help with pre-boot password on hp nc4200

Ugh... I got a client who put on a bios password on his comp and forgot the **** password. I took it apart twice to reset the rtc batt, but the password is still going strong. I'm hoping i just didn't leave the batt out long enough. Does anybody know the type of bios(award, phoenix?) used in nc4200? Also, i'm starting to fear if he used the tpm pre-boot auth. Anybody know what this looks like in comparison to a regular bios password? Does it look the same as a usual bios password screen?

 

I can't say much for the nc4200 exactly, but others like it, yea. Hit & Miss scenario on the ones I have experience with. Normally you disconnect all sources of power (AC, battery, RTC battery). Then take a small flat head screw driver and short the two pins on the system board for a 30 seconds to a minute. Then leave the RTC battery disconnected and reconnect AC, start the system up and attempt to load the BIOS.

Make sure you take the necessary ESD precautions and remember you do this at your own and the laptop's risk.

On some models it works every time. Others 50/50.

 

Search the forum, this is a somewhat frequently asked question about HP's business models and I'm afraid the solution may involve opening the laptop.

I wonder if this is because more business people have passwords or because they forget them a lot.

 

The instructions are on page eight here: http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/CoreRedirect.jsp?redirectReason=DocIndexPDF&prodSeriesId=447354&targetPage=http%3A%2F%2Fh20000.www2.hp.com%2Fbc%2Fdocs%2Fsupport%2FSupportManual%2Fc00362835%2Fc00362835.pdf

 

try updating the bios. you can download the bios update from hp.com

 

You can't update the BIOS with a power on password present.
And the using the screwdriver speeds things up. (Instead of 5min, 30seconds)
It's proven.