what should i do about my computer?

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enz
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25 Aug 2025, 10:05 pm

So I bought a computer a few days ago and asked yesterday what the bios admin password was to load linux as boot secure is on. He got back to me in a few minutes and said it may be this or may be that. So I tried the passwords today and they didn't work so I contacted him via text a few hours ago and he hasn't replied. What do you think I should do?



Jakki
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25 Aug 2025, 11:42 pm

Wipe the the bios , Reload original Linux system . Or purchase a another version of Linux .And load from the start up , fresh bootup .. New install. Create New admin password. And my knowledge base is rather rudimentary .
Quite sure others may have less dramatic ways to get into the system. Enjoy new computer ? Best wishes on the New Puter .


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enz
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26 Aug 2025, 1:15 am

Thanks

So wiping the bios will keep the windows OS unless something goes wrong? Windows works, I want to keep that



DeepHour
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26 Aug 2025, 3:46 am

To the best of my knowledge you can't 'wipe the BIOS'. Maybe you're thinking of something else?


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26 Aug 2025, 4:17 am

Don't jump straight into any of this. Think of it more as pointers, its stuff I've fumbled through myself, I'm not an expert!

Problem: Secure boot
I'm a bit hazy, as I'm not overly familiar with it, but because Windows 11 uses secure boot, I think resetting the bios/cmos will erase the secure boot keys which might cause Windows 11 to then consider the system security compromised and refuse to boot. Or it might not, it depends. I think there's specific hardware scenarios where W11 requires secure boot, but for most general computers it might not need it.

Resetting bios:
You can reset the bios. You will need to open up the case. Look up the name of the motherboard and then find the manual for the motherboard on the internet. Within the manual it will give you instructions for how to reset the bios/cmos. In older motherboards there's a coin battery you remove, but modern computers you need to connect two pins with a 'jumper' although some people might use a screw driver (judging by search results) but a jumper is safer and more reliable. You then turn the computer on for a few seconds with the pins connected so try not to fry the motherboard by connecting the wrong pins!!

I recently converted my Linux system to dual boot with Windows, and I haven't set up secure boot completely but still everything boots, but that's installing Windows after Linux (I have a HDD and two SSDs, and keep Windows on one, and Linux on the others, and unplugged Linux before installing Windows, as Windows has a reputation for deleting other OS's).

Windows License Key:
You mighty be able to reinstall Windows using the license key for the existing installation. But of course there's no guarantee this will work, ie it's not possible with some OEM installtions if I remember rightly. The license key can be found in the Windows Registry, using regedit, there's numerous instructions online.



DeepHour
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26 Aug 2025, 4:38 am

I'm a bit confused as to what the OP means by a 'BIOS admin password'. Does he mean a supervisor password or an admin password, both of which I've seen referred to as 'BIOS passwords' in the past? These sorts of passwords are usually set by the user of the laptop and should not be on the machine at the time of purchase. I believe they're mainly intended for use on business machines for additional security, and shouldn't be necessary on a home computer.

There is sometimes a manufacturer's 'master' bios password which can be used to unlock any machine, but the companies are unlikely to reveal this to a customer.


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27 Aug 2025, 5:03 am

It's a desktop or a laptop? With desktop you can try to remove onboard battery to clear BIOS settings, it may remove password as well. Sometime it'll not and there should be a jumper on board to clear it.

In case of a laptop it's bit harder since accessing battery often means dismantling most of the laptop, and there are no jumpers (Well at least I've never seen laptop with onboard jumpers). If removing battery is no help then either you have to get password clear code (That's the case with Dell, IIRC. I remember using one site to unlock a 5th gen Intel Latitude) or you're somewhat doomed (if there's no reset password)

Jakki wrote:
Reload original Linux system . Or purchase a another version of Linux

Generally you don't buy a Linux distro, since vast majority is libre software (that most of the time means download is free of charge as well). Tho some projects offer installation media for purchase, as an alternative way of supporting it.


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