Need to reset my old Compaq Presario Desktop MV540 to factory settings

**ifbey10** · August 7th, 2011, 03:15 PM

I have an old Compaq Presario MV540 that I use just for games. It's running on Windows XP.
I had two user accounts on the computer that were password protected. Somehow, my lovely brother figured out my password and got into my account. He then changed my password along with his password. Then he forgot both of them (what a genius). We tried unsuccessfully to figure out the passwords for sometime. When that didn't work, he kept pressing random buttons (he just keeps getting smarter) and somehow, he set a COMPUTER password. So when we turn on the computer, it won't even go to the account page now. It has a black screen and asks us to type in a "Computer password" which he doesn't know. I'd like to get this ordeal over with and just reset the whole computer (nothing on there is worth saving anyway). We don't have any recovery CDs or the Windows XP CDs anymore as we had thrown them out when we got a Mac for general usage.
How can we resolve this? Can I do anything without a recovery CD? Any help would be appreciated. Thank you!

**GroundZero3** · August 7th, 2011, 03:58 PM

Can you boot into safe mode?

Also:
Forgot the Administrator's Password? - Windows Password Recovery - Windows Password Reset

**Taxmancometh** · August 7th, 2011, 05:57 PM

It sounds like its the BIOS password that is locked which is an easy fix. Open the computer and look on the board for a small jumper it will be labeled something like PWSD RST. Move the jumper to the other pins then restart the computer. This will effectively clear The BIOS password. After that turn the computer off and place the jumper back in its original position. If you don't see a jumper just remove the CMOS battery on the mother board, wait a few and place back. See if that resets the password. In fact, that will reset all the BIOS setting so your gonna need to go into BIOS and reset the date.

I just found your other post. Need to reset my old Compaq Presario Desktop MV540 to factory settings - Tech Support Guy Forums

He has come to the same conclusion too that it is the bIOS password, but why the hell would you want to insall Linux??? You don't have to! Just reset the BIOS password.

Let me see if I can find the manual on this computer.

Sense you have two passwords enabled you need to most likely use Groundzero's advice and mine.

**Taxmancometh** · August 7th, 2011, 06:05 PM

In Groundzero's link they mention Offline NT Password & Registry Editor. I have used this before with great success. If you need help just ask.

When your computer starts does it say that it's a Phoenix BIOS by any chance? I have a BIOS password generator for Dell and Phoenix BIOS's. What you need to do if it is a Phoenix BIOS is try in puting the password three times, on the third time you will get a number, what is it? This has to be for a Phoenix BIOS only though.

Also, for Offline NT Password & Registry Editor to work you need to burn the .iso image to a blank CD and boot from CD. Unfortunately you need to first disable the BIOS password to even get into BIOS to boot from CD. Here's a general idea on how to boot from CD. How to Set BIOS to Boot from CDROM - www.hiren.info

**ifbey10** · August 7th, 2011, 06:35 PM

Hi, thanks for responding. Before I try any of that, there seems to be a new problem with this.
The monitor turns on but the green "on" button quickly turns to orange once it goes on. The screen about the computer password won't even show up now. We moved the big blue plug from the back because it was loose and we noticed when we removed that, "Check Video Cable No Signal" showed up on the screen. However, once we put the cable back in, it goes back to a blank screen with the orange light on. What's going on now?

**Taxmancometh** · August 7th, 2011, 06:35 PM

I can't find the manul on this computer. The first thing you need to do is reset teh BIOS password, that is the "computer password" you are referring to. Then after the BIOS password is cleared you need to use Offline NT Password & Registry Editor to reset the account passwords in XP. I hope this all makes sense.

**Taxmancometh** · August 7th, 2011, 06:38 PM

Originally Posted by ifbey10

Hi, thanks for responding. Before I try any of that, there seems to be a new problem with this.
The monitor turns on but the green "on" button quickly turns to orange once it goes on. The screen about the computer password won't even show up now. We moved the big blue plug from the back because it was loose and we noticed when we removed that, "Check Video Cable No Signal" showed up on the screen. However, once we put the cable back in, it goes back to a blank screen with the orange light on. What's going on now?

OMG! Reverse what you did and if this is a dedicated video card open the computer and see about reseating the video card. It sounds like you did this while the computer was on, not a good idea.

**ifbey10** · August 7th, 2011, 06:42 PM

I'm so annoyed. I can't believe the STUPIDITY of the people in my house! Yesterday, my dad decided to "clean the dust" inside the computer, he opened the hard drive and I don't know what the hell he did. Ever since he did that, now we can't even start the computer. what can I do about this video card now?

I can't even get to the screen that says to enter the BIOS password now. The monitor won't turn on. The keyboard isn't working.
I think all hope is lost right about now with this computer.

**Taxmancometh** · August 7th, 2011, 07:08 PM

Originally Posted by ifbey10

I think all hope is lost right about now with this computer.

It sounds like it... I don't know what to say.

**ifbey10** · August 7th, 2011, 07:16 PM

Thanks for the help. I appreciate it.
I think my last resort is to ask my neighbor (who is a computer whiz) for help. Maybe he can do something.

**Taxmancometh** · August 7th, 2011, 08:55 PM

When your refering to your dad opening the hard drive, are you actully referring to the hard drive its self or the computer? Because if he did that your a little Fed. You might need a whole new hard drive now.

**ifbey10** · August 7th, 2011, 08:59 PM

I'm referring to the Tower like where the disc drives are located, not the monitor.
If we can't get it to work, it's just going to go in the trash. We're not going to put any money into this. It's over 10 years old and only used for gaming.
I just wish I had a PC desktop to play The Sims 2 now as it doesn't work on my laptop and wouldn't work on our Mac.