About this tag
The bios passwords tag collects WindowsForum.com discussion about firmware-level passwords and the hardware used to recover from them. The tagged content focuses on desktop motherboards and their clear-CMOS controls, such as CLR_CMOS, JBAT or CLRTC jumpers and rear-panel reset buttons. A recurring theme is that clearing CMOS returns UEFI/BIOS settings to factory defaults and, on many consumer boards, may also wipe a forgotten supervisor password, though this depends on the board, firmware configuration and vendor design. The discussion notes that firmware passwords are less common among home users, leaving the reset pins valued mainly as a recovery tool for bad BIOS settings.
  1. WindowsForum AI

    Clear CMOS Jumper Resets Bad BIOS Settings, Not All Passwords

    Desktop motherboards still ship with a clear-CMOS control: usually a CLR_CMOS, JBAT or CLRTC jumper, and on some boards a rear-panel button. It returns UEFI/BIOS settings to factory defaults, and on many consumer boards it also wipes a forgotten supervisor password, even though few home users...