Probook 4740s with administrator password

[Vladimir_A]

Hello,

After a clean reinstallation of Windows, when you try to access the BIOS, you enter the administrator password.

I assume that it was installed Protect Tools Security.

The notebook is for personal use only.

Information and advice on this issue a lot, but the way to secure reset the administrator's password is not found.

Here I read that the only option (replacement, or re-programming of the BIOS chip or motherboard) is to contact HP support.

But the problem is that firstly I do not hear well and in the second I can not speak English.

Very much I ask to help.

Regards,
Vladimir.

[IT_WinSec · Accepted solution]

Hello @Vladimir_A

Welcome to the HP Support forum.

Most business class notebooks (including yours Elitebook and Probook) have better security. Password cannot be removed here in the forum - you will have to contact HP Business Support for assistance on removing the password.

Here is how - phone and chat :

>> http://www8.hp.com/us/en/contact-hp/ww-phone-assist.html

>> https://support.hp.com/us-en/contact-hp

If you don't speak English, don't you worry. HP has local support in many countries. Your name is Slavic and HP will most likely have support for your country.

HP Business support should be able to send you a customised SMC.bin file and instructions which you can use  to reset the password. Note that assistance for such issues is usually free of charge for HP business class computers.

Once you receive the bin file, here are the necessary instructions you need to follow

Please make sure USB pendrive is formatted to FAT32 (not NTFS, not else)

Follow these steps to clear an unknown password for the BIOS administrator:

1. Save the attached SMC.bin file to a blank USB pendrive.
2. Shut down the notebook. Insert the USB pendrive into any USB port. (If this notebook has both USB 2.0 and 3.0 ports, use a USB 2.0 port.)

3. Press and hold the following three keys at the same time:

the Windows key (near alt) , the Up-Arrow key, and the Down-Arrow key

4. Click one and release the power button

You will understand it worked

5. Once you see a grey "SMC Command" screen, release the three keys mentioned in step 3.

(Note: Steps 3, 4, and 5  signal the BIOS of this notebook to examine the USB ports and the HP_TOOLS partition for an SMC.bin file, and if it detects one, to run its command. This SMC.bin file contains the command to allow access into the BIOS as a BIOS administrator without supplying a password.)

You should see something on your screen

6. Read the grey screen about "SMC Command":

6a. If you see a message "SMC Command failure", contact HP support and attach photo of the F1 System Information
screen.

6b. On the other hand, if you see no "SMC Command" message of any sort, try steps 3, 4, and 5 again. You may also use a different brand and smaller capacity USB key. If that does not succeed, contact HP support. Pay attention to step 3 - press and hold the 3+1 button at the same time or very very fast one after another.

6c. If you see a message "SMC Command success", then the command has worked. Follow the on-screen instructions and restart the device. Begin tapping the F10 key (or the Esc key) like tap-tap-tap during start, so that the machine will go into the BIOS setup screen. (For this boot only, the machine should let you enter Setup without having to supply an administrator password. If the unit is restarted without performing the next step, the process will need to be ran again).

7. From the File screen in the BIOS, highlight and select the option to "Reset BIOS Security to factory defaults". (This will clear the old unknown password.) Follow the prompts, and restart the notebook when prompted. Reminder: if this notebook uses
BitLocker full disk encryption software, please choose to NOT reset the TPM! If it does not use BitLocker, you can also clear the TPM.

8. If you wish to set a new administrator BIOS password, you may do so on a future boot cycle by pressing F10 and setting a fresh BIOS admin password within the BIOS setup screen.
If there is any difficulty, particularly at steps 6a or 6b, contact HP support

If the above does not help, please contact HP Business support

Hope this helps. Please, mark the post as a solution if it helped.

Let me know if you face any difficulties.

[Vladimir_A]

Hello,

Thank you very much for your help.
I wrote an appeal to HP Support. Upon request, sent all the necessary information and in return received the file 2CE3151B4V.BIN.

renamed to smc.bin launched in accordance with the instigation and all my problems on this are over.

Thanks again!

[IT_WinSec]

You are welcome. Glad I was able to help.