I got an acer laptop and it had a password on it but i dont know the password what do i do?

Dear pauline_mcil,

Right then, this is going to depend on whether you have any of the following three types of passwords, which are :-
1) BIOS/ CMOS password --- used to protect the actual computer hardware and settings from security risks/ changes

2) Operating system password -- used to protect computer system from un-authorised access . . . may have windows (YUCK!!!) logos or microsoft (also YUCK) logos near the password entry box.

3) both of the above --- this is going to be fun!!!!!

answers to above 3 scenarios

1) HIRENS' boot CD. . . get this by searching for it on google. . . . latest one here is what you want, and it comes with a BIOS cracker/ BIOS password removal tool. . . .you can also try flashing your BIOS although on newer models this wont work, and unless you trust the software i would not risk doing this as you can kill your computer. . . . . If you cannot change your boot sequence to start from CD in the first instance then the chances of resolving this by a HIREN disk are small. . . although if you do have access to the rest of the system/ operating system such as windows (YUCK again) or LINUX (much better) then you may be OK.

2) these operating system passwords are pretty futile. . . . . .just use a program and another computer to backup and retrieve all your programs from the computers' internal drive then format and re-install your operating system, .........problem solved.

3) HAVE FUN!!!!, the only way youre getting round this one is to dismantle the entire computer and remove the internal CR2032 cell battery, or adjust BIOS jumper setting to clear CMOS, but dont forget to put the jumpre back in its correct position after 10 seconds . . . . . rebuild computer, then go ahead and re-format. . . . .

note!!!!

you may well have to perform number 3 solution if your computer does not start from CD/ DVD in the first instance, and that make and model of computer may well require Torx type security screwdrivers to get at the guts. . . . . they are the star shaped screwdrivers that are coded T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6, T7, T8 etc.

I hope this solution is the fixya you need.

yours sincerely

Oz

p.s.
google searches with the following should provide fruitful

password removal tools
BIOS cracker
CMOS cracker
HIREN boot CD
HIREN 9.0

YOUR IN LUCK:

FIRST IF YOU HAVENT CHANGED THE DEFUALT SETTINGS ON THE WINDOWS INSTALL [WHICH YOU SHOULD HAVE] YOU MAY BE ABLE TO LOG INTO AN UNPROTECTED ADMINSTRATOR ACCOUNT BY STARTING PC IN SAFE MODE. TO DO THIS PRESS F8 AS THE COMPUTERS BOOTS.
IF YOU CAN GET INTO THE FILE SYSTEM IN THIS MODE YOU CAN RESET OTHER PASSWORDS BY CLICKING THE ''USERS ACCOUNT'' ICON IN THE CONTROL PANEL.
IF THAT DOESNT WORK YOUR BEST BET IS TO ATTEMPT TO CRACK THE PASSWORD USING A CRACKER LIKE OPHCRACK[http://tinyurt.com/7jmzu] loaded onto a bootable cd, floppy, or usb drive.

I GOT THE INFORMATION FROM MAXIMUMPC
APR 2009 PAGE 34

ROD