windows xp media center edition

[frank woolf]

my computer is stuck on blue bios screen and it wants a password which i dont know since i bought the computer at a five and dime store is there anyone that can help me

[i430VX]

Can you provide details? Like model of computer? What it says the password is for (if anything)? What you've tried so far?

[Wunderbar98]

Hi @frank woolf. Sounds like the previous owner set an administrative password. To bypass unplug computer, open case, remove CMOS battery from motherboard for about one minute, replace battery, replug and reboot computer. Any custom BIOS settings will reset to default but you should now be able to boot the system. Reconfigure BIOS settings as needed to get hardware working to your satisfaction.

[jaclaz]

@Wunderbar98

JFYI, not really, it depends on a number of factors, on brand/model and what not, most (if not all) laptops that are "recent enough" won't have a BIOS access password reset by taking the CMOS battery off, some may still have a jumper to reset passwords, many will need specialized hardware, to either re-program or downright replace a chip:

https://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch001302.htm

 

@ frank woolf

We need to know the EXACT make/model of that laptop in order to be able (maybe) to provide you with some specific advice.

jaclaz

[Wunderbar98]

Thanks for the information @jaclaz. All hardware used here is manufactured 2010 and older, fortunately never came across anything that couldn't be reset via battery. Windows XP Media Centers seem 2005-ish. Not sure why laptop was mentioned twice as the original post makes no mention of hardware, laptop or otherwise. They came as desktops and mini-towers too.

Personal preference is to open up newly acquired used hardware anyway, before significant runtime, to ensure proper fan operation, airflow, etc. Easy enough to remove the CMOS battery then or search for a motherboard jumper. Though laptops are harder to dismantle, it's usually worth refurbishing them properly.

Only thing, does Windows XP squak when a CMOS battery is replaced (ie. trigger hardware change or product re-activation). Hope not, wouldn't think so.

Good luck @frank woolf, should be straightforward, quick hardware research. Nice, beefier than regular Windows XP hardware, could be a great system.

https://web.archive.org/web/20071023062707/http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/mediacenter/using/setup/default.mspx

[jaclaz]

1 hour ago, Wunderbar98 said:

Only thing, does Windows XP squak when a CMOS battery is replaced (ie. trigger hardware change or product re-activation). Hope not, wouldn't think so.
 

No, rest assured, the WPA (or whatever it is called) compares a sort of inventory of the connected hardware at activation time with the current one, the list and then cast "votes", what hardware pieces are used is known/documented, JFYI:

http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.php

Quote

What hardware gets checked?

The WPA system checks ten categories of hardware:

1. Display Adapter
2. SCSI Adapter
3. IDE Adapter (effectively the motherboard)
4. Network Adapter (NIC) and its MAC Address
5. RAM Amount Range (i.e., 0-64mb, 64-128mb, etc.)
6. Processor Type
7. Processor Serial Number
8. Hard Drive Device
9. Hard Drive Volume Serial Number (VSN)
10. CD-ROM / CD-RW / DVD-ROM

See also:

https://msfn.org/board/topic/161662-nic-and-wpa-votes/

jaclaz