Laptops that lock out a boot menu

[JamesCS]

Good morning! (edit: "laptops that lock out of the boot menu" =P )

I have a Gateway and a Dell laptops to work on. The Dell I can work on, but the Gateway(NV57H58u) I am locked out. The kid who owns it forgot his Windows 7 password, and doesn't have a password recovery disk made. I can deal with that, but the Gateway laptop has the boot menu(from CD/DVD Drive/ USB) feature turned off in the BIOS. Gateway put a password on the BIOS so I am locked out. I have no way to interact with the Windows or command prompt.

The only recourse I can think of is to get the BIOS password from Gateway. The warranty has expired and they have to pay to talk Gateway for assistance. Getting myself and the laptop owner together to make the call will be difficult to do.

My question is there any other way to deal with this problem?

Edit more info

Now I Bing/Google searched this topic using key words for Gateway, laptop(s), model number, laptop bios menu, unlock bios, remove bios password, and so on. I checked Youtube for any help and came up empty or with services that I have no clue they work or are scams.

When they those searches failed me, I went to gateway's support Top Answer system and founds some interesting info on Acer/Gate machines. Sadly no real solution.

Also I searched these forums and you can say that my signing up for these forums is a last ditch/desperate attempt before I have to face Gateway's fee based tech support system.

As for the problem. The parents and kid it was for don't know what the password is for Windows 7 and there is no other account on it. I can't safe mode into command line nor any way else to interact with the OS.

Normally I can use a recovery disk to get me some kind of access and I already found a useful and safe hack to get in. BUT without the boot menu, no way to turn it on due to password protected BIOS, and no means of loading outside of the hard drive. My hands are tied, nor could I simply reinstall windows over the existing OS.

 

[Martyn]

What have you done to try and fix the problem? We like to see techs make an effort themselves before asking questions and that probably is why you're not getting answers.

My first Google found the answer.

 

[atlanticjim]

If you are just trying to get to the boot menu, use F12 during the boot.

It is not clear from your post if you have been able to enter the bios.

Power on the system. As soon as the first logo screen appears, immediately press the F2 key to enter the BIOS.

If there is a BIOS password, the user has applied that. No manufacturer locks the consumer out of the bios.
If they cannot recall the password, you can have them call Gateway to correct that before you proceed. Alternately you can search the web for the bypass technique. Each manufacturer and model has a specific way to bypass a BIOS password. Some require jumping two points on the mobo.

Gateway support may have some more answers for you.

 

[PC-MOT]

search bar at the top also helpful.....try looking for posts about dogber1

 

[Mick]

James - I have cleared BIOS passwords in the past by removing the CMOS battery, waiting a while for everything to discharge, then replacing it.

 

[seedubya]

James - I have cleared BIOS passwords in the past by removing the CMOS battery, waiting a while for everything to discharge, then replacing it.

On laptops?

 

[JamesCS]

What have you done to try and fix the problem? We like to see techs make an effort themselves before asking questions and that probably is why you're not getting answers.

My first Google found the answer.

I can respect the challenge.

Now I Bing/Google searched this topic using key words for Gateway, laptop(s), model number, laptop bios menu, unlock bios, remove bios password, and so on. I checked Youtube for any help and came up empty or with services that I have no clue they work or are scams.

When they those searches failed me, I went to gateway's support Top Answer system and founds some interesting info on Acer/Gate machines. Sadly no real solution.

Also I searched these forums and you can say that my signing up for these forums is a last ditch/desperate attempt before I have to face Gateway's fee based tech support system.

As for the problem. The parents and kid it was for don't know what the password is for Windows 7 and there is no other account on it. I can't safe mode into command line nor any way else to interact with the OS.

Normally I can use a recovery disk to get me some kind of access and I already found a useful and safe hack to get in. BUT without the boot menu, no way to turn it on due to password protected BIOS, and no means of loading outside of the hard drive. My hands are tied, nor could I simply reinstall windows over the existing OS.

So yeah, that's where I am currently.

 

[JamesCS]

On laptops?

My thought exactly. I tried doing that on other laptops and it didn't work. Before I tear open this nice looking new laptop(which I can if I need to), like to know for certain it works.

 

[JamesCS]

search bar at the top also helpful.....try looking for posts about dogber1

Cool, when I get back I will do that. Thanks!

 

[Martyn]

I can respect the challenge.

Now I Bing/Google searched this topic using key words for Gateway, laptop(s), model number, laptop bios menu, unlock bios, remove bios password, and so on. I checked Youtube for any help and came up empty or with services that I have no clue they work or are scams.

When they those searches failed me, I went to gateway's support Top Answer system and founds some interesting info on Acer/Gate machines. Sadly no real solution.

Also I searched these forums and you can say that my signing up for these forums is a last ditch/desperate attempt before I have to face Gateway's fee based tech support system.

As for the problem. The parents and kid it was for don't know what the password is for Windows 7 and there is no other account on it. I can't safe mode into command line nor any way else to interact with the OS.

Normally I can use a recovery disk to get me some kind of access and I already found a useful and safe hack to get in. BUT without the boot menu, no way to turn it on due to password protected BIOS, and no means of loading outside of the hard drive. My hands are tied, nor could I simply reinstall windows over the existing OS.

So yeah, that's where I am currently.

The point I'm making is you need to put what you've done in the opening post to stop people playing a guessing game.

 

[JamesCS]

The point I'm making is you need to put what you've done in the opening post to stop people playing a guessing game.

ok gotcha.

 

[JamesCS]

Dude just remove the drive and slave to another system. Rename sam or delete if you accept the associated consequences.
Alternatively connect as boot drive on test rig and use a live cd to change or crack the password.

Sorry I didn't understand your message earlier. I am looking into it now. Seems promising. Thanks

 

[Mick]

On laptops?

Doh!
However...wonder if removing the ltop battery would have the same effect if getting at the cmos batt was an issue? Never tried it myself, but I'm guessing not.

 

[JamesCS]

This ^^^^ may help.

If signing up to the forum was really a "last ditch resort" you probably need the book "how to google for stuff".

lol I love this website and check out the articles all the time. As I mention in my intro post, I not had a thorough education on PC Tech. Most of it is self learned and experience. My last ditch effort was to seek wisdom from someone wiser than myself on the subject.

Trust me, you don't know how much it kills me that I not been able to fix this laptop. Thanks so much for your help and others that contributed. Looking into getting a SATA to USB adapter which makes things interesting. I like the whole thinking outside of the box!