Restore BIOS settings?

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I purchased a new Gateway 510s in July. It's supposed to be a standalone
computer, but now it appears to be running on a network I didn't create. Is
there anyplace to find the original BIOS settings? I've called Gateway, but
little help. Is there anyway to restore the original BIOS settings if
indeed, my BIOS has been changed or replaced and I'm hooked up to a corporate
network? This is a real security issue for me--any help would be appreciated.
Thank you, Sue
 
Sue said:
I purchased a new Gateway 510s in July. It's supposed to be a standalone
computer, but now it appears to be running on a network I didn't create. Is
there anyplace to find the original BIOS settings? I've called Gateway, but
little help. Is there anyway to restore the original BIOS settings if
indeed, my BIOS has been changed or replaced and I'm hooked up to a corporate
network? This is a real security issue for me--any help would be appreciated.
Thank you, Sue
Click to expand...

What symptoms are occurring that make you think it's "running on a network"?
If it is not physically connected to any other machine, then it can't
POSSIBLY be "running on a network".
 
A number of BIOS settings were enabled for LAN, and everytime I shut down, a
little box appears that says "closing network connections" even though I'm
not using my ISP.
 
Sue said:
A number of BIOS settings were enabled for LAN, and everytime I shut down, a
little box appears that says "closing network connections" even though I'm
not using my ISP.
Click to expand...

Then just go into the BIOS and disable the LAN settings. Are you on
Broadband by any chance?
 
I have a dial up connection, not DSL. I have gone into BIOS and disabled
anything with LAN. I'm just at a loss to know how this happened. I've got
XP Pro, and when first got the computer used gpedit to disable anything to do
with remote administration. Other user was set up with a limited account.
However, device manager showing device by connection and hidden devices
showed a 1394 ARP client at the top of the list. I've disabled all devices I
can think of, so connection might not be working. But I want to restore the
original BIOS and then password it so it can't be changed again.
 
Sue said:
I have a dial up connection, not DSL. I have gone into BIOS and disabled
anything with LAN. I'm just at a loss to know how this happened. I've got
XP Pro, and when first got the computer used gpedit to disable anything to do
with remote administration. Other user was set up with a limited account.
However, device manager showing device by connection and hidden devices
showed a 1394 ARP client at the top of the list. I've disabled all devices I
can think of, so connection might not be working. But I want to restore the
original BIOS and then password it so it can't be changed again.
Click to expand...

is there not a "Default Settings" option in the BIOS?
 
When I F2 into BIOS, there's an F9 key for setup defaults. When I enter
that, it says "load optimal defaults." But over in exit column, there are
choices for "load optimal defaults" or "load custom defaults". I didn't want
to load the wrong thing. I've disabled the PXE to LAN. I just want to make
sure the orignal BIOS is mine and hasn't been replaced. I don't want to load
someone else's default BIOS settings (if that's possible).
 
If you didn't update your BIOS, It does not going anywhere, if you load BIOS
defaults, it makes this as factory settings and the changes you did before
has gone. Meanwhile if there is a password protection at your BIOS, after you
did I said, you must change the setting that relates password.
 
I have not updated my BIOS, but I think someone else may have. Is there any
way to check that? Some time ago when I accessed by admin account, there was
a "blue screen" error that a fatal system error was made. Stop error had to
do with ACPI BIOS not compatible with computer settings. Message went away
after a couple of days. Now, I don't want to go to the manufacturer's website
to update my BIOS for fear it isn't mine! Setup shows the BIOS number, can
Gateway tell me if that's the right BIOS installed in my machine?
 
Sue said:
I have not updated my BIOS, but I think someone else may have. Is there
any
way to check that? Some time ago when I accessed by admin account, there
was
a "blue screen" error that a fatal system error was made. Stop error had
to
do with ACPI BIOS not compatible with computer settings. Message went
away
after a couple of days. Now, I don't want to go to the manufacturer's
website
to update my BIOS for fear it isn't mine! Setup shows the BIOS number,
can
Gateway tell me if that's the right BIOS installed in my machine?
Click to expand...

If you didn't update your bios, did you let someone else have access to the
computer who would have repaired it for you? Like a repair shop, a teenage
son, or someone else? If you didn't let anyone else work on the computer,
then the bios hasn't been changed.

And all of this worry about the bios being "yours" is a bit unfounded. It's
not specific to your computer, it's the bios that Gateway put on thousands
of computers with that particular motherboard. And an updated bios isn't
something evil or devious, it's just a software upgrade to the hardware.
Sort of like a driver update, but more permanent.

As far as you updating the bios -- I don't suggest it. If you do it wrong,
you're going to end up with a completely dead computer. Unless you're having
some specific problem that a bios update will fix, you don't need to update
the bios. To find out what the bios updates are for, you can read about them
at the manufacturer's website, along with specific instructions as to how to
do the update.
 
The other user only has access to a limited account, but that didn't keep him
from making system changes somehow, I'm guessing through internet access.
All I want to do is eliminate the unwanted network connection, which
hopefully I've done. I also disabled "onboard LAN" in BIOS, and don't want
to end up with a dead computer, so perhaps I should leave well enough alone.
Thanks for all your suggestions.
 
Bios access isn't affected by restrictions in place in Windows, so if you
have another person with physical access to the computer - not on the
Internet, but right there, hands-on, he/she could made bios changes no
matter what restrictions you had on the Windows account.

As far as the unwanted network connection, I really think you're
misunderstanding the messages you're reading on the computer. If you didn't
have a network cable plugged into the computer, with the other end plugged
into another computer or into a router or something it doesn't matter if LAN
is enabled or not. There's got to be a physical connection, unless you've
got wireless, which doesn't seem to be the case.

And while it's possible that a hacker *might* get into your computer through
the Internet, it would be a pretty bored hacker who would bother with a home
computer with a dial-up connection. Most of them are after more interesting
targets. And I doubt they'd bother making random system changes.

If you're talking about someone who has physical access to your computer, if
they have some knowledge of computers and a little bit of time, they could
make system changes even if the account you gave them was limited.

It's also possible that you've got viruses or spyware that's causing
problems. That's a lot more likely than a hacker.
 
Hi Sue..
I have the same problem as yourself Sue...only my problem
has been with me for alot longer. I have asked for help
so many times and to various entities ranging from my ISP
to the local police!!
My machine is also supposed to be standalone but is on a
network I never created either. As I am the only user
and no-one has ever had access to my computer...not
physically anyway...but remotely yes. I have had my
system compromised ...remote takeover...and the things
that they are able to do is quite unbelievable. I have
had the harddrive reformatted so many times only to have
the problem again. That is with all firewalls and
security in place prior to accessing the Net.
When I realised I could use the F9 key in Bios to restore
to default settings I was thankful...but when trying to
use this a second time, after the remote admin had
changed system to the point where I was hardly able to
access anything, I found that the same had been applied
to my Bios settings. All I have permission to alter is
the date!! Every other setting requires my "system
supervisor" or has been disabled.
Original Message-----
 
Jules cogitated deeply and scribbled thusly:
Hi Sue..
I have the same problem as yourself Sue...only my problem
has been with me for alot longer. I have asked for help
so many times and to various entities ranging from my ISP
to the local police!!
My machine is also supposed to be standalone but is on a
network I never created either.
Click to expand...

How do you mean "on a network I never created"? Unless your machine is
PLUGGED IN to a network via a network cable it is NOT ON A NETWORK!

As I am the only user
and no-one has ever had access to my computer...not
physically anyway...but remotely yes. I have had my
system compromised ...remote takeover...and the things
that they are able to do is quite unbelievable. I have
had the harddrive reformatted so many times only to have
the problem again. That is with all firewalls and
security in place prior to accessing the Net.
Click to expand...

Oh yeah? IMPOSSIBLE! If your firewall is any way near half decent, NO
ONE can access your machine without you knowing about it.
When I realised I could use the F9 key in Bios to restore
to default settings I was thankful...but when trying to
use this a second time, after the remote admin had
changed system to the point where I was hardly able to
access anything,
I found that the same had been applied
to my Bios settings.
Click to expand...

A "remote admin" CANNOT POSSIBLY alter the BIOS settings, because that
is done even before the computer boots up into windows, and having
windows running is s pre-requisite for remote access.


All I have permission to alter is
the date!! Every other setting requires my "system
supervisor" or has been disabled.
Click to expand...

I'm afraid I find your description of your "problems" extremely
far-fetched and almost totally unbelievable, certainly for the reasons
you give. Are you sure that your log-in account is not a Limited user?
Are you ABSOLUTELY sure that no one has logged on as The Administrator
and changed things? Try logging on as The administrator and changing (or
even putting in!) the password.
 
I've been watching these groups for over a year trying to understand changes
made to my computer by another user. Having trashed my last one trying to
get rid of them, I'm hesitant to do anything drastic. To Jules, I know
you're not crazy. However, my problem stems from a user with physical
access. I thought I had locked down the computer well enough that he
couldn't make changes, but I think Internet access was used to download
programs that allowed the network setup. After researching the PXE found in
my BIOS settings, I understand it can act with a network card to boot up the
machine. I have used Device Manager, showing devices by connection and
hidden devices, as well as my manufacturer's website showing my current
configuration, to selectively disable certain devices that don't have an
apparent effect on my computer use. Also, in BIOS I turned off "onboard LAN"
and PXE to LAN. When I tried to rid my last computer of this connection, I
had to take ownership of files before I could even run System Restore, and
then many programs didn't work properly. This time I'm considering a clean
install of XP Pro with the restoration CD from manufacturer, but my last
computer didn't allow me to do that. My advice to Jules is go through and
disable any remote services (netmeeting, terminal services, etc.), but
knowing that it may be too late to help.
Thanks to the forum, Sue
 
You have a spyware program probaly connecting to its SERVER!

You need a spyware scanner because it will connect without your permission
and it will probaly charge you. And it is affecting your whole system-
definately have proper software and the restore disk handy cos' you'll have
to do your syetm again with proper scanners and all this rubbish before you
connect to your ISP

Stephen
 
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