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How do I reset or eliminate password on old computer?
I inherited a REAL old computer from my wife's office. It's a 386/33 but other than that has no identifying marks on it as to who made it or the model or anything.
When I turn it on, it does it's memory check and then asks for a password. My wife has no idea what it might be as this computer has been in a closet and hasn't been used in probably six or seven years.
How do I clear the password or reset the BIOS settings? I've tried the obvious...pulling off the little hats covering various jumper pins inside, but that doesn't seem to do any good. None of them are marked with anything identifying...other than the J #'s.
Any help would be appreciated.
Comments on initial answers...
1. I don't have access to the password. That's the whole problem. I know this can be done because I've done it on other computers. Generally it involves removing the connectors on the jumper pins.
2. The password is not on the hardrive. This is the password that is set in the BIOS or CMOS. If it were on the hardrive, the computer would at least boot to that point. It doesn't boot at all. Just checks the memory and asks for the password. The password you are thinking of is the one set up in Windows. This computer doesn't even run Windows. I used it many years ago and it only has DOS on it.
3. I thought of removing the battery too. But this is one of the ones that is soldered into the computer. It's not removable.
4 Answers
- jdcLv 41 decade agoFavorite Answer
im assuming its a desktop, cause thats what everyone used back in the day.=
theres a battery inside there that looks like a watch battery. pull that out, turn the thing on and let it boot (at least till you see the loading screen for whichever os its running) then shut it off. put the battery back in and have fun
side note- be sure to have the thing unplugged when your pulling the battery out so that the circuit can actually die
- GregLv 61 decade ago
First off, DON'T reset the BIOS. Sounds like you already did. The BIOS is on the Motherboard, where as the OS and password is on the Hardrive. To access the files and change the password, you have to connect the hardrive to another working computer (usually via HDD enclosure).
Passwords only stop people who are physically using the computer. You do not need passwords to access files on the hardrive via another computer. That's why it's so easy to hack :)
- wunderlichLv 45 years ago
If this is rather bothering you, tell her to alter it. that's a controversy of admire. Im particular she wont have a topic with that. I nonetheless have my ex bf's call and stuff as my password specially by way of fact i'm too lazy to alter it and that i understand its gonna take a whilst to remember a clean password for each little thing. i understand for a actuality i'm over my ex inspite of the undeniable fact that and there is somebody i individually like superb now. I do think of as quickly as I truthfully have a clean bf i might truthfully replace it just to stay away from my new bf from annoying. I dont think of its a great deal for me even inspite of the undeniable fact that it must be for my new bf. So im in simple terms asserting that she in all probability doesnt think of its a great deal the two. And the actuality that she even gave u the password and its her ex bf's call teach that its rather not that massive of a deal for her and it doesnt advise something. yet whilst its rather bothering you, communicate together with her!
- 10is4EvrLv 41 decade ago
only way would be if you had acces to the admin acc where you can delete pass and make other accounts admin
