You're confusing software that you install yourself on your disk drive with firmware that is permanently installed on system ROM/RAM. One of those permanent firmware programs is the UEFI (the successor to good ol' BIOS). The UEFI allows you to access an internal boot menu by pressing a particular key (usually F9 or F12) and that allows you to boot just about anything.

Otherwise the boot normally defaults to a secondary bootloader like GRUB, which is stored on your hard drive's EFI system partition, which can then boot various Linux distros. But to establish that default boot, you need to edit the UEFI's RAM cache using some program like efibootmgr. Or else you can go into the UEFI at boot time by pressing a special key (usually F2 or del) and make your changes that way. But you can't do that on your system because the previous owner set an admin password.

You have already been told several times how to remove the password by removing a jumper on the motherboard. I don't blame you if you are leary of trying that because I would be too. But it would be the best solution to your problem.

Reading through your posts again I believe I misread the problem so let me clarify. You've been using this computer for several years and using the F9 key to set the one time boot option to boot from a USB to install a new system and only had one system installed at a time. Is that correct? Now when you use the F9 key you are asked for a supervisor password to set the one time boot option to usb which you were not asked for before, is that correct? The most likely reasons I can think of for this to happen are a user changing this (deliberately or accidentally) or hardware failure but if you are indeed now being asked for a supervisor password, making the change in the manner above to reset may work. Others may have more suggestions.

As far as deleting an entry in the BIOS, I'm not sure that will work as efibootmgr doesn't work with many command on HP computers (don't know why but I have HP's) and there really isn't any need to delete it as it doesn't take up much space on the computer.

It's not just HP's. Most of efibootmgr doesn't work with Lenovos either if my experience is anything to go by. But the efibootmgr delete argument does work, so that is what I would advise if the default UEFI boot option is a dud. Even if an option doesn't occupy much space in nvram, it can still snarl up your boot if it has been given top priority.

re Both your questions Yes, &, Yes again
re your comment: but, if you are indeed now being asked for a supervisor password, making the change in the manner above to reset may work.
making the change in the manner above: are you talking about accessing the motherboard and taking out the jumper IOW 'tinkering under the bonnet/hood' as Hazel put it Yes?

morning Hazel I misquoted you in my reply to yanek You made no tinkering under the bonnet remark
You did in fact say you'd be lary? of doing it
Sorry, if all else suggested fails I will go looking for a screwdriver & 'hammer'

If you can still boot, I would not change anything and just understand you cannot do what you have done before but still use the installed OS, until you can get another computer.

Fit like Loon?

Post #1

Thats the password for the BIOS, not any software login.

Post #2 hazel

Spot on hazel!

Post #30

Removing the link...

LQ gurus? No me Chiefy, ahm engines!. Take aff the jumper! This should be Plan A!

Post #24

Aye! Take aff the bliddy jumper! Gie it a go, yi'll no be but a couple o' menutes in gettin' the side aff the boax an' keekin' at the mitherboard fur the wee blue linky thing.

Gaun Yersel'

Ahm away fur a fish supper and a pint o' best noo while yous guys keep oan bletherin' aboot ither stuff.

Play Bonny!

Aetin a Fish supper? A recht denner... Wae salt n SAUCE? Sauce of course ya 'Reekie' tink LOL

Taccin oot the 'shunter' gonna be it ... Fit wiy? The gurus are fair ferfochtin bonnie loonie, n, aa ower the back ;-)

Onywys, TY for the blither n ahl see yae through the roon windae,

May I remind you gentlemen that this is an English language forum.

Greetings to one (especially) and all

After a few days of some very 'interesting' messages/replies to my f9 at start up & being asked for an admin psswrd dilema
I'm very glad to report that the dilema has been resolved

Take a bow soadyheid You're a top geeza! I believe his post was the third answer for anyone interested

His solution was simple & on point...
Power off your 'puter
take off the case of the tower to access the motherboard
Look for a little blue plastic chip: It is small & has psswrd written at the side

soadyheid calls it a 'shunt' , but he's from somewhere near Edinburgh SCO, So, like me, English is a foreign language!!!

It is also known as a jumper & comes in yellow & green apparently

From now on I'll be calling it a 'shunter'

Remove said blue chip & toss it away
Replace power cable & boot into your 'puter (What I did was 'smash' repeatedly the f9 key to access the boot loader... e voila (sorry Hazel) no more admin pswwrd asked for

I learned a lot in the past few days about LQ forum etiquette/form/protocol/jargon/ & funnily enough the inability for some people to read what I've written asking for advice However, the top message has to be... Just live with the 'puter the way it is till you can buy a new one This is me paraphrasing but heyho

Again, take a bow soaryheid ...I'm gonnae hae a FISH SUPPER (nae sauce) tae celebrate ;-)

Alba gu brath, outtie

@ini

Glad you managed to resolve the problem.

Er... can I just say... (My final Scots exclamation. Sorry Hazel.)


"Goany no dae that!"


Just hold the f9 key down while booting, the keyboard is scanned to see if any key is held down so all you're doing is knackering the actual key mechanism. No "Smash" needed.

Spent today refurbing about 20 HP EliteOne 800 G3 and G4s All-in-Ones so spent quite a while with a finger on the f9 key, take the back off, remove the PSWD jumper and bin it! Every one a coconut! No BIOS Admin password required.


Play Bonny!

OK Soadyheid, no repeated smashing/tapping of the f9 key 5x5

??? How can we get in touch outwith the LQ forum ? ...Simply to converse in general Jock2Jock

Play bonny/Have a good one

ini,

Why not click on My LQ (top right) > Private Messages and then send Soadyheid a private message?

You can then swap personal email addresses if you wish.