simple question

[saidbe]

I have a simple question:

I have two laptops of same type Toshiba z30 , one without bios password the second with password. Can I use the programmer to copy from one bios to the other?

Does that also apply to all brands?

Thanks in advance.

[AAAC]

Re: simple question

Q1: Can I use the programmer to copy from one bios to the other?
A1: You will be just copying the BIOS chip contents from computer #1 to #2, the password is stored in EC/KBC chip, so computer #2 will remain locked with bios of unlocked #1 laptop.

Q2: Does that also apply to all brands?
A2: It depends on bios manufacturer, the procedure may work for some models which store the password in bios chip.

[saidbe]

Re: simple question

Thanks,

Are the passwords always stored in the EC/KBC chip?

Even the second and third generations of laptops?

[AAAC]

Re: simple question

In old Dell Latitude laptops the password is stored in EEPROM chip, then they increased the security and introduced MECxxxx ec/kbc chips where the password is now stored. In old Toshiba laptops that use Challenge/Response Code, the password is stored in EEPROM and in BIOS chip, but since bios has a checksum if you modify contents the laptop won't POST.
With UEFI, some passwords are stored in UEFI Variables in bios chip, sometimes in plain-text, XORed password or a hash of the password, other times also stored in EC/KBC chip.

I'll say that every model is unique, you can not categorize them into uProcessor generations, as from time to time a model will not fit in as to where the password is stored.

Just my opinion.

[saidbe]

Re: simple question

Thanks for your reply.

Is there a way or a tool to find out this information? Which bios to duplicate which ones not.

[AAAC]

Re: simple question

There's probably a way, by making a list.