toshiba satellite

boxnut · Jan 30, 2006

recently aquired a toshiba satellite notebook at an auction, problem is:
the c-mos password has been set,and no access to the machine is possible.
have tried all of the known fixes and none work.
i can re-program the chip if need be,but don't know which one it is.
any technoids know what chip stores the hardware password????
any help here would be hot.
the machine model is: sm30-304
cheers 'boxnut'

Channel Hopper · Jan 30, 2006

Did you get any discs withe the machine at all?

Can you access the set up menu at all ? (F8)

I have had success with a linux boot up disc on earlier notebooks, there is a thread further down this section with links

BGonaSTICK · Jan 30, 2006

There is often a jumper that can be switched from 'normal operation' to 'Clear CMOS' which should re-set it. Download the manual and see if you can find it.

You can also try just removing the battery on the motherboard for a while.

Check http://www.dewassoc.com/support/bios/bios_password.htm

You may have tried all these, you don't say specifically.

STICK

Channel Hopper · Jan 30, 2006

BGonaSTICK said:
There is often a jumper that can be switched from 'normal operation' to 'Clear CMOS' which should re-set it. Download the manual and see if you can find it.

You can also try just removing the battery on the motherboard for a while.

Check http://www.dewassoc.com/support/bios/bios_password.htm

STICK

Is removing the battery a good idea ? What other info gets removed in the process

If anyone knows how to reset a GA-6BXE motherboard (Rev 2.0), as I cannot access the admin password to add a second hard drive

allend66 · Jan 31, 2006

boxnut said:
recently aquired a toshiba satellite notebook at an auction, problem is:
the c-mos password has been set,and no access to the machine is possible.
have tried all of the known fixes and none work.
i can re-program the chip if need be,but don't know which one it is.
any technoids know what chip stores the hardware password????
any help here would be hot.
the machine model is: sm30-304
cheers 'boxnut'

Maybe you bought a knocked-off notebook? I have a toshiba satellite m30-861, and have my boot password set. I needed to reformat (system restore discs - wipe and reinstall windows XP) and i thought it would remove the boot security - it didn't. after a nervous 5 mins trying to remember the password, it booted.

I don't think there's a way around this prob. Have you got in contact with toshiba tech support?

good luck

stealthpirate · Jan 31, 2006

I bought a dongle off sleazebay (parallel port) that was supposed to remove bios passwords off laptops, still have it, never tried it, lost instructions D'oh!.... removing batts and other stuff mostley don't work, usually new bios chip needed!

stealthpirate · Jan 31, 2006

Here you go.... make one yerself for a couple of quid! (get 25pin connector from maplin or farnells): _http://defiant.darlington.com/Techzone/Laptops/toshiba.htm

PaulR · Feb 1, 2006

See also here
http://www.hackfaq.org/reset-bios-password.shtml

boxnut · Feb 3, 2006

a hearty thanks to those responding:
i have tried the dongle(p-port)--removing the c-mos battery--there doesn't
seem to be a 'clear c-mos' jumper..it is starting to look like this is one of the models that needs to be sent to toshiba for the fix..they want $250.00
(US) to do this.. i have facilities to reprogram e2proms,flash,& many other
'nv-ram/roms. as this feature never reaches the bootstrap,the password must be saved in either the flash or an e2,used for that purpouse..
i figured i could save myself a significant amount of money by doing myself
what i would have to pay someone else to do. i just don't know what chip in the machine stores this data. i'm leary of experimenting on such an expensive machine.this is the 'bios (hardware)password',so nothing loads
from disk.there is a 'sd card' slot that could take a 'key' but i would still need the password to create this key. any other ideas would be appreciated.
tnx 'boxnut'

BGonaSTICK · Feb 3, 2006

Channel Hopper said:
Is removing the battery a good idea ? What other info gets removed in the process

If anyone knows how to reset a GA-6BXE motherboard (Rev 2.0), as I cannot access the admin password to add a second hard drive

I had one of those babies, and I used the battery and CMOS-short to good effect a number of times.

I sold it (along with the manual) but I have a PDF version if you want it. It's jumper JP14 'Clear CMOS' that you need. Great motherboard at the time.

Removing the battery is fine. It's what you have to do when it goes flat! The manual says it should last 5 years, and after that you may need to change it.

boxnut · Feb 4, 2006

I'l pm my e-mail and you can attach the pdf. i'd be most greatful for anything. pulling the screws out now, i'll let you know what comes of it
tnx 'boxnut'

Channel Hopper · Feb 4, 2006

BGonaSTICK said:
Great motherboard at the time.

Thats it, twist the knife.

Topper · Feb 4, 2006

Channel Hopper said:
Thats it, twist the knife.

Well at least you were aware of the knife's presence CH O-Ha It shows something

BGonaSTICK · Feb 4, 2006

boxnut said:
I'l pm my e-mail and you can attach the pdf. i'd be most greatful for anything. pulling the screws out now, i'll let you know what comes of it
tnx 'boxnut'

Ahh, no sorry m8 I was talking about Channel Hoppers GA-6BXE, but you may want to check this out on eBay...

or this...

BGonaSTICK · Feb 4, 2006

Is THIS your notebook? Check the part number. I'd like to think I can find the .pdf for you but it's not on the Tosh site, although they have some very similar models (SM30 309)

boxnut · Feb 10, 2006

BGonaSTICK said:
Is THIS your notebook? Check the part number. I'd like to think I can find the .pdf for you but it's not on the Tosh site, although they have some very similar models (SM30 309)

except that the cpu is a 1.6 ghz centrino, the rest of this description matches. still trying to locate all of the memory chips,cant seem to find datasheets for the flash as well-may be proprietary for toshiba.
when i get further into this thing,i'l post som pix,that may be enlightening
thanks guys 'boxnut'

whatsthis · Feb 10, 2006

Can't you download the bios from the toshiba website. I did this a few years ago with a Dell I got cheap and couldn't reset the bios password on it.

boxnut · Feb 14, 2006

whatsthis said:
Can't you download the bios from the toshiba website. I did this a few years ago with a Dell I got cheap and couldn't reset the bios password on it.

good sugestion what,that works on on a number of machines.
problem with this particular lappy is it never reaches the bootstrap.
it woul have to at least be able to load flash software to re-flash the bios.
toshiba doesn't seem to have 'oem' bios downloads,only updates--same call for 'phoenix software' dont seem to be any 'updates' available
tnx 'boxnut'

stealthpirate · Feb 20, 2006

Bit of a late reply on this subject, but I've just used the parallel port dongle on a toshiba satellite pro 4600 (password protected!) and it took it straight off

sorted.

boxnut · Feb 23, 2006

never to late stealth-
this is the 'm30x' satellite,the dongle doesn't work,(lest a key sequence is also needed) toshiba wants upward to L500 to replace the mobo. I should be able to read the nv-ram that holds the pw,if I knew which chip that was
toshi don't want to tell..many forum posts lead me to believe this is a problem-prone machine ,so may end up in the parts box - humph
tnx 'boxnut'

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