If you have been using a computer for a while, you know that access to your computer might be limited or blocked sometimes, for the wrong reasons. Sometimes hardware might get blocked or clogged, sometimes electrical problems might occur, while some others a forgotten or misused password can block your system completely. Bios password is one of the main sources of trouble, especially to new users and PC novices. In some other cases, someone can easily set or change the password for fun or to take revenge on you. This issue is actually not fun at all for the average user, as the operation of the computer is completely disabled. Resetting the password can be quite time consuming and quite frustrating if you don’t know how. Following a few easy steps though can help you with resetting the password fast enough. Depending on the manufacturer of the motherboard, the model and year of manufacturing you can change, disable or reset the BIOS password. Here are a few ways to do so.

Sometimes resetting the settings to default is the easier way to reset the BIOS password. In order to do so, you can open the cabinet of the CPU and switch off the power. The main goal is to locate the CPU battery, which needs to be removed for a few minutes. Once you remove the CPU battery, you can restart the PC, without placing the battery back. The PC will reboot with the original settings, resetting the password. Once this happens, you can shut the PC down, and put the CPU battery back. This will restore all functions of the computer and will help you work normally with the PC as it was. Another way to reset the BIOS password is to use the backdoor code that many vendors and manufacturers use. This backdoor code is a standard password that works no matter what the password of the BIOS is. These passwords are introduced by the manufacturers in order to test and maintain the BIOS and can be provided by if you contact the manufacturer or if you go online and search for them. Here is a short list of common backdoor passwords:

AMI Backdoor BIOS Passwords

Reported AMI backdoor BIOS passwords include A.M.I., AAAMMMIII, AMI?SW , AMI_SW, BIOS, CONDO, HEWITT RAND, LKWPETER, MI, and PASSWORD.

Award Backdoor BIOS Passwords

One reported Award backdoor BIOS password is eight spaces. Other reported Award backdoor BIOS passwords include 01322222, 589589, 589721, 595595, 598598 , ALFAROME, ALLY, ALLy, aLLY, aLLy, aPAf, award, AWARD PW, AWARD SW, AWARD?SW, AWARD_PW, AWARD_SW, AWKWARD, awkward, BIOSTAR, CONCAT, CONDO, Condo, condo, d8on, djonet, HLT, J256, J262, j262, j322, j332, J64, KDD, LKWPETER, Lkwpeter, PINT, pint, SER, SKY_FOX, SYXZ, syxz, TTPTHA, ZAAAADA, ZAAADA, ZBAAACA, and ZJAAADC.

Phoenix Backdoor BIOS Passwords

Reported Phoenix BIOS backdoor passwords include BIOS, CMOS, phoenix, and PHOENIX.

Backdoor BIOS Passwords from Other Manufacturers

Reported BIOS backdoor passwords for other manufacturers include:

Manufacturer	BIOS Password
VOBIS & IBM	merlin
Dell	Dell
Biostar	Biostar
Compaq	Compaq
Enox	xo11nE
Epox	central
Freetech	Posterie
IWill	iwill
Jetway	spooml
Packard Bell	bell9
QDI	QDI
Siemens	SKY_FOX
SOYO	SY_MB
TMC	BIGO
Toshiba	Toshiba

Remember that what you see listed may not be the actual backdoor BIOS password, this BIOS password may simply have the same checksum as the real backdoor BIOS password. For Award BIOS, this checksum is stored at F000:EC60.

Please feel free to leave comments for other as you discover more or leave a comment if you have any questions.

The openSUSE project is a community program sponsored by Novell. Promoting the use of Linux everywhere, openSUSE.org provides free, easy access to the world’s most usable Linux distribution, openSUSE. The openSUSE project gives Linux developers and enthusiasts everything they need to get started with Linux.

The goals of the openSUSE project are:
1. Make openSUSE the easiest Linux distribution for anyone to obtain and the most widely used open source platform.
2. Provide an environment for open source collaboration that makes openSUSE the world’s best Linux distribution for new and experienced Linux users.
3. Dramatically simplify and open the development and packaging processes to make openSUSE the platform of choice for Linux hackers and application developers.

With the launch of the openSUSE project, openSUSE is now developed in an open model—public development builds, releases, and sources will be posted frequently here and you will have access to our Bugzilla database for defect reporting. You can also sign up on special interest mailing lists to make sure that you are always getting the most recent news on the openSUSE project and the openSUSE distribution. In time (see our project road map), we will create the next-generation distribution development infrastructure including a code management system and a public build server.

To get started with OpenSUSE visit: http://www.opensuse.org/

In upcoming articles, I will post a How-To Guide on Installing OpenSUSE on a Asus 901 EEE PC

There is much anticipation for the new and coming 4G network infrastructure for cell phones and high-speed wireless broadband. “LTE” or “Long Term Evolution” as quoted from Motorola’s website “will deliver a highly compelling user experience with ultra-broadband speeds and almost instantaneous responsiveness for mega multimedia applications.”

Testing for the technology has begun for companies like Verizon and AT&T, however the 4G network rollout is not expected to occur until 2010 or as late as 2012. (link)
Personally, I can’t wait for the new iPhone that will be 4G capable. I am still looking for a good versatile WIFI phone that will work in all wireless hotspots. (the best thing I found so far is the Nokia N810, but the only VoIP service that will work well is Skype due to its use of port 80. Other VoIP services will work fine in most locations, however some hotspots block VoIP traffic via an outbound firewall.)

4G technology has the prospect of replacing residential broadband and offering consumers a “one-stop-shop” for their wireless needs. When you combine the IPv6 changeover with the change from 3G to 4G, in the coming years we are going to see our little formation of the internet explode into a highly versatile market. People will be able to purchase low-cost VoIP services with the use of a low cost broadband connection encapsulated into a single hand-held device. One will be able to purchase a wireless connection that can be connected directly to a laptop, without the need or desire of using local WIFI hotspots.

The cost is expected to be low enough to replace in-home DSL or cable internet, so mobile users will be able to compute anywhere, without limitations. As quoted from Motorola’s website, “This capability in itself creates a brand new source of revenue for operators and a powerful proposition for consumers who, for instance, don’t have to stay home to download big files and pictures or upload several hundred mega bytes worth of videos onto YouTube.” This technology will open doors to new ideas and will change the way in which we live.