Lenovo S405 Problem with reloading OS

[River Valley Computer]

OK this one has stumped us. Elderly couple brings in a Lenovo S405 w/ Win 8 in Friday. They said that their teen age grandson was playing with their computer. When they went to use it it wasn't what they had seen before.

We checked it out - our findings:
1. BIOS password was put in - of course he doesn't remember it
2. He loaded Ubuntu on it

What we have tried:
1. Disassembled - removed CMOS battery - left out for 1 day. Still has BIOS password. Does not appear to have an obvious jumper on the MOBO for password reset
2. Looked for a Linux program that might reset BIOS password - can't find one. (we know there are a lot of LINUX experts out there - any suggestions?
3. Talked to Lenovo (numerous times) - their solution - we have to replace MOBO.

Can't reload WIN8 until we can reset BIOS PW to be able to reconfigure UEFI for external CD/DVD
Anyone have any thoughts?????????????

 

[nlinecomputers]

Unless the kid remembers you are f'd. There is NO method of password reset or recovery on that motherboard.

 

[TAPtech]

You need to find if there are jumpers or pins to be shorted to remove the password. Unfortunately I don't have that information for the S405. I don't think any software tools are going to do this for you.

 

[nlinecomputers]

Service manual here. There is no method per page 24
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...MRv8X6jSaMNYexA&bvm=bv.91386359,d.cGU&cad=rja

 

[FremontPC]

New bios chip from ebay?

 

[FremontPC]

Is it the power-on password or the Supervisor password?

 

[River Valley Computer]

Is it the power-on password or the Supervisor password?

Passord to enter CMOS "F2"

 

[FremontPC]

Can you find out whether it has Insyde or Phoenix bios?

 

[Galdorf]

You will need to install debug for windows 7: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/hardware/hh852365.aspx

at command prompt type debug
you will get a - prompt where you can type the fallowing (<enter> means hit enter, not type enter*)

A <ENTER>
MOV AX,0 <ENTER>
MOV AX,CX <ENTER>
OUT 70,AL <ENTER>
MOV AX,0 <ENTER>
OUT 71,AL <ENTER>
INC CX <ENTER>
CMP CX,100 <ENTER>
JB 103 <ENTER>
INT 20 <ENTER>
<ENTER> just hit enter on this line
G <ENTER>
Q <ENTER>

type:
DEBUG hit enter
-o 70 2e hit enter
-o 71 ff hit enter
-q hit enter
exit hit enter

 

[citizensmith]

@Galdorf have'nt seen that ^ in a long long time

 

[FremontPC]

Sounds like the Supervisor Password, so it's mobo time. Some docs are saying you have to replace the HDD too. Grandson is going to have to mow a few lawns to pay that one off.

 

[Galdorf]

if you realy want to get your hacker on : Brute Force BIOS Hacking Using the Arduino
Or you could get a an old p4 create a keyboard emulator and do a brute force attack on bios password.
Possible there may be a backdoor in bios: BIOS Password Backdoors in Laptops

Another useful website convert codes into bios passwords: http://bios-pw.org/
Another way to do it you need some electronics knowledge by shorting out the eeprom i have done this a few times and works here is an example: