Need help with BIOS password

[Joeteck]

Ok, guys need some help here...

I have a client who has a Dell Inspiron 1520 that got infected with a virus that set the admin boot password in BIOS to something random, and now the laptop will not boot until it gets the correct password.

Any help would be great. It would seem there is a master password generator, buy entering the service ID tag, and then the master password is generated, and is what I would type in to boot or go into BIOS and disable this... I found an executable for the latitude laptops... So I know something like this exists...

Any help would be appreciated...

Joe

[Bobnova]

Does the latitude generator not work in inspirons?

I would try to find the battery (the CMOS battery) and do the usual tricks to clear the CMOS. That has gotten rid of passwords for me in the past.

I'd be concerned that the virus edited itself into the BIOS, personally.

[Joeteck]

Does the latitude generator not work in inspirons?

I would try to find the battery (the CMOS battery) and do the usual tricks to clear the CMOS. That has gotten rid of passwords for me in the past.

I'd be concerned that the virus edited itself into the BIOS, personally.


I have removed the battery for about 30 minutes but still prompts me for the administrators password... None of the back doors work either...

and no, that latitude.exe program does not work for this... I WISH!

[simcom]

Try Ultimate Boot CD (http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/). There is a BIOS password reset tool in there that works for most.

Most laptop BIOS password is stored on flash instead of CMOS.

[Bobnova]

Most laptop BIOS password is stored on flash instead of CMOS.

I was worried that might be the case. It's what i'd do.

[Joeteck]

Try Ultimate Boot CD (http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/). There is a BIOS password reset tool in there that works for most.

Most laptop BIOS password is stored on flash instead of CMOS.

Prompts for a administrator boot password, can't boot off of an alternative location.

[simcom]

Prompts for a administrator boot password, can't boot off of an alternative location.

If you physically remove the HDD, does it look for another boot device?

[Xtreme Barton]

if im not mistaken you will have to take it apart and jump a couple spots upon boot to trick/clear it ... ill try to find the video on youtube ... basically where the bios is stored on a specific chip you have to jump one side to the other and it will let you through


EDIT:

something like so
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JqB4lkVxkA


your specific laptop might be different from the above video but i believe its pretty much the same thing your gonna have to do

[Joeteck]

If you physically remove the HDD, does it look for another boot device?


REQUIRES "BOOT" PASSWORD.

Does not get to drives yet, until correct password has been entered.

[Xtreme Barton]

do you have Service Tag and Express Service Code ?



Edit: if you dont want to take apart and reset it the only other thing i can think of is going through dell.. which would require transferring ownership and then having them give you the master code .. none of the online master codes or generators worked for me

[killem2]

Jesus, that is one hell of a virus. I've never heard of such a thing before. That's crazy. I wish I could offer any help at all, I was just going to suggest the already suggest CMOS thing. Hope you get it figured out.

[TF2]

If I understand what you are asking, you leave the password blank by pressing enter and it will boot for you. This happened to me with XP, except I found it out after I had reformatted my computer because I had never set a password.

[Adragontattoo]

Ok what virus is that, I have NEVER heard of a single virus that can get into the BIOS and set a password and I was a Dell/HP/Compaq certified Portable tech for well over 5 years.

Pull the HDD, get whatever data you need and contact Dell.

[Joeteck]

Ok what virus is that, I have NEVER heard of a single virus that can get into the BIOS and set a password and I was a Dell/HP/Compaq certified Portable tech for well over 5 years.

Pull the HDD, get whatever data you need and contact Dell.


No offense, but 5 years (http://antivirus.about.com/library/virusinfo/blcih.htm) is not long enough in the tech field to see everything...

Its so rare, not even DELL is aware of the fix... only a few techs know of it.. I had to call Dell 5 times until I found someone who knew what I was talking about.

Every Dell has a master password to unlock it in case of a lost password, or a virus (http://antivirus.about.com/library/virusinfo/blcih.htm) making changes...

And to keep you in the "know", this is what the screen looks like on DELL notebook computers...

I've been a PC tech for 17 years, and I just seen this now....

However, 4 days and $49 later, I was in....

[simcom]

However, 4 days and $49 later, I was in....
Mind to share how'd you do it?

[Flurp]

probably had to pay dell for the master password....

[Adragontattoo]

Hey Joe, I didnt say I was a tech for only 5 years. I was a CERTIFIED Dell/HP/Compaq tech for 5 years, meaning I had to pay for the certs on ALL of their laptops and mobile items. I have been a tech for longer then that.

Deal with 1000+ Dell Laptops and 3000+ HP/Compaq laptops every year and tell me I dont have enough exposure on to be plenty sure of what I am talking about.

There are two viruses which affect the Hardware of a system, Radiooga (sp?) and Chernobyl. Neither of which are widely in use. Hardware destroying/altering passwords are not at all beneficial to the virus makers as they do not allow themselves to exploit the machine in any way as it can not boot. Virus/spyware makers are now starting to encrypt drives and attempt to extor money from people instead of just spam mailing the world but that is still a minority occurence and not widely in use.

Which virus was on the PC or did the owner simply fat finger/forget the password on initial entry?

Most of the manufacturers have a master BIOS password due to people doing the above or in Dells case, they simply come out and replace the MB if covered. I know that sometimes the students would think they were slick and disassemble the laptops or reset things they shouldnt. Both Dell and HP/Compaq just sent out a new MB to swap in. I was given an laptop for free at one point that had a bios password set, after calling the manufacturer I was able to get into the BIOS the same as you, ~50 bucks and the machine serial number plus a bit of a wait.

So now that you are in, which virus was it.