How can I reset the Setup/BIOS password?

[Howard_Woodard]

I purchased a used HP Pavilion a1640n Media Center Edition yesterday for my granddaughter. I wanted to go through setup and make sure that everything was updated and looked alright but when I went into setup it asked me for a password.  The kid I bought it from couldn't remember ever setting one.  It has been upgraded to Windows 7 -- which it runs beautifully I might add -- and somewhere along the way someone put a pasword on setup.

How can I go about clearing BIOS values such as password?

Thanks in advance,

Howard Woodard

Redmond, WA

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi, Howard:

I cannot find a procedure in the available manuals to clear a BIOS password on that model PC.

Here is the link to the service manual for the PC: I am providing this for you to follow the procedure to open the case so you can see the motherboard. Follow all precautions before opening the case as listed in the manual.

http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c00311110.pdf

On HP business PC's there is a green password jumper on the motherboard. It is normally located near the coin cell battery or the SATA ports. But it can be anywhere on different models.

To clear the password, you remove the jumper with the PC off and unplugged.

Then you restart the PC with the password jumper removed and the password will be cleared. Shut down and unplug the PC. Then you can replace the jumper to the two pins you removed it from.

My recommendation is for you to look for a similar jumper. Hopefully it is green, but it may not be. You will know it is the right one if you look closely at the small lettering on the motherboard itself labeling the circuit. It more than likely will say PSWD.

Paul

[bkiran · Accepted solution]

Hi ,

To Clear the Infromation in BIOS follow the below setps

1. Turn OFF the computer and unplug the power cord.
2. Locate the jumper labeled CLEAR_PWD. In the default (normal) position the jumper is on pins 2-3.

1. Move the jumper on jumper CLEAR_PWD to pins 1-2 to clear password.

1. Plug the power cord and turn ON the computer.
2. Hold down the F1 key during the startup process and enter BIOS setup to change or clear the password.
3. After changing or clearing the BIOS passwords, remember to reset the jumper to pins 2-3.

[Howard_Woodard]

Thanks Paul. Worked like a champ.

[bkiran]

It’s a pleasure

[Howard_Woodard]

Thanks to you too. I read both responses before fixing the problem.

[bkiran]

Say Thanks by Clicking on Kudos

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome, Howard!

Just curious...Was the jumper green on 2 pins, or like the picture that bkiran posted?

Paul

[Howard_Woodard]

Exactly like the picture that bkiran posted.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Thanks for the info.

I'll keep that in mind in case someone else with a similar model has this issue.