Locked Myself Out Of My Computer

Crono5Crono5 Join Date: 2003-07-22 Member: 18357Members
edited May 2005 in Off-Topic
<div class="IPBDescription">Yes, I'm stupid, leave me alone T-T</div> EDIT: See edit below.

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Today I got a new SATA drive. Being as my current drive is an IDE, I was farting around the BIOS settings of my <a href='http://www.ecsusa.com/products/915p-a.html' target='_blank'>ECS 915P-A</a> motherboard, when I came across the security section. In order to properly protect my information from the Chinese, I decide to set a password up so that every time you boot up the computer the BIOS asks you for it. I entered in (twice, it asks to confirm) a password that I've been using for many things for at least a year, a 6 character letter/number combo hoobajig that's actaully a derivative of a password I use for this very forum.

After I enter that in and save settings, I reboot, and get the password wrong 3 times before my computer locks up. Shut off, turn on, try again, rinse, repeat, hold shift, press NumLock, press CapsLock, etc... No go. I tried calling ECS tech-support, but luckily enough they're closed after 6.

So yeah, basically I locked myself out of my computer. No idea how to get back in, and as a side note, no 3.5" floppy drive. And I just got the new SATA drive today, too T-T

And if it motivates any of you, the reason I got the SATA drive in the first place was so I could wipe my other drive before I install the Unbuntu distro of Linux.

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EDIT: "Q: How can I reset password setting?
A: You can clear CMOS by H/W jumper setting."

Now, the jumper's that little plastic thing in the back of the HDD/CD drive that tells it whether or not it's primary or slave, right? Can I use that one for the motherboard? I don't have a box of them if I'm supposed to...

EDIT: Norn, unfortunately it's the el BIOS is giving me trouble. If I could return that for a new one that'd be nice, but I think that's on memory built into the mobo.

Comments

  • SupernornSupernorn Best. Picture. Ever. Made. Ever. Join Date: 2002-11-07 Member: 7608Members, Constellation
    If all else fails, return the Drive for a new one and say its faulty
  • BreakthroughBreakthrough Texture Artist (ns_prometheus) Join Date: 2005-03-27 Member: 46620Members, Constellation
    edited May 2005
    So only the SATA HDD is locked?

    Why would you listen to something that said "password to protect you from the Chinese"? They obviously took your password, and have changed it on you remotely from a satelite.
  • Crono5Crono5 Join Date: 2003-07-22 Member: 18357Members
    edited May 2005
    <!--QuoteBegin-Breakthrough+May 29 2005, 06:49 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Breakthrough @ May 29 2005, 06:49 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> So only the SATA HDD is locked?

    Why would you listen to something that said "password to protect you from the Chinese"?  They obviously took your password, and have changed it on you remotely from a satelite. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Damn Chinese...
  • SkySky Join Date: 2004-04-23 Member: 28131Members
    We need Mantrid in here.
  • UnderDOGUnderDOG Join Date: 2003-04-05 Member: 15221Members
    edited May 2005
    This problem doesn’t really have anything to do with the hard drive, as he says that the bios are locked, which means the motherboard. Replacing the hard drive won’t change anything.

    The reset jumper on your motherboard (consult its manual if you’re not sure what it is) should fix your problem.

    Edit: most motherboards have many jumpers in my different places, look around or post what your motherboard is.
  • Crono5Crono5 Join Date: 2003-07-22 Member: 18357Members
    edited May 2005
    <!--QuoteBegin-UnderDOG+May 29 2005, 06:55 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (UnderDOG @ May 29 2005, 06:55 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> this problem doesnt really have anything to do the the hard drive, as he says that the bios are locked, which means the motherboard.  Replacing the hard drive wont change anything.

    The reset jumper on your motherboard (consult its manual if your not sure what it is) should fix your problem. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Yes, about that, I was never really a jumper person... Can I use any jumper (like one from out of my CD drive)? Or do I need one specifically made for a/my mobo?

    EDIT: <a href='http://www.ecsusa.com/products/915p-a.html' target='_blank'>ECS 915P-A</a>
  • Lt_PatchLt_Patch Join Date: 2005-02-07 Member: 40286Members
    From that picture on the ECS website, I would say that your CLR_CMOS jumper is the big red thing, lower down on the motherboard.
    Change the jumper to another setting, which will be in the manual, then change it back, to clear the CMOS RAM.

    If you don't have a jumper to use, check that you are acutlaly resetting the right pins, and use any metal object, as all a jumper is, is just a small piece of metal, and a plastic case.

    Try that, when you boot up the system next, it should say CMOS settings incorrect, or something to that effect. Set up the CMOS again, and don't password the bloody thing next time!
  • Crono5Crono5 Join Date: 2003-07-22 Member: 18357Members
    edited May 2005
    Well, my computer's back up and running again! I'd like to thank all those who made this possible, including Breakthrough, UnderDOG, Lt. Patch, and of course, my main man Jesus. Now that my computer's back again, I can initiate the Linux install, so expect another thread from me within the next day or two.

    EDIT: Btw, Patch, you saved me a lot of digging through my manual o.o

    And on an interesting side note, the red base fell off and the red jumper broke when I used my needle-nosed pliers. That's quality craftsmanship.

    EDIT: While I'm here, does anyone know if I can use any wireless card with any wireless router? We have a Linksys WRT45G or whatever router, but the Linksys adapter doesn't have Linux drivers, which strikes me as odd since Linux and Linksys sound so similar. So if I bought, say, a D-Link wireless card, assuming that D-Link has Linux support, would it work with my Linksys router?
  • enf0rcerenf0rcer intrigued... Join Date: 2003-03-16 Member: 14584Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-Crono5+May 29 2005, 07:28 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Crono5 @ May 29 2005, 07:28 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I'd like to thank all those who made this possible, including Breakthrough, UnderDOG, Lt. Patch, and of course, my main man Jesus. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    <img src='http://www.westcoaster.net/images/misc/041104-bc001.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
  • Black_ViperBlack_Viper Join Date: 2003-12-08 Member: 24157Members
    My friend had the same problem... Woops, that was with a flash drive... Okay never mind...


    You might want to look up some h4xing sites. Though watch out, some may have trojens inbeded in them...
  • MantridMantrid Lockpick Join Date: 2003-12-07 Member: 24109Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-Sky+May 29 2005, 03:54 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Sky @ May 29 2005, 03:54 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> We need Mantrid in here. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Okay, I'm psychically telling your hard drive to unlock.
  • [WHO]Them[WHO]Them You can call me Dave Join Date: 2002-12-11 Member: 10593Members, Constellation
    <!--QuoteBegin-Crono5+May 29 2005, 05:28 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Crono5 @ May 29 2005, 05:28 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> EDIT: While I'm here, does anyone know if I can use any wireless card with any wireless router? We have a Linksys WRT45G or whatever router, but the Linksys adapter doesn't have Linux drivers, which strikes me as odd since Linux and Linksys sound so similar. So if I bought, say, a D-Link wireless card, assuming that D-Link has Linux support, would it work with my Linksys router? <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    As long as there's a protocal match between the two, iirc there are 3 current wireless protocols. 802.11a, 802.11b, and 802.11g (or just A, B, and G for number haters).
  • BreakthroughBreakthrough Texture Artist (ns_prometheus) Join Date: 2005-03-27 Member: 46620Members, Constellation
    edited May 2005
    <!--QuoteBegin-Crono5+May 29 2005, 07:28 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Crono5 @ May 29 2005, 07:28 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> EDIT: While I'm here, does anyone know if I can use any wireless card with any wireless router? <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    As long as they both use the same type of wireless transmission (802.11a, b, or g), then they should work fine.

    <!--QuoteBegin-Crono5+--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Crono5)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->And on an interesting side note, the red base fell off and the red jumper broke when I used my needle-nosed pliers. That's quality craftsmanship.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    It's the Chinese again...

    Edit: Damn, <b>T h e m</b> beat me to it... Funny, we typed almost the same thing.
  • Status_QuoStatus_Quo Join Date: 2004-01-30 Member: 25749Members
    You can remove the CMOS battery as well. That should reset it back to default. It looks like a... well, a battery.
  • Crono5Crono5 Join Date: 2003-07-22 Member: 18357Members
    edited May 2005
    <!--QuoteBegin-Status Quo+May 30 2005, 12:46 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Status Quo @ May 30 2005, 12:46 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> You can remove the CMOS battery as well. That should reset it back to default. It looks like a... well, a battery. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Yeah, I saw that...

    Btw, a smashing success so far. Only snag I hit was after installing Ubuntu, the X server wouldn't start, and since this is my first Linux experience, I didn't know what to do... I went to their site and they said to change the driver from ati to vesa, but, uh... Sorta ended there. Luckily the Ubuntu IRC channel helped, and now I can edit files! :D

    Now I just gotta make my Linksys wireless G card work in Linux, presumably by kicking it very hard, and then I can stop running two flights of stairs constantly at 3 AM.
  • BlackMageBlackMage [citation needed] Join Date: 2003-06-18 Member: 17474Members, Constellation
    edited May 2005
    don't yank any batteries, there's a jumper on your motherboard near your psu. it's going to be the closest one to the psu, yank it and boot. problem solved.

    edit: it's called the "zomg reset everything because i blew up the bios jumper" it's also the reason people have case locks
  • SandstormSandstorm Join Date: 2003-09-25 Member: 21205Members
    My understanding is wireless is complicated to set up under Linux. I suggest you consider a Wireless Bridge, as it removes the need for you to run drivers on your computer.
  • Crono5Crono5 Join Date: 2003-07-22 Member: 18357Members
    edited May 2005
    <!--QuoteBegin-Sandstorm+May 30 2005, 06:40 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Sandstorm @ May 30 2005, 06:40 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> My understanding is wireless is complicated to set up under Linux.  I suggest you consider a Wireless Bridge, as it removes the need for you to run drivers on your computer. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Yeah, I was considering getting one, but I have my computer down on this floor now connected via ethernet so I can try and use a program called NdisWrapper... But yeah, I went looking for Linux compatible Wireless G solutions and there were none... Something to do with a company called Broadcom.

    To anyone wondering, <b><span style='color:red'>computer's unlocked now!</span></b> Hooray!
  • TommyVercettiTommyVercetti Join Date: 2003-02-10 Member: 13390Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
    I had the same problem a while back. Solution: remove mobo battery, wait 5 minutes, boot.
  • Lt_PatchLt_Patch Join Date: 2005-02-07 Member: 40286Members
    Any wireless card will work any wireless router, so long as they are all 802.11x devices, Intel's WiMAX platform isn't supposed to work with 802.11x cards.

    It's also best to use equipment from one manufacturer, and all within the same range. My home wireless LAN works off of an 802.11g 125Mbps router, 2x 802.11g 125Mbps cards, and my own nForce4 "old skool" wired NIC, which all works a treat. Friend came round with his laptop, with a D-Link card in it, and I had no end of problems with communication.

    In short, pick one, and stick to it!
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