BIOS Master- and Setup-Passwords

Delete BIOS-Passwords on PC-Mainboards

Delete BIOS-Passwords on Notebooks
BIOS-Setup-Password via Software
BIOS Master-Passwords
Delete BIOS-Boot Password
Delete BIOS-Setup Password
Keystrokes to Enter the BIOS-Setup

Delete BIOS-Passwords on PC-Mainboards

Clear the CMOS of your PC-Mainboard if you want to reset the BIOS-Boot password or
BIOS-Setup password:
CMOS-Reset instructions for PC-Mainboards and Notebooks
Delete BIOS-Boot Password
Delete BIOS-Setup Password

Delete BIOS-Passwords on Notebooks

Don't clear the CMOS of your Notebook, because it will not reset any BIOS-Boot password
or BIOS-Setup password! Notebooks have better theft protections like an additional (tiny,
hidden) IC-integrated module that contains the password. Some manufacturers store the
password on a hidden hard disk sector. So, the only solution is a direct contact to the
manufacturer's support, where they proof that you are the legal owner of the notebook.
Depending on the manufacturer, you have to send him the serial number of the notebook and
you'll get (in many cases free of charge) an individual master password to unlock the
notebook. Some other manufacturers even offer only the replacement of the notebook's
mainboard - which will be really expensive!
Currently some dubious websites offer to remove the password for money. Be careful,
otherwise you'll lose your money!

BIOS-Setup-Password via Software

You can download the free, small program ctbios15.zip from the german Computermagazine
c't. Ctbios shows the password and some other interesting things about your BIOS. (great
tip!)

BIOS Master-Passwords
Lost your BIOS-Setup password or BIOS-Boot password? You can try one of the following
Master passwords:
The following Master passwords may be work only on very old Mainboards and
Notebooks which are build before the year ~ 2005. Newer notebooks don't have any Master
passwords, or they have a special Master password which was generated by the notebook's
serial number.
AWARD Master passwords
01322222
bios
lkw peter
1EAAh
BIOS
lkwpeter
256256
biostar
PASSWORD
589589
biosstar
SER
589721
CONCAT
setup
?award
CONDO
SKY_FOX
admin
condo
SWITCHES_SW
alfarome
djonet
Sxyz
aLLy
efmukl
SZYX
aPAf
g6PJ
t0ch88
award
h6BB
t0ch20x
award_?
HELGA-S
ttptha
award.sw
HEWITT RAND
TTPTHA
AWARD SW
HLT
TzqF
AWARD_SW
j09F
wodj
AWARD_PW
j256
ZAAADA
award_ps
j262
zbaaaca
AWARD?SW
j322
zjaaadc
awkward
j64
zjaaade

AMI Master passwords

ami
amidecod
amipswd
AMIPSWD
AMI
A.M.I.
aammii
AMI~

amiami
AMI.KEY
AMISETUP
AMI?SW
AMI!SW
AMI_SW
bios310
BIOSPASS

Master passwords from different Manufacturers

CMOSPWD
KILLCMOS
589589
ami.kez
ami
helgasss
HEWITT RAND

Advance Integration: Advance

Amptron: Polrty
AST: SnuFG5
Biostar: Biostar / Q54arwms
Compaq:compaq
Concord: last
CTX International: CTX_123
CyberMax: Congress
Daytek+Daewoo:Daytec/Daewuu
DELL: DELL
Digital Equipment: komprie
Enox: xo11nE
Epox: central
Freetech: Posterie
HP Vectra Serie: hewlpack
IBM: IBM / MBIUO / sertafu
IBMAptiva: press both mousekeys
Iwill: iwill
Jet Way: spoom1
Joss Techn.: 57gbz6 / Technolgi
MachSpeed: sp99dd
Magic-Pro: prost
Megastar: Star
Micron: sldkj754 / xyzall
Micronics: dn_04rjc
M Technology: mMmM
Nimble: xdfk9874t3
Packard Bell: Bell9
QDI: QDI
Quantex: teX1 / xljlbj
Research: Col2ogro2
Shuttle: Spacve
Siemens Nixdorf: SKY_FOX
Speedeasy: lesarot1
SuperMicro: ksdjfg934t
Tiny: Tiny
TMC: BIGO
Toshiba:24Banc81/Toshiba/toshy99
ToshibaLaptops: press left Shiftkey
Vextrec Technology: Vextrec
Vobis: merlin
WIMBIOS v2.10: Compleri
Zenith: 3098z / Zenith
Zeos: zeosx

Delete BIOS-Boot Password

If you have forgotten your BIOS Boot-Password, have a look into your mainboard manual, or
after opening your PC, onto your mainboard. Many mainboards have a JUMPER or SWITCH
to clear the CMOS. This Jumper is often named like: "RTC_CLEAR" , "CLEAR CMOS" ,
"CLRCMOS" , "CLRCMS". His position is often near by the mainboard battery.
Attention: All hardware settings (harddisk-, bootsequence,-...settings) will be deleted! At
least, you have to re-insert them again.
See: CMOS-Reset instructions for PC-Mainboards and Notebooks

Delete BIOS-Setup Password

If you can't enter the Setup of your BIOS, you need a DOS-Bootdisk and one of the following
MS-DOS Files:
Filename
DEBUG.EXE
QBASIC.EXE

Sourcecode I
- o 70 2E
- o 71 FF
-Q

Sourcecode II
- o 70 17
- o 71 17
-Q

- 10 OUT &H70,17
- 20 OUT &H71,0

- 10 OUT &H70,&H17
- 20 OUT &H71,&H17

Start the file an insert the sourcecode line by line.

Keystrokes to Enter the BIOS-Setup

Different keystrokes to enter the BIOS-Setup:
Keystrokes
Del
ESC
F1
F2
F10
Ins
twice Reset
Alt+Return
Alt+"?"

Mainboard manufacturer
AMI, AWARD
Toshiba
Toshiba, Phoenix and later models from Late model PS/1
Value Point and 330s
NEC, Dell
Compaq
IBM PS/2s
Dell
Dell
some PS/2-Models

Ctrl+Esc
Ctrl+Ins
Ctrl+Alt+Esc
Ctrl+Alt+"+"
Ctrl+Alt+S
Ctrl+Alt+Ins
Ctrl+S
Ctrl+Shift+Esc
Ctrl+Shift+Alt
+Del(num.Keypad)
Setupdisk

General
some PS/2-Models
AST Advantage, Award, Tandon
General
Phoenix
Zenith, Phoenix
Phoenix
Tandon 386er
Olivetti PC Pro
Compaq, Epson, IBM, Toshiba, 286er