HELP! Computer's been sabotaged, need to reset CMOS!

[Countesss]

I recently put a CMOS password on my computer to keep out my bosses' wannabe-hacker son. It's worked just fine for two weeks, but now, suddenly, it's telling me my passwords to boot the system AND to change the CMOS are wrong.

I have reason to believe that he found my password list. I need to know, first, if ANYONE has heard of this spontaneously happening, the CMOS not just forgetting, but CHANGING the passwords. I need this as ammo to go to the boss with when his son tries to deny that he did this.

Also, I'm trying to find how to reset the CMOS. I have an Asus Intel Chipset motherboard (with no manual). Is the magic jumper clearly labeled as "Clear CMOS" or something, or is it trickier than that. I've already tried removing, then replacing the battery.

Please help -- if I can't get the son to admit he did this and tell me the password, am I screwed?!?

Any help greatly appreciated. Thanks much!!

--Tiara

[Roy]

Likely there's a "keep alive" capacitor across the battery that saves CMOS data during a change.

Take out the battery and "short" its mobo contacts. That's essentially what the jumper move does. You can use almost anything, maybe even the rim of the battery itself.

Then you'll have to go into Setup to set the time and date and reintroduce the BIOS to the elements of your system. Pick a password you don't have to write down.

[Countesss]

Okay, by shorting it, you mean just putting it in contact with metal? Would a screwdriver work? Sorry, a little ignorant on that.

As for the password, we just got a new email system here and I had the list in my file cabinet of everyone's PWs... I naively used the same thing as my CMOS pw. DUMB DUMB DUMB.

Have you ever heard of this happening spontaneously before? Thanks...

--Tiara

[Roy]

Yes, "shorting" means making contact between the two pieces of metal the mobo socket uses to contact the battery. Anything that conducts electricity is OK. Screwdriver, nail file, hairpin (do they still make those universal B&W Detective Movie lock picks?), chewing gum foil wrapper, you name it!

Spontaneously? Very low probability!

And ... Welcome to SysOpt, Countess Tiara! We are honored by your presence.

[This message has been edited by Roy (edited 01-02-2001).]

[solidous]

all i do is unplug the computer from the wall and everything, then take the battary completely out, and that works just fine....

[El_Brio]

It is easiest to take the battery out then move the clear cmos jumper over to the other two pins THEN PUT IT BACK and reboot. DOn't mess with trying to use the battery to short it. (IMHO)

[Roy]

El_Brio ~ You might want to edit your comments after you READ WHAT THE COUNTESS SAID!

[Countesss]

Hey guys...

Thanks for your posts... I found the solution on another board -- had to actually short out two solder points (there actually ISN'T a jumper on my mobo--ack!) to get it to work, but it's back. My Windows 2K just came in today, so that'll hopefully be the end to my woes and paranoia.

I'm definitely keeping you all in mind the next time (and surely there will be one) I have a problem.

Thanks much,

Countesss

[groovy]

Be sure to keep us posted regarding "The Boss's Son Saga" !

[desmocat]

Countesss, when you have a problem, please only post in one forum here,I read the title of this thread and thought you were having troubles again. The mods here don't like to have several threads going on the same problem because it makes it hard/confusing to try and sort out what all has been tried to solve the trouble.
If your not sure where to post a topic/question, give them a shout and they can move the question to help get your problem solved in the best forum.
There are a ton of good folks here with all kinds of backgrounds and all are very helpful.
They have helped me on alot of stuff and I think you are going to enjoy it here. Mp