On Mon, 23 Aug 2004 09:59:49 +0100
Declan Moriarty <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
: Let's insert some reality here. removing the battery and shorting
: the positive/negative (e.g. insert a few coins overnight) will
: definitely flatten any battery. That will flatten any battery
: supporting a CMOS(ram) or FLASH eprom.
: It is not unknown for hardware smart alecs to put EPROM (Erasable
: Programmable Read Only Memory) instead of flash in their systems.
: Eprom is programmable by a programmer, and erasable only by UV
: light. This prevents the Bios being overwritten by CIH or the
: like. Flash, on the other hand is EEProm, i.e. Electrically
: Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory. Eprom usually is
: distinguished by a window in the chip under the label.
: Check the chip numbers: If it's a xx27Cxxx it's eprom - not
: erasable If it's a xx28Cxxx it's eeprom. If it's something else,
: get the numbers and tell me what they are.
: FYI, the differences are these:
: RAM - needs power applied (probably RTC, & maybe settings)
: EEprom/Flash - can be erased by pc, survives without power or
: battery. The memory of choice for the bios themselves. Can and
: does use a block for holding the settings. Power requirements vary
: depending on the age of the thing.
: Eprom - UV(only) erasable ROM. Needs HV to program in most cases.
: Ignores EEprom writes.
Don't I wish. No, there's no need for that kind of 'ten penny'
reality. It's quite foreign to the problem at hand. This beauty is a
486DX33. The battery is integrated into a single package with the
CMOS and RTC. It's a Dallas DS1287/1187, a rectangular chip, about
the size of the AMI bios chip, that is soldered to the board. This
really limited my options somewhat. I spent days trying to figure
out where the battery was, before I learned it was integrated.
(E)EPROM? Don't I wish. No, this chip is of a technology of long ago
and far, far away. From what I can tell there is no known way to
reset the password using moodern hardware methods. Some advice even
suggested not using paper clip methods on this chip!
Anyways, the -static compile worked and the utilities scraped the
password out of the bios. So I'm in. As with most things in life, if
one thing doesn't work you try something else.
Many thanks to all who replied for their suggestions. There's
nothing like a knotty problem solved to make your day and get you a
great nights sleep. :)
b.
