Lost Windows password on your HP Elitebook laptop? Is there a way to remove BIOS password after forgotten? How to factory restore HP Elitebook? In this article we'll show you how to unlock your HP Elitebook laptop by clearing BIOS password, resetting Windows admin password or restore your computer to factory settings.
Elitebook BIOS Password
How to remove or clear a forgotten BIOS password? You can reset all BIOS settings (including the BIOS admin/user password) by changing the jumper settings, or removing the CMOS battery from the motherboard for a few moments and then putting it back in.
But in all new UEFI-based HP notebooks, there is a built-in utility named HP SpareKey, which can help you recover lost system passwords, such as the power-on, drive lock, or BIOS passwords. When setting up the SpareKey, you are prompted to provide answers for a sequence of three predetermined personal identification questions.
If you've lost your Windows user password, you may not have to reset your laptop to factory settings. With PCUnlocker you can reset forgotten Windows 8/7/Vista password on HP Elitebook laptop. No need to worry about data loss!
If your computer is HP Elitebook and have you forgotten HP Elitebook password, bios or administrator account password? How to do if both of them lost? It seems hard though there may be lots of ways that can solve it. But if we talk about it separately, such as in two parts, HP Elitebook password reset would be not so difficult.
Generally, there are two ways to reset forgotten BIOS password Windows 11/10/8/7. One is forcing BIOS/CMOS to reset itself to its stored defaults by removing all power from it. The other is to use a program to either locate or identify the password, and reveal it to you or erasing the BIOS password clearly.
Note: HP SpareKey cannot help you recover Windows or Vista administrator account password. It is intended solely to recover system-level passwords. So if you have problems about HP administrator password reset , go on to see Part 2.
Since HP SpareKey couldn't reset HP Windows administrator password, we have to think of other ways to recover HP Elitebook administrator password. For example, restore HP Elitebook to factory settings or reset HP Elitebook Windows login password with Windows Password Genius.
Surely, this method can reset HP administrator password, but HP laptop data would be lost after restoring HP laptop to factory settings. So it is not recommended unless you don't have another method.
Compared to method 1, this method is safer and more effective for HP Elitebook password reset. If you decide to use Windows Password Genius, you should prepare a blank and bootable USB flash drive or CD/DVD-ROM, and accessible computer before resetting HP password.
Have tryed this solution on my HP Elitebook 8540P without any sucsess.. It still wants a password, even though I unplugged everything for a good 5 hours including the small battery under the ram memory hatch.
If anyone have a sollution to this problem, no one would be happier than me. I know I am not allone with this issue, so any working sollution would serve many more than me I am sure. searching the web is not helping much. Bougt this used laptop without knowing that it was restricted with secret password, Why HP, APPLE and others like this so much, is probably spelled money, but for the average user its headache!
I restored BIOS like this: unplugged the charger, removed the battery, removed the connector from the CMOS battery located under the memory hatch, and pressed power on button for 30 seconds left the laptop for 5 hours to make sure that no power remained, this procedure should clear the CMOS and restoring the password and set the BIOS to factory default, normal acces to bios with F10 key is restricted with the very Password I am trying to bypass or brake...
The BIOS did change to factory default, and since I at the same time changed the harddrive to a brand new Samsung 830 128Gb SSD it confirms that BIOS password aint on the harddrive for sure! It is like buying a new car and not be able to open the hood, or buying an apartment and have one room locked for access. very frustrating. Do not know what settings BIOS is using for my new SSD since I can not access BIOS. I belive that this password is set by HP from factory, and reason for this is probably as simple as this: HP sells the computor with a 3Yr warranty and dont want you to "brake" anything, also they want you to buy hardware from HP and not any "inferior" hardware that HP do not approve. It is all about the money, as usual.
So with all this I hope that the main problem now is clear, BIOS password, or some software based workaround is what I am looking for, have not spoken to HP about this, but I am quiet sure that they will not give me the password just like that.
SOLUTION: This is what I did and worked like a dream. Contacted HP, told them the problem. They "escalated the case," took my info. The next day I was emailed a file called SMC.bin. It is formatted specifically for my machine, has to match the UUID. Copied file to FAT 32 formatted jump drive, booted it as per the email instructions, reset bios password.
Received an EliteBook 840 G5 in great shape from eBay but the BIOS has an administrative password. I have contacted the seller and hopefully (s)he responds. I reached out to HP support since the machine is under warranty but they said they no longer provide help for resetting BIOS passwords and told me essentially to replace the motherboard. I can at least boot into Windows but I cannot boot into legacy/MBR drives since the BIOS is configured for UEFI only and I cannot change anything in there. If I try updating the BIOS, it asks for the BIOS password which I do not have. Any help is appreciated, thanks!
Typically removing the CMOS battery from the motherboard for a few minutes will clear the BIOS password and reset BIOS to factory default settings. Not sure if that's untrue for recent motherboards, but if you're willing to take it apart and find a removable battery (it's the same size as a watch battery) then it's worth a shot. If HP support is saying they can't tell you how to do that then maybe my training is out of date, but when I went to school (5 years ago) that was the case for every motherboard regardless of make or model.
On all modern computers there is no easy way to bypass the password if it can be done at all. If you are skilled and have the right equipment then: you could try blowing the PROM which may mean taking it out (although getting hold of the PROM data to blow is difficult because it is not freely available; buying a new PROM that is already programmed and replacing the original. On both of these methods you might get issues with the IME system and you might not have the details of hardware address, etc. So if you buy a PROM ask them about these details before buying.
Hello @oeuvre, thank you for post and much appreciation for the helpful feedback from the other IT pros. I was surprised to read that you were unable to get locked BIOS password assistance for an in warranty notebook. As you will see in the HP response in the link below, members are directed to HP Support:
The only way to unlock the BIOS password is going through HP Enterprise support, where they will send you a SMC.BIN file (it will be a ftp link). It basically reprograms the BIOS so it will allow you to unlock the BIOS password. Replacing the motherboard is the second option if the first doesn't work.
Hello Mike, thank you for your post and I sincerely regret that HP has changed its policy on resetting the BIOS password. My manager has confirmed this, and I will modify the current HP BIOS password document to reflect the change. Yes, the current solution if to have a repair set up for motherboard replacement. For one member, the quote given was very high. I will respond to your ping and seek some additional information from you.
Some times there is the need to reset bios password, in order to be able to enter the BIOS and modifying its settings (e.g. to change the boot order). This BIOS Reset procedure on a desktop computer is a relatively easy process, because in most cases all you need to do is to remove the power cord and the CMOS/BIOS battery for a few minutes or to short the CLEAR CMOS jumper on the motherboard (if exists).
1. Find out he location of the CMOS/Battery, by performing a simple search on the web about how to replace the CMOS battery on your laptop, computer or motherboard model.2. Once you find that information, power down and remove the power cord from your computer.3. Follow the instructions you found to open the laptop chassis.4. Remove or disconnect the CMOS battery* for 6-10 minutes to erase the CMOS settings and clear CMOS password.5. Reconnect (or put back in its place) the CMOS battery and then close the chassis.6. Power on your computer and enter BIOS setup.
1. Power on you Laptop and press the corresponding function key to enter into BIOS/CMOS Setup.2. Type three (3) times an incorrect password.3. You will receive a "System Disabled" message and a digit code.4. From another working computer, navigate to Clear Bios Passwords page.5. Type the digit code from the "System Disabled" message and click Get Password.6. Restart the locked computer and type the suggested password(s) from the Clear Bios Passwords site.
Updating the bios don't remove the password anymore, what a stupidity, when you try to update the bios with a new one, it's ask you the password from the Bios, it's normal as you try to update it ? have you ever try what you suggest ! i have five Elibook 820 G1/G2 and i can't remove the bios password that was putting by and old technician of our firm. Same thing with nive 2560P.
Since you're on a page to remove the BIOS password then the you won't be able to boot from any port except what's in place one or the first hard drive since boot options are locked by the BIOS password. Try removing all hard drives to bypass it. Burn said software with the instructions above if that's the software you're speaking of. Doing that will put the next in the boot order to go. If you are trying to burn other software use a small program called Rufus. 2ff7e9595c
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