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Dimension 3100 system password problem
Hi,
Sorry if this is in the wrong forum, I couldn't see one it really applied to...
I was recently given a Dimension 3100 but it has a system password on it. I guess that there isn't a way to remove it without knowing it? I was given this by a workmate who got it from his wife when the company she works for replaced a few computers. I asked him if he could find out the password but no one was able to tell him.
Is this just a throw away item now? I hope not, it looks like a good computer and it is able to use an IDE HDD as primary unlike the Dimension 8400 I was also given (I have a question about the 8400 in the disc drive forum).
Thanks for any help.
shesagordie
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March 22nd, 2011 20:00
Zom Bee
Try using the 'Clearing Forgotten Passwords' jumper [PSWD] on the motherboard, see HERE
<ADMIN NOTE: Broken link has been removed / replaced from this post by Dell>
Bev.
Zom Bee
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March 22nd, 2011 21:00
Hi Bev,
Thanks very much, I thought I was going to have to throw it away as I never would have guessed that there would be a work around. I figured the only way to remove it would be by knowing it (or sending it to Dell) in order to stop people from stealing your PC and resetting whatever passwords you have.
Next question... I am now trying to install XP from a disc I have but my USB keyboard isn't working in the DR - DOS mode, does this mode only support PS/2 keyboards?
Thanks again!
shesagordie
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March 22nd, 2011 23:00
Zom Bee
There is no PS2 port on the Dimension e310/3100, only a USB keyboard is supported, you need try different USB connectors on the back panel, as. if I remember rightly, only one USB supports the keyboard during reinstalling XP.
Why are you using DOS, with XP, partitioning and formatting the hard drive is part of the XP installation procedure?
If you are not using RAID, or do not have an internal floppy drive, enter the system setup, scroll down to drives, press Enter or + to expand the drive menu then down to "SATA Operation", press Enter.
Change the SATA operation mode to "RAID Autodetect/ATA" press ESC to save and exit the BIOS.
After installing XP, you need install the drivers and applications in the following order,
Desktop System Software [if applicable]
Chipset
Video
Network Interface Card [NIC]
Audio
Modem [if required]
Bev.
Zom Bee
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March 22nd, 2011 23:00
Hi
I'm not intentionally using DOS, it just jumps there. It won't boot from the HDD because it's not the original one and there isn't anything on it. I put the XP disc in the drive so it will boot from that and then hopefully install XP. A whole bunch of stuff flashes on screen way too fast to read and afterwards it just sits there waiting for a response at the dos prompt. I tried all USB ports and none seem to work even though it did before it boots into dos. Do I need to plug into a port then try booting or can I hotswap at the dos prompt?
Cheers
shesagordie
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March 23rd, 2011 00:00
Zom Bee
You need to connect the keyboard before booting the system, try the USB connector next to the NIC port and see what happens.
Any retail 3.5" internal SATA hard drive can be installed for the Primary C: / drive, providing it's connected to the SATA-0 connector on the motherboard.
Maybe Dell's Guide for a Manual Reinstallation of windows HERE
<ADMIN NOTE: Broken link has been removed from this post by Dell>
and maybe this interactive guide for a clean reinstall of XP HERE can help.
While installing, remember to delete all existing partitions when you are prompted, then recreate the partitions and format the hard drive, following by installing XP.
Bev.