Fujitsu Notebook Problems Bios Password

[BelindaD]

I have a Fujitsu A3040.  Crashed and goes to ESC Diagnostics F1 to load default F2 for setup.  Memory shows good.  Says CMOS Chechsum Bad.  Any selection leads to a BIOS password that I did not set.  I can't find a backdoor password to work.  Took entire laptop apart and removed CMOS battery.  (located in an impossible place under the speaker panel)  Didn't work.  Can't figure out who made the motherboard to get a idea where to find the CMOS jumpers.  Tried talking to Fujitsu online help.  Total joke...they have no idea and cant look up who made the motherboard.  Out of warranty so only option they give it to take in for repair.  Really hope to fix myself.

I can't change the boot order and have no floppy built in, won't go to CD/DVD drive.  Tried a USB DOS Bootable but doesn't see it either so can't run any program to tell me any info on maker.

Anyway.. can anyone tell me how I can tell where to find the CMOS jumpers or how to figure out who made the motherboard?  This is what I have so far...

Boot up screen says:

AMIBIOS (c) 2006 (there are no numbers at the bottom to figure out who made the motherboard as suggested on the AMI support page.

Chipset: ATI Radeon® Xpress 200M (RS482M and SB450)

Processor: AMD Turion™ 64 Mobile Technology MT-37 (2 GHz, 1 MB L2 cache) with high-speed Hyper-Transport™ Technology system bus operating at 1600 MT/s

Memory: 512 MB on board fixed memory, one DIMM slot; max 1.5 GB (512 MB + 1 GB), DDR 333 MHz

I have all recovery software and manuals but so far no help.

RS482M shows microstar, but all service manuals I find are for desktops.  Perhaps custom made motherboard?

I took pictures of the board if that will help.  Board says BOXER2 MAINBOARD02 in white letters but nothing found by searching. 

Please help!!  I am getting bald spots from pulling out my hair!! LOL!  Thanks! Belinda

[stevejohnson1958]

Does this laptop have a floppy drive?

If it does...I was thinking...as a last resort...you could flash the BIOS to the most recent version.  You can get this information from the manufacturer's website.

Again...this is a LAST RESORT.

Knowing the manufacturer and model of the motherboard would definitely help.

[BelindaD]

No floppy drive.  If I install a floppy will it see it without resetting the boot order?  I haven't tried that because I figured it won't see it.

[stevejohnson1958]

It depends on how the BIOS was originally configured.  However...the BIOS should see the floppy.

As it stands...you can't get into the BIOS due to the password issue.

It won't hurt to give it a try...

What do you have to lose?

[BelindaD]

I tried to install a floppy.  No place on the motherboard that would allow me to plug it in.

Anyone have any ideas?  Please help!! Thanks!

[stevejohnson1958]

Have you tried this:  http://www.tech-faq.com/reset-bios-password.shtml

[BelindaD]

Thanks.  Yes I tried all the passwords listed just incase one will work.  Just read something about:

remove the bios battery and short the contacts of the bios battery holder to ground.

Does anyone know how to do this?  and if you think it will work?

[stevejohnson1958]

Got me there...never tried it.

[BelindaD]

Yep me too.  Appreciate your help.  I may be better off putting this darn thing on EBay and just taking my losses!

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

I don't know about shorting the battery holder to the ground     but if you remove the battery on the motherboard and replace it after about 20 minutes, it should reset.

[BelindaD]

Tried that.  Removed the battery for hours and still have the same problem.  Really hate to get beat by this but feel I have tried everything.  Almost a full week of tearing down and putting back together...not having any good luck with it.

[drmsucks]

Try removing the CMOS battery again for several DAYS - seems like most people have success. Also, when digging around in the innards, did you find any dipswitches or jumpers that you could try?

Good luck.

[BelindaD]

Ok I still can't get anywhere with this darm laptop!  I took it apart again, removed the battery, and tried to drain the charge by using a 10k OMH (I think that is what it was called).  It didn't work.  I read today that the info is held in the EEPROM.  Is that the case with this?  If yes any suggestions?  I am so frustrated. Thanks

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

If I remember properly, data in an EPROM cannot be changed.

Did you try Saviour's suggestion at all?