I bricked a friend's laptop and need help setting things right

[Comdrpopnfresh]

My friend has a Toshiba Satellite A215-S4747 that I just recently helped them install win7-64 on. They had two lingering issues that were pestering them that they wanted me to fix:
1) Waking or turning on the computer presented display artifacts in the form of white lines @ windows log on screen.
2) When the laptop was resumed from sleep, the audio device and driver would disappear- no sound until restart was performed.
I went on to the Toshiba support website and checked for available downloads for the friend’s laptop model. A BIOS update listed those two specific issues under win7-64 as being resolved. So we download the BIOS update, version 2.30 (up from the v1.9 I believe was already on the laptop). Download finishes, we run the bios program with elevated admin privileges, and the flashing process goes swell; time to restart.
We power on the laptop, and I decided to press F2 to run setup (something I do on my own laptop after updating the BIOS- to see if any new options appear, and to set things from the defaults that are normally in place after a BIOS update). POST runs its course, but instead of the BIOS setup/config menu, I was presented with a password prompt. I figured with the flash to new BIOS the cmos had been wiped and we were being asked to set a new Supervisor/Admin password. I pressed enter, intending to leave it blank for my friend to do later if they wanted one. Then, a message saying the wrong password was put in appears, and the prompt comes back. I tried ‘admin’ and received another wrong password message, after which I hit the ESC key- the only other option listed. Then win7 begins to load, but I’m concerned about what just happened and ALT+CTRL+DEL to soft restart. Still can’t get into setup from F2- 3 wrong inputs shuts down the system.
We boot it again and decide just to let windows start- we’d deal with F2/Setup later if need be. BIG PROBLEM- before any boot device initializes, a password prompt appears. Now my friend can’t get on their computer. F2->Setup needs a password, F12->Boot Device Selection needs a password too, and just letting it start w/o pressing a thing needs a password.
Friend called Toshiba and was told they need to ship their laptop to be fixed and it’s out of warranty so they’re going to have to pay too. Which is really crumby, because there was a Service Bulletin on the support website saying that system BIOS should be updated to the most recent to avoid this very issue. The v2.30 BIOS we installed is the 5th BIOS released since “A workaround was implemented to prevent a password from automatically being set by the computer.” We’re both college students, and now my friend is going to be w/o a computer until this is taken care of.
I tried using boot cds/dvds with bios password clearing/retrieving capabilities, but it seems like no boot devices can initialize w/o the preset system password being given. Is there some way to fix this laptop without paying an unfair fee and shipping it in, and w/o trying the cmos-solder-point shorting method I’ve run across online?

 

[bruceb]

You can try these as possible defaults for Toshiba

Toshiba
24Banc81
toshy99

Also look here:

http://www.geckoandfly.com/2010/02/...r-acer-dell-hp-toshiba-asus-and-apple-laptop/

 

[Comdrpopnfresh]

I'll have to have my friend try those passwords. Anyone familiar with toshiba that would know if the fix is expensive? The thing is, to solve those issues the bios had to be updated, and the new bios shouldn't have resulted in this issue.

 

[RebateMonger]

This Toshiba Bulletin implies that Toshiba will cover your problem under warranty until Dec. 31, 2010:

http://www.csd.toshiba.com/cgi-bin/...delFilter=&selCategory=3&selFamily=1073768663

"A "Password =" prompt may be displayed when the computer is turned on, even though no power-on password has been set. If this happens, there is no password that will satisfy the password request. The computer will be unusable until this problem is resolved.
---
If the problem has already occurred on your computer, then please make arrangements with a Toshiba Authorized Service Provider to have this problem resolved. Toshiba will cover the cost of this repair under warranty until Dec 31, 2010."

 

[Comdrpopnfresh]

Yeah- I saw that. Rather murky wording, though. Does that mean the fix is free if the laptop affected is under warranty, or that the fix is generally warranted to be repaired at no cost until that date regardless of the warranty status of the laptop?

 

[RebateMonger]

Yeah- I saw that. Rather murky wording, though. Does that mean the fix is free if the laptop affected is under warranty, or that the fix is generally warranted to be repaired at no cost until that date regardless of the warranty status of the laptop?

It has to mean it'll be free even if you aren't under warranty. If the computer was still under warranty, it'd be free anyway and there'd be no reason to put an expiration data on it.

Toshiba sold laptops with a defective BIOS that can, apparently, lock out the computer at any time. They are offering to fix the problem, but don't want to be obligated until the end of Eternity. So they put an expiration data on their offer.

 

[jjmIII]

That's a bummer. At least it looks like it can be fixed free (minus shipping and your time of coarse!).

These threads are why I have not done the new Bios on my HP Lappy. You just never know..

 

[Comdrpopnfresh]

Agreed. Can't even blame it on having flashed in windows either. Like I said, the bios had to be updated to resolve the display artifacts and dropping devices in order to run win7-64 w/o having to bend over backward. The laptop model is on Toshiba's list of win7 upgradable approved models too- so I wasn't expecting anything close to this to happen.

 

[Raduque]

Since it's not under warranty anymore, you could always try pulling it apart and taking out the CMOS battery - might get the bios to reset itself and clear the password. Maybe.

 

[Comdrpopnfresh]

Been thinking about it, but it's not my laptop. Feeling my friend may think this situation is my fault. Had I not updated the bios, they would have to not use the sleep state and always shut down their laptop; which could also easily be viewed as my fault... by untrained, non-technical eyes that is.

I read a lot about people unsoldering the cmos battery (why it isn't just clipped in is beyond me), or shorting contacts on the motherboard. But this issue is plaguing a few of Toshiba's laptop generations, and my friend's computer is on the newer end of the spectrum. With some digging into the bios readme file, it seems a way to override the default password is via a serial loopback device- this laptop has no legacy mouse/keyboard/serial/parallel ports- so that fix is out the window too. And seeing how that is the possible solution coming from the bios technical fineprint I'm inclined to think the problem is on an eeprom/nvram storage space- in which case nothing but sending it to the source will fix it.

 

[RebateMonger]

Most laptop BIOS password issues CANNOT be fixed by pulling the CMOS battery. LOTS of laptops get lost or stolen each year. This is an attempt to reduce the value of stolen laptops.

 

[Slowlearner]

Toshiba contracts with local shops for most repairs, and usually does not require shipping the laptop to them.

 

[Raduque]

Well, I just realized this is a known issue for almost a YEAR now. You'd think the latest version of a BIOS flash wouldn't have the problem...

 

[Gunbuster]

Seems like you are over thinking this. Get the laptop and call Toshiba or let it go. Shit happens.

 

[RebateMonger]

Well, I just realized this is a known issue for almost a YEAR now. You'd think the latest version of a BIOS flash wouldn't have the problem...

Yeah, you'd think so, wouldn't you. Sad.

 

[Texun]

I personally know of one recent event with a Toshiba and the PW problem you mentioned. RebateMonger is spot on - Removing or shortening the CMOS will NOT work. Do not risk further damage by taking it apart.

We took ours to a local computer shop that was also an authorized Toshiba repair center. They fixed it on the on the spot at no charge.

You might Google for a Toshiba repair shop near you. It would certainly be better than shipping it.

 

[bruceb]

Found this .. see if it works for you:

Hold the Left Shift key by startup and you can enter the bios at the normal way set it back to default.

You can also try a program called Keydisk from here

http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/CmosPwd