Dell Laptop startup

w.paracha · 04-02-2006, 10:30 PM

Hi all!

I got this new Dell Laptop as a gift from a friend. I started with installing MS- Office XP. In the excitement I put passwords on the machine. One in the BIOS menu and one on the Windows menu. I had to go away for a few days, and as the laptop was not ready for use at that stage, I left it behind. When I got back, I powered the laptop again and it gave me a gray screen at startup stating, "This Dell laptop has been locked by and administrator, please enter Admin or Systems password in" The problem is I don't have a note of the password and the system wouldn't even let me go into BIOS to change settings or anything. Even if I choose to go into BIOS, it will still come up with the same screen. Tried emailing DELL with the particular machine number and all the details(relevant and irrelevant) about a month ago. No response. Is there anything I can do? Its just a good machine going to waste because of a stupid thing I did. Please help.

Cheers. Wally.

byroz · 04-03-2006, 01:49 AM

It sounds like you put the bios password on to work as a system password, which would mean that everytime the system was booted up, you would have to enter the password you set to continue past post.
Have you tried putting in the password that you set before you went away?

**hwm54112** · 04-03-2006, 07:35 AM

The only way to clear the bios password is by a pinsetting on the motherboard. Google for a service manual for your particular model to find out how to take it apart. You may also need the name/model # of motherboard and search that to find out the pin settings

**RZA** · 04-03-2006, 04:13 PM

You can call dell and provide them with proof of ownership, and they will provide you with a master p/w for your model...so I have heard.

w.paracha · 04-04-2006, 05:25 PM

Thanks for the help guyz!

I don't remember the password. I have been advised by my manager who is a techie as well that I need to pull the machine apart and disconnect the powersupply for the motherboard. Once I reconnect, the password would be gone, but getting a master password from DELL sounds much easier, because I don't know how to pull the machine apart and put it back together. Thanks again. I'll try contacting DELL today and if I am unable to get a master password, then I'll ask for more advice on how to pull it apart and how to reset the settings on the motherboard.

Cheers.

Wally

04-02-2006, 10:30 PM	#1 (permalink)
w.paracha Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 2 OS: Win XP / Linux	Dell Laptop startup Hi all! I got this new Dell Laptop as a gift from a friend. I started with installing MS- Office XP. In the excitement I put passwords on the machine. One in the BIOS menu and one on the Windows menu. I had to go away for a few days, and as the laptop was not ready for use at that stage, I left it behind. When I got back, I powered the laptop again and it gave me a gray screen at startup stating, "This Dell laptop has been locked by and administrator, please enter Admin or Systems password in" The problem is I don't have a note of the password and the system wouldn't even let me go into BIOS to change settings or anything. Even if I choose to go into BIOS, it will still come up with the same screen. Tried emailing DELL with the particular machine number and all the details(relevant and irrelevant) about a month ago. No response. Is there anything I can do? Its just a good machine going to waste because of a stupid thing I did. Please help. Cheers. Wally.

04-03-2006, 04:13 PM	#4 (permalink)
RZA Student of the Art Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Scar town, T dot Posts: 1,642 OS: XP /98 /2000 My System	You can call dell and provide them with proof of ownership, and they will provide you with a master p/w for your model...so I have heard. __________________ AM2 X2 3800 - Gigabyte GAM51GM - BGF7900GS OC - 2GBDDR2 - 360GB - Antec 550w - Samsung 19" LCD

04-03-2006, 01:49 AM	#2 (permalink)
byroz Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Manchester, England Posts: 75 OS: Win XP Pro My System	It sounds like you put the bios password on to work as a system password, which would mean that everytime the system was booted up, you would have to enter the password you set to continue past post. Have you tried putting in the password that you set before you went away?

04-03-2006, 07:35 AM	#3 (permalink)
hwm54112 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 2,233 OS: WINXP	The only way to clear the bios password is by a pinsetting on the motherboard. Google for a service manual for your particular model to find out how to take it apart. You may also need the name/model # of motherboard and search that to find out the pin settings

04-04-2006, 05:25 PM	#5 (permalink)
w.paracha Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 2 OS: Win XP / Linux	Thanks for the help guyz! I don't remember the password. I have been advised by my manager who is a techie as well that I need to pull the machine apart and disconnect the powersupply for the motherboard. Once I reconnect, the password would be gone, but getting a master password from DELL sounds much easier, because I don't know how to pull the machine apart and put it back together. Thanks again. I'll try contacting DELL today and if I am unable to get a master password, then I'll ask for more advice on how to pull it apart and how to reset the settings on the motherboard. Cheers. Wally