On some business laptops, you can use a Windows bootable USB with the manufacturer's own BIOS Configuration Utility (BCU) to clear settings if the firmware isn't locked down. I booted a Linux live USB, ran dmidecode to read the firmware version, then tried the vendor's clear command. The laptop refused. The admin had set "User + Admin" lock—the nuclear option.
She couldn't return it. The BIOS (technically, the modern UEFI firmware) was locked. The laptop was a brick. efi firmware password removal
I overwrote just that block with zeros using dd on the command line, then flashed the modified image back to the chip. On some business laptops, you can use a
First, I tried the legitimate route. I found the laptop's service tag, contacted the manufacturer, and provided a notarized proof of purchase from the auction house. Their response: "We only release master passwords to the original registered owner. Sorry." Sarah wasn't the original owner. Dead end. The admin had set "User + Admin" lock—the nuclear option