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    BIOS Password

    Discussion in 'Security and Anti-Virus Software' started by agent14, Aug 25, 2008.

  1. agent14

    agent14 Notebook Consultant

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    Hey I thought of something today to secure my laptop...I'm not sure if it is possible though. I am wondering if it is possible to set a BIOS password to prevent someone without the password from reinstalling windows before the computer fully starts up.
    I want the user to be able to login without requiring a password so if it is stolen the laptop would be able to phone home and tell me where it is...thanks.
     
    agent14, Aug 25, 2008
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  2. Gregory

    Gregory disassemble?

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    I don't see this as a possibility. The BIOS doesn't really provide you much wiggle room to alter its predefined abilities.

    If you want this sort of protection paying for lojack is your best bet.
     
    Gregory, Aug 25, 2008
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  3. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Your BIOS should support that already. Look for admin and hard drive passwords settings in there.
     
    Greg, Aug 25, 2008
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  4. Gregory

    Gregory disassemble?

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    BIOS's can do that now?! Wow... I have only ever seen the global password to use at every startup.
     
    Gregory, Aug 25, 2008
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  5. andyasselin

    andyasselin Notebook Deity

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    well what you do remove external bootable source from you laptop list

    so they no way to boot media to install stuff just have you hard disk in boot listed and exclude all other sources
     
    andyasselin, Aug 25, 2008
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  6. Andy

    Andy Notebook Prophet

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    How exactly would the laptop be able to phone you up ??
     
    Andy, Aug 25, 2008
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  7. NAS Ghost

    NAS Ghost Notebook Deity

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    Yea, I have my laptop set so that you cant even enter the bios unless you enter the correct password, and if you get it wrong three times the laptop shuts down.
     
    NAS Ghost, Aug 25, 2008
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  8. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    There are also system passwords, which you have to enter before the laptop POSTs all the way. HDD passwords lock the drive down, so even removing the HDD does not bypass them. Then there are BIOS passwords, which protect the settings in BIOS.
     
    Greg, Aug 25, 2008
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  9. Andy

    Andy Notebook Prophet

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    ^ Well, yeah thats a pretty old thing, so old that there are numorous work-arounds to get pass it. ;) Even applying HDD passwords isn't safe anymore. I am looking fwd to some new BIOS/System Security Measures.
     
    Andy, Aug 25, 2008
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  10. andyasselin

    andyasselin Notebook Deity

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    Yes it called tpm with finger print reader :>

    Yes hard disk password still very usefull will make hard disk useless if removed from laptop

    Why wound say hard disk password useless I think that pretty dumd sure you can remove them pull the hard disk and use some program but then all data on the disk is render useless and most like laptop hard disk


    I think that a good thing some steal you laptop sure you laptop are gone but at least you data is not in hands of some theft


    also exclude remove device suchs a cdrom usb flash will prevent them try boot media on it crack password keep them out cmos with password prevent them from be able

    Yes i know you can take cmos battery wipe cmos password but most theft are just not that smart
     
    andyasselin, Aug 25, 2008
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  11. Arki

    Arki Super Moderator

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    Maybe I should do this instead of the OS login? I know it's better to do both, but if I had to type the password in seconds after I press the power button, that totally beats waiting for the OS to load in order to type the password in.
     
    Arki, Aug 25, 2008
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  12. flipfire

    flipfire Moderately Boss

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    Also several bootloaders can support password protection
     
    flipfire, Aug 26, 2008
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  13. agent14

    agent14 Notebook Consultant

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    Ok cool. The reason I want to do it is so they wouldn't be able to remove my tracking software. I want to use Adeona since I'm outside of Lojack's guaranteed recovery zone.

    I am getting the P-7811FX shortly so I'll see what the BIOS can do, once I can prevent someone from reinstalling Windows from the boot I'll be happy.

    My plan is to leave a guest account open with veryyyyyyyyy limited privileges so that they'll just go onto the internet and get traced. Hopefully it works.
     
    agent14, Aug 26, 2008
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  14. sids

    sids Newbie

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    Hi Andy,

    I have this friend who got this acer laptop from kuwait....he managed to screw up his system and does not boot up (Has vista basic). I tried to format it and install xp for him but at a point of formating the HDD i get a msg that says that the HDD cannot be found....

    I can see in the bios that the HDD is password protected and i cannot access the setting as the cursor does not access it.

    Can u help me as to how i can go about helping the kid...

    Thanks

     
    sids, Sep 25, 2008
    #14
  15. Andy

    Andy Notebook Prophet

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    Err. I cannot help you here. :eek:

    Its *illegal* to discuss this stuff here.

    I think Acer provides a Global Warranty, so take it to them, prove identities and stuff, and get the HDD unlocked.
     
    Andy, Sep 25, 2008
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  16. Kdawgca

    Kdawgca rotaredoM repudrepuS RBN

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    Yep. As mentioned, NBR does not allow the discussion of bypassing passwords for any reason. Contacting Acer is your best bet.

    Also, since the threads original quesions has been answered this thread is now closed.
     
    Kdawgca, Sep 25, 2008
    #16