HP BIOS password renewal

[George1157]

Hi,

After recent software updates the HP 8760w wouldn't boot up properly and after 3 auto-reboots gives screen with various repair/reinstate options. However, none of them work, and I mean none of them, it won't even boot into any Safe Modes. During the auto-reboots it does diagnostics and attempts repairs but fails.

I've got full backups of my data so decided to simply install Win10 afresh from DVD but it won't read the DVD due to boot sequence. Trying to enter BIOS setup to change the boot sequence I'm presented with an HP BIOS password request. I've had the pc since new and have never set up any BIOS passwords, nor was it ever indicated in the supplied documentation so I'm stumped.

Reading on this and other forums it should be possible on the HP 8760w to enter BIOS setup without the password by removing the CMOS battery for 15-30 minutes, then replacing it followed by a re-boot interrupt in the normal way with Esc, F8 or F10. However, on mine it comes up with an HP message saying the CMOS Checksum is incorrect and then proceeds to auto-reboot which it fails as before. subsequent boot interrupts into BIOS setup once again demand an HP BIOS password and so the madness starts again.

Could anyone please advise how to get out of this catch22?

Thanks and fingers crossed.

George

[WAWood]

@George1157 

Removing the CMOS battery on a laptop will NOT reset the BIOS password, so I don't know where you read that it would.

Please note that now, to resolve a forgotten BIOS or power-on password issue, since that password is embedded into the firmware of the system board, to replace that, a system board replacement is required -- and additional customer costs apply, and while the costs vary by laptop model, they are generally around $200 USD. HP has issued this post about BIOS passwords: https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c06368824.

In addition, according to the Community's Rules of Participation:
4d. No posts shall include instructions or directions intended to bypass or subvert security measures, including passwords, locking mechanisms, fingerprint scans, etc., or to bypass any safety measures.

For assistance NOW, you have to contact your regional HP Customer Support location directly as they will confirm ownership of the PC before providing any assistance -- something we are not able to do from here.
Goto this page https://support.hp.com/us-en/contact-hp

[George1157]

Hi WAWood,

Thanks for quick reply, much appreciated.

I got the information about the CMOS battery removal resetting BIOS password from many posts on the HP Community, such as this one; https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Video-Display-and-Touch/Reset-BIOS-Password-EliteBook-8540w/t... as well as lots of listings on Google and YouTube, hence my cry for help. as those solutions simply weren't working for me.

Whereas I fully understand the Rule of Participation 4d and agree with its objective of preventing stolen pcs being activated surely it's not intended to prevent users from being able to restore their pc, particularly with no knowledge  of such a password existing. If I'd known prior to this disaster I'd have setup a memorable password and certainly would have set up the rescue keys mentioned in many of the posts.

I shall contact the regional HP Customer Support as you suggest but if all they are able to offer is a new motherboard for around $200 then sadly I suspect we'll be wasting each others' time. I've been using this workstation for about 7 or 8 years since new and it is a fantastic servant doing everything I ever needed but it's replacement value is about a tenth of that figure so it won't be worth getting a new motherboard. If nothing else I hope you agree it's environmentally criminal to throw away a perfectly working motherboard for a new one simply because a password can't be reset.

All I want to do is reinstall my legitimate Win10 OS so if you can think of any way to achieve that from DVD without bypassing any passwords or breaking any Community Rules of Participation you'd have my gratitude forever.

Have a peaceful evening.

George