Reinstall a new OS

I am after some advice. I have another computer a Pentium 4 which has had the OS wiped from it. When I switch it on the black screen appears with the Megatrends logo on and the usual info at the top of the screen, then instead of booting up normally another black screen appears with the following in the middle of the screen: Enter Current Windows Password **** (4 characters long)

My mate who gave me this computer said has never set a password up, and I have tried booting it up with OS software but the cd rom won't do anything. I know I could try to crack the password but with the cd rom not doing anything I am stuck. I can't get past this password so I am not able to get into this computer at all. The OS was wiped intentionally as it was going to be upgraded.

Does anyone have any ideas? I have done lots of searches but can't seem to get anywhere.

Sounds like a BIOS password.

Either crack it, or pull the case open and reset the.... **** I forgot what it's called (Someone help me here) you pull something off and it resets it though.

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Originally posted here by gore
Sounds like a BIOS password.

Either crack it, or pull the case open and reset the.... **** I forgot what it's called (Someone help me here) you pull something off and it resets it though.

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You talking about clearing the CMOS......Non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM)... jumpers?


edit: go to the manufactures site to get the schematic.

There will be a 'link' / 'jumper' that when you remove it will reset the password.

OR

remove the CMOS battery [that little round flat thing] AND remove the power cord too
leave for five minutes, replace battery and cord, power up and it SHOULD clear THAT problem :D

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Sounds like a BIOS password.

Either crack it, or pull the case open and reset the...

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jumper. Its located near to the BIOS chip and if that doesn't work try removing the battery(its shiny round) for a few seconds.

and I am 2 mins late.

(FWH) Firmware Hub

Thanks for all the advice. I will get on with that and post an update when I get it working.

Just pull the little black jumper and it will reset the CMOS ;)

You might wanna do a google on your mobo so you pull the right jumper out.

Or just stick to pulling the battery out as said above

Are you sure it said "Enter Current Windows Password **** (4 characters long)", with WINDOWS being the specific that I'm questioning? I've never seen a BIOS password stated like that.

If it doesn't really says windows then the above advice would be good, but if in fact it does, I don't think it has anything to do with the BIOS.

Hi zENGER,

Yes it does ask for a pasword to be entered. I typed in 4 randoms characters and it was "sorry try again" and you can only try it 3 times and then you can't do bugger all. I also had a mate round here with a Computer Science Degree and when he saw that password prompt even he was foxed......

Ok, just to be clear, the way you wrote it is exactly the way it says it on the screen? It includes the word "windows"?

Originally posted by zENGER:

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Ok, just to be clear, the way you wrote it is exactly the way it says it on the screen? It includes the word "windows"?

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Yes, it says "Enter Windows Current Password" ****
It did originally have Windows 2000 on it.

Can you get to the bios?

Originally posted by Aspman:

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Can you get to the bios?

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I did yes but only once and I tried playing around with it. Since then I have not been able to get back in to the BIOS

You're back to Gore's post then.

Resetting the bios is your starting point.

Do that and see if you can change the boot sequence so that your CD (DVD) is first.
Then try to boot from the CD.

My guess would be this is reminent from the Win2k install. My suggestion wold be to try to boot off a bootable CD. You said you tried but failed, and this is probably due to the HD being the first boot device. You'll need to get into BIOS to change this.

Aspman asked if you could get into BIOS and you said you were able to but not now. Please describe how you are not able to get into it. Does it error? Ask for a password?

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Originally posted here by Paws
Originally posted by Aspman:


I did yes but only once and I tried playing around with it. Since then I have not been able to get back in to the BIOS

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Another thought crossed my mind... Did this password thing show up before or after you were playing around in BIOS?