French BIOS

[David Guy]

Hi All

I removed the battery to gain access to a computer that has a forgotten password. When this did not work I tried to access the BIOS only to find it is in French how can I get into this machine I don't speak French and I have tried the usual passwords???

Running win 2000

Thanks in advance

Dave

 

[Tedster]

what kind of computer? If it is a dell there is a sticky in the FAQs section of chipsets and motherboards forum.

 

[Vigilante]

Even though you don't know French, it should'nt be to hard to see if there is a section for changing language. Unless it is built only in French with no option to change language?

Otherwise, what kind of PC is it anyway?

 

[DragonMaster]

You search "Langue" or "Langage"

 

[David Guy]

Hi

Its an IBM with 30gb HDD, 800 mhz processor? it seems to be an old network machine.
How come removing the battery has not cleared the bios, I thought the password would also clear if I removed the battery.


Thanks again

Dave

 

[DragonMaster]

Let it removed for a few minutes with the ATX connector pulled off and the PSU off.

 

[Vigilante]

IBM laptop or desktop?

There are multiple levels of passwords in some IBMs. Boot password, master password, logon password etc...
Normally a simple logon password is removed by a BIOS reset. But master passwords and security passwords are not removed that way. They are hard coded in the EEPROM.
Sometimes there is a special dedicated jumper on the motherboard for bypassing a security password. Once you set the jumper, you can enter BIOS and blank the pass, then reset the jumper.

Otherwise, more tedious methods may be involved.
Give us the model number, it may help, if you like.

 

[David Guy]

Hi

On the Desktop case it has IBM NetVista then on facing front (near the A: drive) it has:
TYPE 6579-NBG
S/N 55205K7


on the inside of the cover it has a recovery jumper is it worth trying different combinations of the 3 pins??

Thanks for all your help

Dave

 

[Vigilante]

OK, the recovery jumper appears to be just the regular CMOS clear jumper.

Here is a quote on how to erase a password using that:

To erase a forgotten password:
1. Turn off the computer and all attached devices.
2. Unplug the power cord.
3. Remove the cover. See “Removing the cover” on page 45.
4. Refer to the system board cover label inside the computer to locate the
clear CMOS jumper on the system board.
5. Set the jumper from the standard position (pins 1 and 2) to pins 2 and 3.
6. Replace the cover and plug in the power cord. See “Replacing the cover
and connecting the cables” on page 66.
7. Restart the computer, leave it on for about ten seconds, and then turn off
the computer.
8. Repeat steps 2 through 4.
9. Set the jumper back to the standard position (pins 1 and 2).
10. Replace the cover and plug in the power cord. See “Replacing the cover
and connecting the cables” on page 66.

I found 3 PDF docs with info about your system:

Technical Information Manual:
ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/pc/pccbbs/netvista/a20a40tim.pdf

User Guide (Has the most info on passwords):
ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/pc/pccbbs/netvista/19k8332.pdf

Quick Reference:
ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/pc/pccbbs/netvista/25p5709.pdf

Hope that gets you somewhere.

Good luck

 

[David Guy]

Thanks

Thanks very much for your help.

I will try this later.

Kind regards

Thanks again

David Guy