Used Toughbook with password to access BIOS

Are there any issues with buying a cheap used Toughbook (in very good condition) that needs an unsupplied password to access BIOS setup utility.

Machine works normally and no options appear to be disabled so wondering what issues may crop up where the BIOS setup utility password may be required..

 

Not interested in bypassing or resetting password thankyou........

 

The main things you won't be able to change are the default boot drive, system time and possibly a few other options like USB wake, power saving, hypertreading etc. As long as you can still use the laptop I wouldn't worry about it that much, but personally i'd prefer to have access to it just in case.

 

I have had a few with passwords and never had a problem with loading windows XP or W7 on any Toughbooks . Now you will / maybe have problems with changing wifi cards, adding GPS or fingerprint reader to name a few. I stay away from them now. The ones I had I got very cheap and used them all for parts but one which had a working GPS. I still have that one.

 

Main problems I run into on them is boot order and little things like needing usb 2 instead of usb 3 in order to boot.
On a CF19 it comes up if boot from CD/DVD/USB is not first and you attempt to re install OS.
You can't do it without putting the HDD into another machine.

 

You can install windows as long as the boot order is correct for how you intend to install. Your issue may be, depending on the model, if you have GPS and you cannot go into the BIOS to disable it so you can install the GPS fix for the jumping mouse.

 

What actually happens, when the battery is dead/depleted/accidentally depleted?
I know on some thinkpads with unknown password (not sure if pw or admin pw) this results in a brick.

On Toughbooks, is there a limit how often a password can be entered incorrectly?
Or can it be entered incorrectly indefinitly but with reboots in between?

 

Enter 3 times and reboot, no problem. Nice thing about Toughbooks is if you have more than 1 and one of them will not boot to install, you can do the basic Windows install on the other.

They need to be sorta close in manufacture years, no CF-54 to restore a 30 I would think. But I've done it with 19,52,74,30. Even F8 and C1's. Or buy a stripped pos CF-30 that just works and use it to install.

 

You get the incorrect time/clock error msg until you set time in bios.

 

And this can cause a host of issues until fixed! But usually you can install the OS and correct once installed via the OS.

 

So my buddy in PA has a chance to buy 300 CF-19Mk6 and Mk7.

All bios locked. Well phooey. Correct me if I'm wrong but I said he would need to send them to Heartland for a new bios chip, which of course makes this a not so great deal.

 

mk6 and mk7.
Yes the chip or motherboard needs replaced.
I have done that, but not on 300

 

It would depend if the BIOS password is needed to boot or, as in the case I was asking about only to access the setup utility.

 

Good point.
Boot pass is very different from setup pass.
Solution is the same for those mk6 and 7

 

Yes, but as a reseller he's not going to want any passwords. Still waiting to hear back from him.

 

I have deleted a few post so its time to close this thread....

http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...yone-who-posts-in-the-panasonic-forum.351660/