Hi I have an HP ZE4600 which I tried to clear the password in the BIOS by entering the original password then the enter key 2 times over the new password blanks. The next boot it asked for a password and my old password didn't work! Nothing works! There must be a bug in this BIOS!! Now I get a hash code of 12152
I tried to contact to contact HP. I talked to 5 technicians over several hours, some of which were "2nd level" support technicians. I tried to tell them that I have a hash code, none knew what that was at all! I told them i understand I just need to provide proof of ownership (which I was ready and willing to do) and a Hash Code, they said they never heard of this method and I must send it in to a service center.
All of them told me to remove the CMOS battery. I insisted that won't work in a laptop, and they insisted it would work (They all insisted!). One of them even sent me a manual to disassemble my laptop! This model requires complete disassembly and removal of the mainboard to get to the CMOS battery (it's located on the bottom side of the motherboard and there are no openings in the casing so you have to completely remove the motherboard). This is crazy advice to give to an average home user!
I knew this wouldn't work, but since 5 HP technicians told me it would, so I tried it. (I'm pretty technical and not afraid!) Completely disassembled the laptop, removed the mainboard. Left the battery out for a full day, STILL PASSWORD!
It appears nobody on this site helps with HP Hash Codes any longer, looks like mainly Dell products. Not sure why, but I see lots of HP owners posting without resolution.
Bottom line: What are my options? Is this computer now a Paper Weight??!!
Please advise....
Thank you!!
I tried to contact to contact HP. I talked to 5 technicians over several hours, some of which were "2nd level" support technicians. I tried to tell them that I have a hash code, none knew what that was at all! I told them i understand I just need to provide proof of ownership (which I was ready and willing to do) and a Hash Code, they said they never heard of this method and I must send it in to a service center.
All of them told me to remove the CMOS battery. I insisted that won't work in a laptop, and they insisted it would work (They all insisted!). One of them even sent me a manual to disassemble my laptop! This model requires complete disassembly and removal of the mainboard to get to the CMOS battery (it's located on the bottom side of the motherboard and there are no openings in the casing so you have to completely remove the motherboard). This is crazy advice to give to an average home user!
I knew this wouldn't work, but since 5 HP technicians told me it would, so I tried it. (I'm pretty technical and not afraid!) Completely disassembled the laptop, removed the mainboard. Left the battery out for a full day, STILL PASSWORD!
It appears nobody on this site helps with HP Hash Codes any longer, looks like mainly Dell products. Not sure why, but I see lots of HP owners posting without resolution.
Bottom line: What are my options? Is this computer now a Paper Weight??!!
Please advise....
Thank you!!