I have an old laptop which I did not set up myself. When switched on it immediately asks for a password before it boots into windows setup. I would like to remove this password, as I want to donate the laptop to a child, leaving just the normal account passwords in place in windows. I know what the present MS DOS password is.
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For those who need more detailed instructions, here is what needs to be done:
1. Find out what button you need to press to enter the BIOS settings. In my case it was the F1 key, but F2 or “del” and possibly others are also possible dependant on brand.
2. Switch off computer completely.
3. Switch on and enter the old BIOS password, immediately pressing the relevant key to enter Bios. You might hear a confirmation beep. If windows starts up, you have to repeat the procedure (2.,3.).
4. Once Bios settings open, go to security settings,then “power on password”, which will show up as enabled.
5. Select moving the cursor, then toggle to”disable” using F5/F6.
6. Enter your old password and leave the space for the new password empty (“enter”, “enter”)
7. Save and exit with F10
The above procedure can also be used to change the BIOS Power on Password by entering a new password twice under 6.
It is a good idea to have the BIOS password set for laptops that are often used out of home, with the increased risk of theft and loss. I have set mine again for my new laptop, and found out at the same time that my TPM module had been switched off (factory settings) on the BIOS settings, so I switched this on at the same time. If you have a computer with TPM, which you want to use, I recommend you check if it has been enabled.