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Dont have access to bios/uefi on a TOUGHBOOK, how can I re-install windows?

20K views 12 replies 7 participants last post by  Greensystemsgo 
#1 ·
I am beyond frustrated, A customer brought me a TOUGHBOOK CF-C1 with windows 10 setup by a craigslist seller. Its full of junk. Like really full. Driver installer pro 2016 or some junk like that.

ANYWAYS, I need to reinstall windows, but the bios has a password. As this is windows 10, anyone have any ideas to utilize the "advanced startup" options to boot from usb or disc?
 
#2 ·
If the user does not know the bios password, it might be worth contacting Panasonic, they might be able to provide the master password to the laptop to unlock the bios.
 
#3 ·
Sorry for not providing more information, As this is a mil-spec laptop, there is no default password, removing the battery does nothing, and there is no work around aside from replacing the motherboard. This is the only reason Im at this point. The motherboard is NOT cheap either :/
 
#7 ·
Is flashing the BIOS out of the question? I had a federal model CF-19 a while back (2010) where I was trying to get a Wi-Fi card to work (since that model was built without a wireless card or capabilities). When I was upgrading/downgrading the bios for different models I seem to remember it wiping out all BIOS settings every time I did it. I had to use a USB floppy drive.

Maybe there's an update for that model and maybe it's set to boot a floppy first. It's risky but might be worth a shot if possible.
 
#8 ·
You probably need to get into the bios and enable csm or something to boot from usb. Other option would be if you have another pc around, format on there and then throw it onto the laptop. Windows 10 is good in that way. Another option is to just do a refresh, Go settings>update&security>Recovery. There you can just do a refresh or reset depending if you care about the personal files.
 
#9 ·
is this a automotive scan tool laptop?
I used to do IT on 10 toughbook laptops that were setup as scantools for VW. It had 2 bios passwords, admin and super admin. Such a pain in the but because the only reason they put in the password on the tools we owned was so when the hdd dies I had to send it to bosch to reflash windows onto the new ssd.
 
#10 ·
Did you try to use the Refresh option of windows 10??

on the Update and Security section on the windows configuration, yo select recovrey from the left and the first option would let you refresh the OS erasing all documents and aplications.
 
#12 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Greensystemsgo View Post

Ive seen the refresh option, but have yet to attempt that. I guess I am from an era where I would prefer doing a clean install at all costs.
Jajajaja, I understand, but I have done that a couple of times and it works perfectly, only be shure to select the option "erase all files"
 
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