Password Problem

**djm1k0** · December 15th, 2004, 10:50 AM

Question, ok my sister just recently had a fire at her house, she has recovered her compter which is ok, someone took it apart to clean it up, when she powers it up it goes through the regular start up screens it says gateway then it goes to a black screen and asks for a password, which i haven't actually seen the computer, she was just desribing it to me, this password may be the bios password ? anyone know what this would be, how to obtain it, how to get around it, or what can be done ? If this cannot be resolved, would she be able to take the hard drive out of her computer and put it in another to get her info off of it or would it still prompt password ? any help would be, she has a gateway, not sure of the OS

Thanks

**GroundZero3** · December 15th, 2004, 10:55 AM

opening the case, there is a watch like battery that she can pull out. short it (by placing it on a metal object) then inserting it back should reset the bios info

the bios batteries can be a pain in the butt to get out so becareful

alot of motherboards also have a jumper you can set to reset the bios info

**djm1k0** · December 15th, 2004, 11:02 AM

ok well is it the bios password that we are having the problem with, can you be a little more desriptive to fixing the problem, like where this battery is and maybe how to do it ? once the battery is removed them put back in, when the comp starts up it won't ask for the password again ?

**GroundZero3** · December 15th, 2004, 11:04 AM

sounds like a bios password, when you short out the battery the defualt bios settings will be in placed and no password request should come up.

**djm1k0** · December 15th, 2004, 11:09 AM

any idea where this battery is located ? and do you just take the batt out then put it back in ? and it will reset ?

**GroundZero3** · December 15th, 2004, 11:12 AM

the battery is on the motherboard, she will have to open the case side to see it

pulling the battery out, placing it on metal like the powersupply then inserting it back in should correct the problem.

Sometimes its stubborn and doesnt want to reset and that is usually when you will have to see if there is a jumper to reset the bios. worse case have her call up gateway for step by step help on reseting the bios

**djm1k0** · December 15th, 2004, 11:28 AM

So you take the battery out and place the battery on metal ? do you do this with the comp plugged in ?

**GroundZero3** · December 15th, 2004, 11:31 AM

okay first just for safe measures unplug the computer, then who ever is going to be reaching into the computer will want to ground themselves with the computer. you can do this by placing your hand on a metal portion of the case. this will ground your body

**djm1k0** · December 15th, 2004, 11:36 AM

alright this sounds good i will relay the info to her i appreciate the help, ohh i did a search and found this http://www.tech-faq.com/computers/re...password.shtml which may be useful also.. thank you !!