Member Avatar for sittas87

Hi all
I have a Toshiba L40 laptop witch I just formated with Win XP service Pack 2. Problem is when the laptop had a BIOS password on it. I knew the password but after installing a couple of windows drivers (sound, graphics etc) and needed to restart the pc I got annoyed by the password and wanted to remove it.

So I did, But the thing is now when I restart the laptop I still get the prompt to supply a password. thing is I've just pressed enter to uninstall the password in the BIOS. When I supply the old password now it doesnt wanna work. if I leave it blank and enter I get no go.

Am I missing something. Deadline is today...lovely stuff :-(

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by cguan_77

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For — the symptoms you describe (you thought you removed the BIOS password but the system still prompts and the old password no longer works) are exactly the case where the password is held in firmware and cannot be cleared by simple tweaks. Toshiba/Dynabook’s official guidance is that a forgotten BIOS/supervisor password can only be removed by an Authorized Service Provider (they will ask for proof of ownership). (support.dynabook.com)

Quick, low‑risk triage before sending anything for service: note the exact prompt text (is it “Password =” or an HDD/ATA lock message?), try a wired USB keyboard to rule out stuck keys or layout/NumLock/CapsLock issues, and see whether Esc/F2 during power‑on gives the setup or a “check system” message (that helps identify the BIOS type and available recovery paths). These checks don’t change firmware and will tell you if the laptop is simply asking for a supervisor/power‑on password or if the drive itself is locked. (makeuseof.com)

If the drive is HDD/ATA‑locked, beware: ATA/self‑encrypting drive passwords can make the drive inaccessible without the correct key or vendor recovery routine — losing the password often means the data can’t be recovered by consumer methods. Professional data‑recovery services with specialist tools (PC‑3000 and equivalents) are the realistic option for valuable data. For many Toshiba boards, hardware pads/jumpers or service‑level procedures (not just pulling a coin cell) are used — those solutions are model‑specific and can be risky if attempted without experience. (manuals.plus)

Practical next steps: 1) Don’t keep guessing wildly (that can increase complexity). 2) If you urgently need files, remove the drive and check it on another PC now (if it’s not ATA‑locked). 3) Collect model/serial and proof of purchase and contact an authorized Dynabook/Toshiba service provider — ask them to clear only the firmware password and not to reformat the drive if data recovery is required. Mention the forum replies from and as context (hardware checks and lockout risk), but follow the manufacturer route if the quick triage above doesn’t restore access. (support.dynabook.com)

Recommended Answers

All 3 Replies

Member Avatar for Suspishio

Laptops are difficult in these circumstances - O don't know how much juice there is in the CMOS battery. But there might be a trick like remove the main battery and wait a couple of hours or overnight for the CMOS battery to drain so that the BIOS defaults to factory settings. If you know your way round the inside of your laptop .....

Member Avatar for jbennet

Get it wrong 3 times = new motherboard on most business-grade laptops

Member Avatar for cguan_77

go to the nearest service center of your laptop manufacturer's check if they can do something...

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