Clearing BIOS Passwords - Was - What is a safe way to clean corrosion?

Mark I had a Digital laptop a couple of years ago that somebody gave me that has a BIOS password. The configuration data including password was stored in a 24C01 8 pin NV memory chip. I searched for a solution without success, and eventually did the following. 1. With a 12" (30CM) lead, tie the serial data line of the memory chip to ground, pass the cable out of the computer case as a loop, and re-assemble the case. 2. Power on the device - Gosh - The machine believes that the memory chip is full of zeroes, so the configuration is invalid. 3. Access the setup utility. 4. Using sidecutters, open the link from the data line to ground (thats why I used 12" of wire). 5. Make the required configuration changes and save a new default password. Nothing beats a brute force hardware solution when the vendor wants you to use a convoluted USB key or "link the secret pads" solution..... Hope that this is helpful. -- Doug Jackson, I-RAP, MAIPM, MIEEE Principal Information Security Consultant EWA-AUSTRALIA PO Box 6308 O'Connor ACT 2602 Level 1, 214 Northbourne Ave, Braddon ACT 2612 Tel: +61 (0)2 6230 6833 Fax: +61 (0)2 6230 5833 Mob: +61 (0)414 986 878 http://www.ewa-australia.com ============================================ IMPORTANT: This email remains the property of Electronic Warfare Associates - Australia. If you have received this email in error, you are requested to contact doug.jackson at ewa-australia.com or Ph +61 2 62306833 and delete the email. This message is not to be copied or distributed to other parties without the express permission of the author. Any personal information in this email must be handled in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth). ============================================