Toshiba Satellite laptop asking for the BIOS password I never had

I had a slew of problems with my Toshiba Satellite P105-S9722. So I thought about putting in my recovery CD in it, when I did it locked me out at the BIOS screen requiring me to put in a password, when I never ever put one on to begin with. Now all it does is turn on at that screen, and I’m at my wits ends, can someone shoot me some info thanks in advance.

I believe one of the older BIOS versions had a bug when the laptop sets the BIOS password on its own. If you go to the Toshiba website and look at the BIOS change history for your model, you’ll see that this problem was fixed in the version 4.00
Here’s a quote from the BIOS change history:

Version 4.00 - 2007-08-06
* A workaround was implemented to prevent a password from automatically being set by the computer.

Apparently, you had an older BIOS installed and it set the password by itself.

Some latest Toshiba models suffer from the same bug in the BIOS. If your Toshiba laptop is asking for the BIOS password you never had, check the BIOS change history for your model and find out if there is a fix in the newer BIOS releases.

Unfortunately, before you can do anything with the laptop, the BIOS password has to be cleared. I would call Toshiba customer support and explain what’s going on. Most likely they will take care of your problem at no charge even though your laptop is not under warranty anymore. It’s not your fault.

Please let us know how Toshiba handles your situation, it will help other people with the same problem.

UPDATE: Here’s what I found for you. Toshiba acknowledges the problem. They will clear the BIOS password at no charge. Take a look at this support bulletin with a long list of Toshiba laptops having the same problem with the BIOS password.
Document ID: 98082361 Posted date: 09/27/07 Distribution: Public


4 Responses to “Toshiba Satellite laptop asking for the BIOS password I never had”

  1. Jose Cardenas Says:
    July 10th, 2008 at 11:38 am

    well I’ve called and they told me because it was out of warranty, they wont cover it.

  2. Laptop Freak Says:
    July 10th, 2008 at 2:30 pm

    Jose,
    Try again and talk to a different representative.

  3. Laptop Freak Says:
    July 10th, 2008 at 2:45 pm

    Jose,
    I was right, Toshiba will fix this issue at no charge.
    Take a look at this support bulletin. It says:

    ISSUE

    The computer models listed above may display a “Password =” prompt 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. If the computer is turned off and back on again, it is very likely that the same password prompt will appear. The computer will be unusable until this problem is fixed.
    RESOLUTION

    If this problem has not yet occurred on your computer, then find the computer model in the table below, and click the link for its BIOS to download and install it. These newer BIOSes display a power-on password prompt only when a power-on password has actually been set via the BIOS Setup program.

    If the problem has already occurred on your computer, then please make arrangements with a Toshiba Authorized Service Provider to have this problem fixed at no charge.

    There is a long list of many current Toshiba models with the same BIOS password issue. The following series are listed in the support bulletin: Satellite A100, A105, A130, A135, A200, A205, L35, M200, M205, P100, P105, P200, P205.

    Now you can call Toshiba customer support and point to their own support bulletin.

  4. ray Says:
    July 30th, 2008 at 7:23 pm

    there is a solution to this a very simple short out two connections most of the boards are the same, i have done this on M50 sattelite no probs dont even take the computer apart or plug in a loop back connector at the com port
    HERE IS THE ARTICLE..
    http://www.laptop-repair.info/toshiba_bios_password.html
    hope this helps all you people

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