Do I need to access bios to replace HDD?

I now have a 5400 rpm drive with windows 2000.
I want to put in a 7200 rpm drive and put windows XP on it.
My bios is password locked and i don't know how to get back in.
I can access windows 2000 no problem, but not bios.
Is my locked bios preventing me from doing a harddrive replacement?

If so, any suggestions?

 

well, if your computer is set to boot to a cd drive before the hard drive, you should be fine. else you need to unlock your bios. there are a few ways to do this. one, contact the manufacturer of computer to get an unlock code, or you will need to remove the cmos battery from your computer to clear the rom. If you give more specifics about your computer (laptop/desktop) make and model, we can be more of a help.

 

It's a laptop. Fujitsu P1120, 8.9" TFT LCD, no CD drive (but I'll buy an external cd drive).
It's got a Toshiba 30GB hdd, and I think it spins at 4400rpm (not 5400 as i stated above)

I want to change the hard drive because I'm looking for a significant boost in performance. Ram cannot be any higher than its current 256MB.

 

Just a suggestion...maybe you can try flashing your bios?

 

I'm really inexperienced when it comes to flashing the bios.
I don't need to get into my bios to reflash it?
Any pointers where to start? What I need?

 

Go to the Fujitsu website and find the bios for your notebook adn then just follow the instructions.

 

well this is where i'm at so far...

1.The boot menu shows HDD ahead of cd rom drive, so thats no good.

2. I disassembled as much as I could (not completely) but no luck in finding cmos battery jumpers or anything like that. It's a tough notebook to get into.
I've been looking online for schematics of the laptop or diagrams on where to find the cmos but no luck.

3. I downloaded a couple of bios crack wares but when i use them they just open up some sort of dos looking window that stays open for a second then closes. After trying both I restarted the laptop but password still there.

4. Fujitsu tells me there's no master password reset code. (I have to send it to them $155)

5. I downloaded the bios to reflash it, but it doesn't have instructions how to do it. It's only the file (P1120_BIOS_V108.FJBIOS).
I called fujitsu back and they're telling me that reflashing the bios will not reset the password, they're basically talking me out of it.

I'm stuck. Help.

 

you can bypass your hardware troubles by using a different software path. if you install from a windows disc in windows you should be able to start an upgrade/reinstall path from within the OS instead of having to boot to a CD/DVD (the install disc will copy all necessary files to your hd prior to reboot so you don't have to see the CD first).

 

http://www.tech-faq.com/reset-bios-password.shtml

good article of different things that could work. find out what kind of bios you have and maybe something will work

 

i always used really simple passwords for stuff like that so i neva forgot

the one i use at the moment is zx for the bios password and to login windows is spacebar

you sure you havent written it down somewhere........