Hey everyone! I'm diving into Linux for some creative writing projects and I have this old HP Probook laptop from a school I previously worked at. They don't need it anymore, and I'd like to break free from their security measures and use it strictly for my own purposes. The trouble is, I can't access the BIOS because it's locked with an admin password that the IT department didn't keep track of. I really need to wipe the machine so I can boot from a USB drive to install Linux Mint or any other distro that might work. Does anyone have any suggestions on how I could bypass the BIOS password or "jailbreak" it to install Linux?
1 Answer
Unfortunately, bypassing a BIOS password can be tricky. If the laptop was secured properly, removing the main battery or the RTC battery won’t usually clear the password. HP typically requires a proof of purchase to provide an override code, or you might need to get a new BIOS chip. Some online sources claim to have codes but they often work on older models.
I totally feel you on that. The IT locks things down way too tight! I’ve heard some people found success connecting their internal storage to another computer to install Linux, but that may depend on your BIOS settings.