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I've tried googling for a (hardware) manual but can't find that either.
You can try to find a factory password or you can reset CMOS or remove CMOS battery and wait. Though I don't know if there will be some problems with resetting cmos on a laptop.
You can try to find a factory password or you can reset CMOS or remove CMOS battery and wait. Though I don't know if there will be some problems with resetting cmos on a laptop.
Well, a factory password wouldn't work since I can't access anything to insert it (I would use use debug if I had access)...
Removing all batteries is actually what I'm trying to do, but I can't open the damn thing. Some screws just don't appear to be removable...
I can't seem to find(google) a manual for this model either.
It sounds to me like there's more problems to this machine than a simple password. If you are unable to enter the password using either the onboard, or external keyboards, there's something bigger wrong.
What is your indication that there is no keyboard input? Does your laptop allow you to press a key to access the BIOS, then prompts you for the password?
It sounds to me like there's more problems to this machine than a simple password. If you are unable to enter the password using either the onboard, or external keyboards, there's something bigger wrong.
What is your indication that there is no keyboard input? Does your laptop allow you to press a key to access the BIOS, then prompts you for the password?
It doesn't allow any input (I tried to access it with an other system as well).
It shows the password screen even before the bios interface...
Support from acer seems to suck badly (I guess that's why they didn't reply my mail):
Quote:
Acer refuses to assist customers with BIOS password issues. The only option they will discuss involves sending them your laptop and paying a $100 fee.
Here is a copy of an email from Acer Support:
Thank you for contacting Acer America. I apologize for the delay in responding to your inquiry. In order to have the BIOS or hard disk password removed (This include any biometric security), the notebook will need to come in to our repair depot for password removal. This service is not covered by warranty and unfortunately there is no other recourse to remove a BIOS or HDD password from the notebook. The flat fee for BIOS password removal is $100.00 US dollars plus tax. If it is a BIOS or HDD password and you would like us to service it for you, please contact our telephone technical support line at 1-800-816-2237. Hours of operation are 7am-9pm CST Monday-Friday and 8am-5pm CST Saturday and Sunday, excluding holidays.
It sounds to me like there's more problems to this machine than a simple password. If you are unable to enter the password using either the onboard, or external keyboards, there's something bigger wrong.
I suppose, it should beep or print a message like "keyboard error" if something goes wrong with keyboard. Since that isn't mentioned, it's possible that it is not the case.
I suppose, it should beep or print a message like "keyboard error" if something goes wrong with keyboard. Since that isn't mentioned, it's possible that it is not the case.
Right, I agree. But as the OP said earlier, it doesn't even get to the BIOS screen before prompting. It depends on how Acer's BIOS is written, also.
One other option to consider would be to remove the hard drive from the laptop, put it into a USB enclosure, and access the data that way. Obviously that doesn't solve the BIOS password issue, but you can get to your data
One other option to consider would be to remove the hard drive from the laptop, put it into a USB enclosure, and access the data that way. Obviously that doesn't solve the BIOS password issue, but you can get to your data
Well, it's not really the data that matters.
This laptop is from a 13 year old who bought it with his own money(and that's a lot for a kid). This kid really felt bad for breaking it...
Thank you for the suggestion though.
I did get some very useful info from a nice hardware/laptop forum:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hairy_Lee
remove the cover where the thermal module for the CPU is; underneath the stick of RAM there are two small contacts (they my be hidden by a sticker); when you find them remove the battery and short out the two contacts for about 10 seconds, reassemble the unit and the password should be cleared.
I did find those (_very_ small) contacts under that sticker.
I'd still like to remove the battery cause that always works and can't fry your system.
If it really doesn't open, I will short those contacts though.
Since Acer kept refusing to give any info on how to open the damn thing, I did what Hairy_Lee recommended.
I had to short it three times before the CMOS managed to reprogram itself.
After that it all just worked again (no data loss either).
PS: I was happily surprised to see this 13 year old kid was actually dual booting winXP and Fedora Core 6 (his father never mentioned this)
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