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I bought some Windows desktops at an auction, and now I'm trying to install Ubuntu and remove Windows. I've been able to do it on some of them but on others, when I try to change the boot sequence in BIOS, I'm asked for an admin password.

There's no way I can get it from the previous owner. Any ideas how I can overcome this?

I've tried removing the CMOS battery and replacing it after 30 minutes. That didn't work.

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what BIOS versions are they? – Nate Koppenhaver Sep 27 '11 at 19:20
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migrated from stackoverflow.com Sep 27 '11 at 18:21

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4 Answers

up vote 3 down vote accepted

Depending on your BIOS, you can reset the password using the jumper. Change the configuration of the jumper to 2-3 instead of 1-2 (simply done by moving the jumper).

Once done, you'll be able to enter the administration side of the BIOS which will have a setting to reset all passwords related to the BIOS. Once you have removed the passwords, shut the machine down then put the jumper back in the orginal order (should be 1-2) and then turn the machine back on. You should now be able to enter the BIOS without any password.

However, this does depend on your machine like stated above.

The jumper will look something like this:

enter image description here

Hope this helps; if this doesn't work, please let me know what PC make and model it is.

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based off the info given in a deleted answer, its an optiplex gx520 - and there's a diagram here that shows where the cmos jumper is – Journeyman Geek Sep 28 '11 at 14:45
Oh thanks for that, I'm guessing the user who requested this help can use both now to resolve their issue. – Joe Sep 28 '11 at 17:38
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up vote 1 down vote

With out knowing the exact motherboard models you're referring to, it'd be nigh on impossible to give you a precise answer.

The boards should have make and model markings, punch them into google.

You might be lucky though, as a fair number of boards had/have a jumper setting marked CMOS RESET (or similar).

Hope that helps for now.

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up vote 1 down vote

Resetting the BIOS usually requires setting a jumper on the motherboard. It's almost always a 3 pin header where you move to jumper to the other position for 5 to 30 seconds then move it back. It can be labelled things like "BIOS Clear", "BIOS Reset", "Clear RTC" etc.

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up vote 0 down vote

If you still have an OS on the system, you can try using the CGSecurity tool CmosPwd. It works on a large verity of BIOS types.

You might also want to look through the "hints for various manufacturers" section.

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