Resetting Bios Password

I am doing some spring cleaning, getting rid of old desktops, laptops, and routers. Regarding the computers, I am wanting to wipe the hard drives with Darik's Boot and Nuke software. When I booted up one old Dell desktop from 2001, I learned that it requires a BIOS password. Why I ever put one on is beyond me. Unfortunately, I have forgotten the password. The rest of this message will be about wanting to know if my understanding for resetting the BIOS password is correct.

Technically, this thread/message isn't about Windows 10 specifically. But it does relate to hardware, and I am hoping that it would apply to a significant number of computers, so I hope this message is okay.

I called Dell, and the technician said that I needed to reset the jumper on motherboard to reset the BIOS password. After opening the case on my old Dell computer and hunting on the internet, this is the what I think I have learned. I will present photograph of a portion of the motherboard.



I have put a red rectangular box around what I think is the jumper for the BIOS. I note that "PASS" is written on the motherboard beside those three pins.

I believe these are steps I need to follow. Please correct me if I am wrong.

1. Turn off and unplug the computer. (It has been off and unplugged for about ten plus years. I just plugged it in today. I am not sure if this information is relevant. Perhaps it helps with regard to the motherboard's battery.)
2. Open the case and locate those "PASS" pins again.
3. Switch the jumper from the current two pins to include the third pin and middle pin. Leave it there for 5 seconds or more. In other words, move the jumper over one pin for a few seconds.
4. Reset the jumper back to its original position with the original pins.
5. Plug in the computer, and attempt to boot it up.
6. Assuming it boots up, open CD tray and put in Darik's Boot and Nuke software and follow the steps.

Is there any information that I am missing? Do I have the correct location for the jumper? Are my steps correct?

Thank you for your help.

The official version, if you'd prefer it in writing: https://www.dell.com/support/article...mputer?lang=en

The main difference from you list is that after you move the jumper, you power up the PC, wait 5 seconds, and then hold down the power button to turn it off again. You then unplug it from power, and restore the jumper to its original position.

bobkn said:

The official version, if you'd prefer it in writing: https://www.dell.com/support/article...mputer?lang=en

The main difference from you list is that after you move the jumper, you power up the PC, wait 5 seconds, and then hold down the power button to turn it off again. You then unplug it from power, and restore the jumper to its original position.

Thank you for providing the official documentation and then summarizing the difference between my initial approach and it. Now, I can easily modify my approach. Thank you.

- - - Updated - - -

vgchat said:

Follow these steps.

1. Power off the system & unplug the power cord, flip the power switch, hard reset the cmos by removing the battery for a couple of minutes (1-2 minutes).
2. Flip the switch & power it back on for a little bit then shut it back down (give it the amount of time you normally would allow it to boot up to windows login).
3. Reseat the cmos battery & power on the system.

After you've finished them all, reseat the battery & start it up. I've done this countless times. To unlatch & grab the battery, tweezers work good.

Given that you've done this successfully numerous times, I know this approach works. I am inclined to try the "pin" solution first. It looks easier to me than having to dig the battery out. That said, perhaps the pin method is more difficult. If it doesn't work for me, I will then use your approach.

Thank you!

The instructions in post 3 are for clearing the CMOS. That may well clear the BIOS password, but I don't know for sure. (I have never personally used a BIOS password.)

It's generally not hard to remove the CMOS backup battery. It also is usually unecessary; there is probably a jumper to clear the CMOS. As you haven't told us what specific Dell model you have, I can't guess where it is. All that you need to do is:

Power down the Pc.
Unplug it.
Press the power button for a few seconds to eliminate any remaining charge in the PSU.
Move the jumper. (There are usually 3 pins. Move it to the other two.)
Wait 5 seconds.
Move the jumper back.

Plug in, power up.

bobkn said:

The instructions in post 3 are for clearing the CMOS. That may well clear the BIOS password, but I don't know for sure. (I have never personally used a BIOS password.)
It's generally not hard to remove the CMOS backup battery. It also is usually unecessary; there is probably a jumper to clear the CMOS. As you haven't told us what specific Dell model you have, I can't guess where it is. All that you need to do is:
Power down the Pc.
Unplug it.
Press the power button for a few seconds to eliminate any remaining charge in the PSU.
Move the jumper. (There are usually 3 pins. Move it to the other two.)
Wait 5 seconds.
Move the jumper back.
Plug in, power up.

Thank you for the follow-up. I plan on following your suggestion tomorrow.

Regarding the location of the jumper, I believe I have located it. I drew a red rectangle around it in my picture in the first post.

If I have trouble tomorrow, I will be back with more questions. But I expect that things should progress smoothly.

Again, thank you for helping me resetting my CMOS password using the jumper.

Stecyk said:

Thank you for the follow-up. I plan on following your suggestion tomorrow.

Regarding the location of the jumper, I believe I have located it. I drew a red rectangle around it in my picture in the first post.

If I have trouble tomorrow, I will be back with more questions. But I expect that things should progress smoothly.

Again, thank you for helping me resetting my CMOS password using the jumper.

I was referring, in post 5, to the jumper for clearing the CMOS. Your picture was of the jumper for clearing the BIOS passsword. Sorry to confuse matters. My point was that if you wish to clear the CMOS, you probably don't have to remove the CMOS battery. (That assumes that ther's a jumper. Some motherboards even include a pushbutton.)

I'd probably use that approach rather than cleaing the CMOS.

@bobkn

As I recall, I just need to clear the BIOS password. And, fortunately, you confirmed that jumper in my picture is for the BIOS. That's all I am interested in. The less fussing I have to do, the happier I am.

Thank you for responding.

Stecyk said:

@bobkn

As I recall, I just need to clear the BIOS password. And, fortunately, you confirmed that jumper in my picture is for the BIOS. That's all I am interested in. The less fussing I have to do, the happier I am.

Thank you for responding.

Huh? The jumper in the image you posted is for the BIOS password, not to clear the CMOS. The latter is a separate jumper.

bobkn said:

Huh? The jumper in the image you posted is for the BIOS password, not to clear the CMOS. The latter is a separate jumper.

> The jumper in the image you posted is for the BIOS password

Correct.

> not to clear the CMOS

Correct

> The latter is a separate jumper.
It might be. I didn't look for it and didn't see it.

The title of this thread is "Resetting Bios Password," and that was my only objective.

You've been very helpful because you provided the Dell link with specific instructions to clear the BIOS password. Furthermore, I appreciate that you followed up with your comments.

Earlier today, I opened up the case on my old Dell computer. With the Dell instructions copied to my iPhone, I proceeded reset the password. In less than five minutes, I reset the BIOS password and closed the case.

Once the BIOS password was reset, I then used Darik's Boot and Nuke to wipe the drive. The old drive is now wiped.

After I had the instructions, everything proceeded smoothly without a hitch. So I appreciate your providing the official Dell instructions.

Thanks again!