As I sit today in front of my computer thinking of a topic to write on a new hub or article for HubPages, I suddenly remember my best friend Jenny.

We we're talking on the phone a week ago about her new Personal Computer (PC). She was complaining then that she needed to buy another computer. Everybody in her household, her parents and siblings, were using her computer and she could hardly have the time to use it.

Since she was sharing her computer to many people, I advised her to password-protect her computer with the system BIOS. She heeded my advice and I walked her thru on how to do.

A few days later, she frantically called me up to tell me she forgot her password and could not access her computer.

We needed to reset her system BIOS!

There are times that we need to reset the system BIOS (sometimes called the CMOS) and put it back to its default values:

• We replace a component and the computer fails to boot
• We change a certain setting or configuration using the BIOS Setup Configuration Utility and the computer refuse to boot
• We password-protect the computer with the BIOS and forget what the password is

There are two ways to reset a computer's system BIOS to restore it to its factory default settings:

• By shorting out a jumper on the motherboard
• By removing the battery and replacing it after a few minutes

STEP ONE - Turn off the computer and unplug it from AC wall outlet. You need to unplug it to make sure it is completely out of power. Besides, you probably do not want to be electrocuted.

STEP TWO - Open the computer case. You may need to remove several screws using a Philips screwdriver. This depends on the model of your computer.

STEP THREE - Find a three terminal jumper on the motherboard near the CMOS battery that is labeled "Clear CMOS", or something to that effect.

STEP FOUR - Move the jumper from its current position to the other position. That is, if the jumper is currently set into terminals 1 and 2, put it into terminals 2 and 3. Wait for about 30 seconds and put it back to its original position.

STEP FIVE - Reboot the computer and see if boots and you are able to go to its CMOS setup configuration.

STEP SIX - If shorting the jumpers does not work, totally remove the CMOS battery from the motherboard. Wait for a few minutes before replacing it. To make sure that the CMOS resets its values to its factory settings, remove the battery for a much longer time, about five to ten minutes before putting it back.

STEP SEVEN - Close the computer with its cover and reconfigure the CMOS settings.