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Specifically Phoenix bios.

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Try CmosPwd from http://www.cgsecurity.org/

If that doesn't work, there's sometimes a 'backdoor' password built in to the BIOS. Try BIOS, CMOS, phoenix, PHOENIX.

Finally, there might be a BIOS reset button or jumper on the motherboard. Or take the CMOS battery out for a while.

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Cool tried out the 'backdoor' passwords and one did work. That is a thing I will remember lol. upvoted – MrStatic Dec 11 '09 at 11:09
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you can't really 'recover' a BIOS password, either you find the aforementioned backdoor/universal password for this particular BIOS (not all of them have one.) or you'll have to reset the CMOS which will clear the BIOS password. refer to your mainboard manual.

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There is often a "Restore CMOS settings" jumper that has to be installed to make this happen – ralford Dec 11 '09 at 2:41
some manufacturers of older mainboards were using 'dip switches' for that. – Molly7244 Dec 11 '09 at 2:52
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up vote 0 down vote

BIOS' sometimes have backdoor passwords. Some that may have been used for a Pheonix bios include: BIOS, CMOS, phoenix, and PHOENIX

Alternatively, you could open the computer and remove the CMOS battery, as well as physically unplug the computer, then wait a minute. This should reset the BIOS to factory defaults.

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Agree. That may save him from removing the battery, but he still cannot actually recover the password. – ldigas Dec 11 '09 at 1:52
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Also, most modern mb's have a jumper for resetting the bios. Saves you from removing the battery (although, finding it sometimes takes more time ... – ldigas Dec 11 '09 at 1:53
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