there is no one answer as to which key.
It's also possible the system got hacked and is locked. Normally for ransomware though you'd get an offer to fix it .. for a price.
Also, continually tapping F8 through the boot process may get you into Safe Mode.
Other than that there are ways to discover the password, but I am short on time for that.
Googling for it may help.
You'll likely need to boot using a thumb drive if you try this so getting into the BIOS is necessary.
Last edited by rharv; 02/12/17 06:32 AM.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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Help! Tech S.O.S (Off topic)
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,480
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,480 |
Dead BIOS battery in the laptop's motherboard?
This is not an easy user replacement, but something to have the vendor check if under warranty. The battery itself is a common drugstore battery but opening and reassembling a laptop is tricky. Note that my last laptop experience doing this is about six years old.
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Help! Tech S.O.S (Off topic)
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,488
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,488 |
As Matt mentioned; the CMos battery could be the culprit .. or the solution. More likely the CMOS battery being good is allowing the machine to save the BIOS password (the DOS screen mentioned in OP). Without this battery power it won't store said password. Removing the battery, waiting a couple minutes for all memory to clear as battery power fades away, then rebooting may work. It should forget it has a password stored. But AGAIN as Matt mentioned; if you haven't disassembled a laptop in a while (to get to this battery) you are better off paying someone who is comfortable doing it. It's easy to break something physically. Then it's a doorstop at best. If you do this and it works, you will have your computer back working, but when you shut down (preferably right after solving) and put the battery back in (meaning re-assembly, probably for the second time) you will need to reset your system clock and maybe adjust a couple other system settings. It's not for the faint of heart. http://superuser.com/questions/568747/laptop-is-asking-for-password-which-i-never-set-even-when-without-hard-drive https://www.technibble.com/how-to-bypass-or-remove-a-bios-password//to make it worse, I'm not vouching for the above links. Try at your own risk I personally reference a knowledge base our techs have approved before trying something like this, but it's off limits publicly .. plus I'd likely just bring it in to them in the first place Then again, since it's worthless now you may have nothing to lose You can always yank the drive and recover your data in another machine..
Last edited by rharv; 02/13/17 02:27 PM.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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Help! Tech S.O.S (Off topic)
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,988
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Joined: Aug 2011
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If you decide to remove the motherboard CMOS battery, YouTube is your friend!
Find the make and model number of the laptop then do a YouTube search for terms like "HP 1147 replace CMOS battery" or "Dell N5040 disassembly". You should find several videos that will walk you through the process so you can decide if it is something you want to try or farm out to a professional.
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Help! Tech S.O.S (Off topic)
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,825
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,825 |
CMOS batteries are only supposed to be good for a few years. Not a problem if you upgrade your computer every few years, but if you're like me and have a six year old computer, it will go out. My desktop machine was randomly going into hibernate mode - everything was on, but the screen was blank, and nothing would get its attention. Did some checking and found that the culprit could be the CMOS battery. Bought a new battery for a few bucks, and now the machine works like a champ again. Sometimes the weird problems you have aren't always software related and might be as simple as changing a battery.
John Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 12TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 12TB SATA BB2026/UMC204HD&404HD/Casios/Cakewalk/Reaper/Studio One/Notion/Dorico/Noteworthy/NI/Halion/IK http://www.sus4chord.com (under rehosting/construction)
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Help! Tech S.O.S (Off topic)
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,488
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,488 |
John,
Was that a laptop or desktop?
Desktops are usually easy, but a laptop adds quite a bit of a more challenge in my experience (especially if you haven't ever opened one or it's been a while).
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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Help! Tech S.O.S (Off topic)
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,825
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,825 |
Mine was a desktop, but I've opened my HP laptop and have seen where the battery is and it didn't look like it would be too difficult. But success may vary from brand to brand.
John Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 12TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 12TB SATA BB2026/UMC204HD&404HD/Casios/Cakewalk/Reaper/Studio One/Notion/Dorico/Noteworthy/NI/Halion/IK http://www.sus4chord.com (under rehosting/construction)
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Help! Tech S.O.S (Off topic)
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,488
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,488 |
Personally, I've damaged my laptop opening it before (desktop no problem), but I am not as experienced as you in doing so.
My above post was aimed at people like me that haven't opened a laptop in a while .. don't even get me started on those desktop 'all-in-one' monitor type systems. Physically opening these is just as frustrating. Luckily my only goal in a recent situation was salvaging the hard drive, so breaking plastic body connectors on my way in didn't matter. Collateral damage as they say.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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