Does XP have the added security function, that after guessing the
password too often, it no longer boots to windows, but gives a DOS
screen prompting for the password?

This has happened to me, and I can't get out of this screen. There is
no way to get to the BIOS, there is no way to get to the setup, as
pressing the F keys just fill the keyboard buffer and produce no
result. Taking the battery out hasn't helped. I can't boot from CD as
I can't change the boot sequence in the BIOS, and am therefore totally
stuck. I can't even get as far as C:/format - it's password or
nothing.

And this screen appeared after about 9 attempts to guess the password.

Any helpful suggestions will be gratefully received, but daft comments
about why I lost the password in the first place will be treated with
the contempt they deserve.

Thanks


--
Appolonia

"Appolonia" <Appolonia.1yozvk@pcbanter.net> wrote in message
news:Appolonia.1yozvk@pcbanter.net
> Does XP have the added security function, that after
> guessing the password too often, it no longer boots to
> windows, but gives a DOS screen prompting for the password?
>
> This has happened to me, and I can't get out of this screen.
> There is no way to get to the BIOS, there is no way to get
> to the setup, as pressing the F keys just fill the keyboard
> buffer and produce no result. Taking the battery out hasn't
> helped. I can't boot from CD as I can't change the boot
> sequence in the BIOS, and am therefore totally stuck. I
> can't even get as far as C:/format - it's password or
> nothing.
>
> And this screen appeared after about 9 attempts to guess the
> password.
>
> Any helpful suggestions will be gratefully received, but
> daft comments about why I lost the password in the first
> place will be treated with the contempt they deserve.
>
> Thanks
>
>
> --
> Appolonia

Check with your computer and/or motherboard manufacturer. There
may be jumpers on the motherboard that need to be switched in
order to restore the default BIOS settings. For instance, the
Intel motherboard on the system I'm using has a jumper just
below the CMOS battery. Moving the jumper from the 1-2 position
to the 2-3 position clears the BIOS password.

What you're seeing has nothing to do with Windows since it is
occuring long before Windows start loading. It's a hardware,
not a software issue.

Good luck

Nepatsfan

On Fri, 18 Nov 2005 11:48:16 +0000, Appolonia wrote:

> Does XP have the added security function, that after guessing the
> password too often, it no longer boots to windows, but gives a DOS
> screen prompting for the password?
>
> This has happened to me, and I can't get out of this screen. There is
> no way to get to the BIOS, there is no way to get to the setup, as
> pressing the F keys just fill the keyboard buffer and produce no
> result. Taking the battery out hasn't helped. I can't boot from CD as
> I can't change the boot sequence in the BIOS, and am therefore totally
> stuck. I can't even get as far as C:/format - it's password or
> nothing.
>
> And this screen appeared after about 9 attempts to guess the password.
>
> Any helpful suggestions will be gratefully received, but daft comments
> about why I lost the password in the first place will be treated with
> the contempt they deserve.
>
> Thanks

This sounds like a system password not a Windows password. Windows can not
block access at the point in the boot process that you're describing since
the operating system has not even started to load yet. Many different
aspects of the system can be protected against unauthorized access and
unauthorized changes by setting up passwords in the BIOS settings. If this
is the case, there's nothing Windows can do to help. Call tech support for
the system.

--
Sharon F
MS-MVP ~ Windows Shell/User

Thanks for the advice all. I'm going to try moving the jumpers on the
motherboard as you suggested, but can't find a manufacturer or any
support for it. It's a 0W912.
Any ideas?

Sharon F Wrote:
> On Fri, 18 Nov 2005 11:48:16 +0000, Appolonia wrote:
>
> Does XP have the added security function, that after guessing the
> password too often, it no longer boots to windows, but gives a DOS
> screen prompting for the password?
>
> This has happened to me, and I can't get out of this screen. There
> is
> no way to get to the BIOS, there is no way to get to the setup, as
> pressing the F keys just fill the keyboard buffer and produce no
> result. Taking the battery out hasn't helped. I can't boot from CD
> as
> I can't change the boot sequence in the BIOS, and am therefore
> totally
> stuck. I can't even get as far as C:/format - it's password or
> nothing.
>
> And this screen appeared after about 9 attempts to guess the
> password.
>
> Any helpful suggestions will be gratefully received, but daft
> comments
> about why I lost the password in the first place will be treated with
> the contempt they deserve.
>
> Thanks
>
> This sounds like a system password not a Windows password. Windows can
> not
> block access at the point in the boot process that you're describing
> since
> the operating system has not even started to load yet. Many different
> aspects of the system can be protected against unauthorized access and
> unauthorized changes by setting up passwords in the BIOS settings. If
> this
> is the case, there's nothing Windows can do to help. Call tech support
> for
> the system.
>
> --
> Sharon F
> MS-MVP ~ Windows Shell/User


--
Appolonia

The only reference I can find to a 0W912 motherboard is for a
Dell Dimension 8250 desktop computer.

Here are some articles from Dell's support site that describe
how to remove the BIOS password from that system:

Remove password
http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...up.htm#1105397

Motherboard diagram
http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...ov.htm#1105443

If none of this info applies to your system, post back with as
much detail as you can about your computer. Manufaturer's name,
system model #, motherboard specs, etc.

Nepatsfan



Appolonia wrote:
> Thanks for the advice all. I'm going to try moving the
> jumpers on the motherboard as you suggested, but can't find
> a manufacturer or any support for it. It's a 0W912.
> Any ideas?
>
> Sharon F Wrote:
>> On Fri, 18 Nov 2005 11:48:16 +0000, Appolonia wrote:
>>
>> Does XP have the added security function, that after
>> guessing the password too often, it no longer boots to
>> windows, but gives a DOS screen prompting for the password?
>>
>> This has happened to me, and I can't get out of this
>> screen. There is
>> no way to get to the BIOS, there is no way to get to the
>> setup, as pressing the F keys just fill the keyboard buffer
>> and produce no result. Taking the battery out hasn't
>> helped. I can't boot from CD as
>> I can't change the boot sequence in the BIOS, and am
>> therefore totally
>> stuck. I can't even get as far as C:/format - it's
>> password or nothing.
>>
>> And this screen appeared after about 9 attempts to guess the
>> password.
>>
>> Any helpful suggestions will be gratefully received, but
>> daft comments
>> about why I lost the password in the first place will be
>> treated with the contempt they deserve.
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>> This sounds like a system password not a Windows password.
>> Windows can not
>> block access at the point in the boot process that you're
>> describing since
>> the operating system has not even started to load yet. Many
>> different aspects of the system can be protected against
>> unauthorized access and unauthorized changes by setting up
>> passwords in the BIOS settings. If this
>> is the case, there's nothing Windows can do to help. Call
>> tech support for
>> the system.
>>
>> --
>> Sharon F
>> MS-MVP ~ Windows Shell/User
>
>
> --
> Appolonia

Thanks so much for all your detailed help.

I'll give it a try tonight and if it works I owe you a drink!


Nepatsfan Wrote:
> The only reference I can find to a 0W912 motherboard is for a
> Dell Dimension 8250 desktop computer.
>
> Here are some articles from Dell's support site that describe
> how to remove the BIOS password from that system:
>
> Remove password
> http://tinyurl.com/ckjtl
>
> Motherboard diagram
> http://tinyurl.com/86ngg
>
> If none of this info applies to your system, post back with as
> much detail as you can about your computer. Manufaturer's name,
> system model #, motherboard specs, etc.
>
> Nepatsfan
>
>
>
> Appolonia wrote:
> Thanks for the advice all. I'm going to try moving the
> jumpers on the motherboard as you suggested, but can't find
> a manufacturer or any support for it. It's a 0W912.
> Any ideas?
>
> Sharon F Wrote:
> On Fri, 18 Nov 2005 11:48:16 +0000, Appolonia wrote:
>
> Does XP have the added security function, that after
> guessing the password too often, it no longer boots to
> windows, but gives a DOS screen prompting for the password?
>
> This has happened to me, and I can't get out of this
> screen. There is
> no way to get to the BIOS, there is no way to get to the
> setup, as pressing the F keys just fill the keyboard buffer
> and produce no result. Taking the battery out hasn't
> helped. I can't boot from CD as
> I can't change the boot sequence in the BIOS, and am
> therefore totally
> stuck. I can't even get as far as C:/format - it's
> password or nothing.
>
> And this screen appeared after about 9 attempts to guess the
> password.
>
> Any helpful suggestions will be gratefully received, but
> daft comments
> about why I lost the password in the first place will be
> treated with the contempt they deserve.
>
> Thanks
>
> This sounds like a system password not a Windows password.
> Windows can not
> block access at the point in the boot process that you're
> describing since
> the operating system has not even started to load yet. Many
> different aspects of the system can be protected against
> unauthorized access and unauthorized changes by setting up
> passwords in the BIOS settings. If this
> is the case, there's nothing Windows can do to help. Call
> tech support for
> the system.
>
> --
> Sharon F
> MS-MVP ~ Windows Shell/User
>
>
> --
> Appolonia


--
Appolonia