[_RPM]

It reminds me of how I set a boot password in the BIOS on my HP laptop. I now have forgot the admin password in order to remove that "feature". I have no idea how I can fix it. The laptop is bricked. I can't install Linux on it because it is set not to boot from USB or CD/ROM

[witty_username]

> I have no idea how I can fix it.

Just disconnect the CMOS batteries; you can find tutorials online. Or you can take it to a computer shop, it should be a simple fix.

[_RPM]

Where are those located?

[witty_username]

The grey coin-sized CMOS battery is alongside the motherboard.

I suggest you look at the many guides and videos, just search "removing BIOS password".

[_RPM]

That will work for sure? I'd have to really start taking things apart.

[jz_]

Not for sure. That trick is kinda old.

I had a Pentium III based HP laptop that stored the password on a chip that didn't require a battery to evade such a trick. The only fix was using the backdoor password that could be generated by using the serial number of the laptop (HP required proof of ownership, but I had dumpster dived this from their offices). The backdoor password was retrieved by wiring 50 USD to a fellow in the czech republic who had the keygen tool HP support would use.

[jerf]

Check HP for the service manual for your laptop. This is generally a standard goal the manual will give steps for. Usually all you need is a screwdriver of the right size and a bit of guts to pull apart bits of plastic, though I find my confidence that I'm not destroying anything is greatly enhanced when I'm following the manual and have reasonable confidence all the screws are out properly.

[whamlastxmas]

Almost certainly yes. I have taken apart many laptops, it's usually not more than 5 minutes reading a guide/video and another 5-10 minutes of work.

[besselheim]

I had the same issue with a second hand HP laptop. However, I could still log in as administrator on the Windows install, enabling me to dump the flash memory used to store the BIOS firmware and configuration, which included the password hash. Some reverse engineering later, and I was able to brute force the hash successfully. So that could be an option if the password is not stored in battery-backed memory, and you have a bit of time on your hands to get stuck into the BIOS internals.

[DanBC]

What's the model number of the laptop?

[_RPM]

Not exactly sure because I don't have the laptop on me. Do you have model specific advice I should know about?