Purchased a hp z840 on ebay with a locked bios. Question on this

[Tony_atfpodcast]

I found the solution after researching online, and it states that if I remove the CMOS battery and press the CMOS reset button for 5 seconds, I will be able to access the BIOS system as it would not be locked.  I  heard from people that won't work, and to get a new 840 motherboard. Now I am worried as it arrives on Monday. I am not the original owner, and I don't think HP employees can assist me in resolving this issue. Please advise.

Thank you.  I paid $250 for it.  It comes with the same Xeon 35 I have in my Z440.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

The answer to your question can be found in chapter 6 pages 100 & 101 of the service manual.

HP Z440, Z640, and Z840 Workstation Series Maintenance and Service Guide

If that does not work, then you will need to buy a new motherboard because someone set the stringent security option in the BIOS which renders the password jumper useless.

You are correct.

No one can help you not even HP, and here is HP"s policy on lost or forgotten passwords.

HP Business PCs - Forgotten or lost BIOS password | HP® Support

Never buy a HP business class desktop or notebook PC that has an unknown BIOS password set.

[NonSequitur777]

@Tony_atfpodcast,

Welcome to our HP Community forum!

Well, you’re d@mn right to be cautious here...

• I can tell you right off the bat: CMOS reset won’t help. Removing the battery or pressing the CMOS clear button will only reset things like the clock and BIOS settings. It will not clear a BIOS password -that data is stored separately.

• Locked BIOS usually = password protection. If the seller shipped you a Z840 with a locked BIOS, you won’t be able to access key menus or change boot devices. That makes it almost unusable for upgrades or clean installs. The Seller should have sold this PC as: "for parts only" in my opinion.

• HP won’t reset it for second-hand owners. Official HP support can only clear BIOS passwords for the original purchaser (with proof of ownership on top of it).

• Your options:

  1. Contact the Seller immediately, as in ASAP. Ask if they can provide the password or take the machine back.

  2. If you keep it, you may need to replace the system board -and for the Z840, that’s neither cheap nor trivial.

  3. There are “BIOS chip flashing” or third-party services, but those are risky and outside my, the Community's or HP’s scope.

• Truth be told -lesson learned: With used workstations, always confirm “no BIOS lock/password” before purchase.

---

Friendly bottom line:

Look, for $250, the Xeon + memory + PSU + chassis alone may still be worth it, but if you need a fully working Z840, I’d push the seller for a return or partial refund.

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[DGroves]

Sorry, but my opinion on this is that if the sellers description clearly stated the system had a locked bios/password set and the buyer still bought it the seller isn't really obglitated to refund money or take the system back as he clearly disclosed the condition of the part being sold

on the other hand if the password issue is not clearly stated or skipped over then indeed the buyer would then have the right to demand a refund/partial compensation

since none of use here actually saw the OP's add for the z840 it's pointless for use to take either position only the OP knows what the add actually said

and FYI only HP can generate the necessary SMC.bin file unique to your specific system for a password reset it just might be possible to do this if you contact HP support directly explain the situation to them and then can provide proof of a valid motherboard replacement from a valid source like a major PC parts recycler

[NonSequitur777]

@DGroves,

Your opinion is noted -I generally choose giving the OP the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps similar to providing legal assistance when asked.

Whether or not the Seller was clear enough -well, based on my anecdotal interactions with eBay over many years: probably NOT, or at least not 'clear' enough for a novice to understand the implications of purchasing a locked mobo.

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[Paul_Tikkanen]

As I posted earlier...HP will not provide any assistance whatsoever to clear a BIOS password on any PC they manufacture anymore.

They ended that practice in 2019.

No more SMC.bin files have been issued to customers since March of 2019.

A new or used motherboard with no password set is the only solution nowadays.

It would be a 100% complete waste of time for anyone to call HP and ask for assistance with this problem.

[Tony_atfpodcast]

It was stated that it had one.  I searched for how to unlock a BIOS, and I hope I can do it based on what I read, but I may need to get another motherboard.  Sadly, new ones are hard to find and afford. I got it for $200 and it arrived today.

[Tony_atfpodcast]

I don't need a new password, so I hope this works on page 100. If it works I can make it not have the new password correct?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

If removing the P/W jumper works the P/W will be cleared automatically and you don't need to set a new one.

[Tony_atfpodcast]

Following those instructions in the manual, do I need to have a drive in the machine with an OS to reset the password in the BIOS?