Member Avatar for Mackenzie_1

I forgot my password on my Toshiba Windows 10 laptop. Now every time I turn it on it has a black screen with a white box that says 'enter password' but I don't know the password.. I need to somehow reset my whole laptop. I've tried EVERYTHING, INCLUDING calling tech support, the Toshiba company, the windows company, watching YouTube videos, searching all over the internet, etc. Please I need desperate help. I need this laptop to do my school work and if I don't so my school work on this than I won't graduate High school. :( Someone please be my hero??

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by close2study

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That black screen with a small white “Enter Password” box on a Toshiba usually is not Windows asking for your sign‑in. It is a pre‑boot (BIOS/UEFI) or HDD/SSD password prompt, which appears before Windows ever loads. That is why the Safe Mode/Shift+Restart suggestions from and will not help here; those options only apply once you reach the Windows sign‑in or recovery environment Microsoft explains Windows password reset options here.

Two important distinctions and next steps:

  • If it is a BIOS/UEFI “power‑on” or Supervisor password: Dynabook/Toshiba’s official guidance is that forgotten BIOS/Supervisor passwords can only be cleared by an Authorized Service Provider (ASP) with proof of ownership; you cannot remove it yourself, and pulling the CMOS battery typically will not clear it. The ASP procedure should not wipe the drive, which aligns with ’s note, but policies and fees vary, so ask the ASP to remove only the firmware password and leave the storage untouched. See Dynabook’s password guidance here: Passwords: setting and removing.
  • If it is an HDD/SSD password: This one protects the drive itself. If forgotten, Dynabook states there is no way to reset or remove it; the drive must be replaced and the data is unrecoverable without the correct password. That is why some YouTube “tricks” end badly, as cautioned. Official FAQ: Is it possible to delete a forgotten hard disk password?.

Practical triage: As mentioned, a shop can remove the internal drive and attempt to copy your files using a USB‑to‑SATA adapter. This works only if the drive is not locked with an HDD password. If the white box still appears even with the drive removed, it is almost certainly the BIOS/UEFI password, and an ASP visit is the fastest safe path. For Windows‑only account lockouts (not your case here), use Microsoft’s recovery flow linked above.

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Member Avatar for rproffitt

Actually this is a known thing. The BIOS boot password reset varies with the make and model. If it's a current design ONLY the maker or their service folk can reset that password. Usually a small fee is involved.

Most of the time this reset does not wipe the drive in the PC so that's the good news.

The bad news is that I've seen folk destroy a laptop trying the youtubes and more.

Member Avatar for rubberman

And another reason why I don't use Windows on my computers - Linux only.

Member Avatar for rproffitt

. The BIOS password is more of a PC thing. It's really helped in driving down the value of a stolen laptop. If you think a BIOS password is a show stopper, consider Apple's Lost Mode. Look it up and tell me what you think.

Member Avatar for happygeek

Surely the Bios password is a computer thing, not a Windows thing. The Bios loads the OS, isn't that the whole point of the thing these days?

Member Avatar for Wooly

Alternatively you could take you Toshiba to a repair place get them to use your hard drive as a Slave (they use a working laptop and connect yours as an external drive . May be costly though.

Edited by Wooly
Member Avatar for KushMishra

Hi,

Have you tried booting this on Safe Mode. Just click shut down by pressing the "Shift" key on the keyboard and then go top troubleshoot. The safe mode might allow you to access this (not sure, but you can try at least).

Member Avatar for Charles_26

To Reset the bios, Just remove the Bios Battery on the main board for about 30 seconds

Member Avatar for close2study

when your pc is on then click the shift button then your trobleshouting is on and its allow you to go safe mode

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