So some time ago I set up a BIOS “User” password and and “Admin” password on a laptop.

For those who doesn’t know. A BIOS “User” password is prompted every time you boot a computer using that motherboard, and the “Admin” password is prompted when you attempt to enter the BIOS settings

If you have both set up, either password is accepted on boot, but only the “Admin” password is accepted for getting into the BIOS Settings.

I’ve just had both of these set up because I’m weird and paranoid (before you say “encryption”, yes the disk is also encrypted), and I got into a habit of just using the Admin password for boot.

But now I think its unnecessary and annoying now and doesn’t seem to do much since the disk is also encrypted, so I tried to remove the “User” password in the BIOS settings, but I forgot the User password. Inputing the Admin password is rejected as “incorrect password”, but its accepted when you try to change to Admin password. Wtf lol. The Laptops I had before this one, allows the Admin to reset the User Password, wtf is this new change? Admin cannot reset User Password? Make zero sense lol. So I guess I’m just stuck with this unchangeable setting? Triggers my OCD so much that there’s a setting now I can’t toggle on/off.

I mean it’s still perfectly usable as long as I keep the Admin password enabled and not mess with that, so this is the definition of mildly infuriating, just very samll annoyance I’m stuck with.

It’s an Asus Zenbook btw if you’re wondering.

  • tal@lemmy.today
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    12 hours ago

    If it honestly doesn’t permit the User password to be reset, is there a “factory reset the whole BIOS” option?

    • cantthinkofausername@sh.itjust.worksOP
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      12 hours ago

      Couldn’t find such option. I find a “load default settings” thing, but the passwords are unaffected by that. I tried updating the BIOS but the passwords are still intact.

      I wonder if there’s a tool that can reset the BIOS from the OS.

      • partial_accumen@lemmy.world
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        12 hours ago

        Have you tried doing a full BIOS update? As in, download from the manufacturer. I wonder if that would overwrite the passwords.

        • cantthinkofausername@sh.itjust.worksOP
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          12 hours ago

          I downloaded the BIOS on a USB drive, I went into the BIOS menu and updated it. The version number is now different, but the passwords remain. 🤷‍♂️