Try the How to Geek method linked here.

In case anyone thinks I might be helping someone with perhaps a stolen computer Gene has been a member here a long time. Also I happened to remember the link where he posted about the dropped computer.

Thanks for remembering my prior post, OB, and for helping me save what little character I have left. The first replacement was bad but the re-order worked. My relative has a friend who has the daughter that owned this computer. It seems the mother and daughter (goes to BYU) have developed some serious issues and no longer wish to communicate at all. I suppose the mother gave my relative the Toshiba. I'll go to Geek in a few days.

It's rained four straight days in these Western North Carolina mountains. I knew I had water problems at my basement foundations but now have found one above the living room fireplace. Good grief! Guess you remember Snuffy Smith - If it's rainiing it's too wet to fix it. If it's dry it doesn't need it. Regards, Gene

Gene, I live just south of you in the northwesternmost county of SC, and we have endured the horrific downpour of rain also. Our crawl space is filled with water, and we have never had this happen in all the years we have been here. Hubby just reported the moon is out, but the forecast calls for you folks up there to get snow. Good luck!

I am really sorry to hear about the water.

Bobbie,

As soon as the weather starts to warm enough get the foundation vents opened and place a box fan down in the crawl space. Place it so the fan moves the air in a circular pattern. You could also remove the foundation door after creating a wooden frame out of wood covered by screening. This would create more ventilation. You will definitely have to dry the area out.

Gene,

Good luck on your effort. I had to chase a basement wall water leak once. The failure was not near the visual exposure.

DA

Hello, all. A couple of things. I was glancing at YouTube. Seems if a password gets locked into the BIOS memory one has to start dismantling the conputer guts. I download a couple of password fixes on my computer and tried getting the Toshiba to read something from a CD. Nothing happened. When I go to SAFEMODE it always comes back to the initial password request. If it means anything her hint was "Him". I've tried variations from religion to, family, and common boy's names. No luck yet.

My basement is cement. It seems the primary basement water flow runs along the cinderblock/cement floot about ten feet. Then it starts running across the floor about thirty feet to my exterior basement door. Tomorrow someone is coming to start working on a sump pit and install a pump. We'll channel water to the pit from any visible sources of leak. As time goes by I suppose I'll cut more channels in the cement floor as the water appears. How's that for confidence ? Thanks for everyone's help. I live at Candler, a little to the West of Asheville. Gene

Others will help with the password. All I can do is confuse the issue.

As to the leaking I am not an expert. However, I did once have a negative experience in the corner of a basement; from a corner to about 15 feet either way. Based on that experience I am safely saying the most likely culprit is a failure of your weeping tile though a running crack in the mortar joints of the block is always possible. I tried DryLok cement patch and Drylok Masonry Waterproofer with minimal results. This was after drilling 1 inch holes in the base of the wall near the floor for the water to first evacuate from the voids of the block. All in all it was just a waste of time. I ended up doing the below.

Your sump pump idea is a good approach to start. If it is affordable, cutting the floor out in the expanded effected area, and installing an interior French Drain would be the way to go. Affordability allowing, outside would be best.

Good luck and be patient as I know what a pain it can be.

DA

Hello, DA. My ex SIL is coming tomorrow and we'll look at the problem. You're right that considering an "expanded" version of a drain might be wiser. My water problem is mostly in a corner, below the outside dirt. The water runs along the wall/floor edge for ten or fifteen feet. After your note I went to the basement to study the matter a little more. Your idea is logical but my corner area is cluttered: furnace, hot water heater, downstairs fireplace, plumbing, etc. Still, I'll mention it to my ex SIL. Thanks, Gene

On the password issue when exactly does the notice requiring it appear? From my (limited) understanding if the password is sought immediately on startup it may be BIOS activated, however it it pops up a bit later in the starting sequence it is likely software controlled. I would bet on the software password myself.

For most 'average' users the attempt to password protect via the BIOS is not something they would select. This would be more likely in a business environment with a tech department too set it up. Most people are afraid to enter the BIOS area and play around. However you should be able to overcome this by removing the CMOS battery thereby taking everything in the ROM (read only memory) back to default settings if you believe the password is in the BIOS. A few seconds is enough time to have the battery out. I suspect the Youtube video you saw was explaining this move. It is more a case of dismantling the outer casing than the computer components.