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April 18th, 2017 09:00
Locked BIOS (after successfull flash) Alienware 18.4
Hi,
I have flashed my Alienware 18 (Service Tag ) to last bios from drivers page...AW18A12.exe.
Flash was performed in Win 10 x64 LBTS.
restarted to boot, after successful flash, return to windows.
Reboot again into BIOS and see that all options are locked (up/down arrows do not work, only left right).
When I come to Security tab has enabled only two options: Locked Setup and System Password
When I choose "Locked Setup" and Enter "yes" I get:
and stacked in all ways.
What to do to be able to change BIOS settings to read/write state?
Brg
Damir
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ejn63
9 Legend
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87.5K Posts
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April 18th, 2017 10:00
Have you owned the system since new, or was it purchased used?
DVadas
9 Posts
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April 18th, 2017 11:00
I did "purchase used", why do you ask?
BTW, I was able to go to bios before update and change setting, this is 100% sure.
DVadas
9 Posts
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April 18th, 2017 12:00
I did call Dell and they told me that this "action" would cost me 200 $.
They have to run some programs to get that password.
This is not acceptable for me because I did everything for flash, and now they do not want to tell me what i did wrong, if I did anything...what I doubt.
Any other suggestion?
P.S.
For 2500$ paid laptop to pay additionally 200$ because something in their flash, which they highly recommended, went wrong...this is not OK.
sorry feel like a fool
ejn63
9 Legend
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87.5K Posts
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April 18th, 2017 12:00
It may be there was a password on there that was disabled but never removed by the original owner.
You're going to need to:
1. Track down the registered owner and have that person initiate a transfer of ownership of the system into your name, and then
2. Call Dell -- you can have them assist with clearing the password.
ejn63
9 Legend
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87.5K Posts
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April 18th, 2017 12:00
Who did you actually call? It wasn't Dell.
Upon verification of ownership, all it will cost you is a single support call ($60 in the US). It's a simple matter of having a master password generated that allows you to remove the existing one.
The two sticking points:
You MUST be the registered owner (meaning if you're not you MUST know and contact the person who is) and
If at any point in time the mainboard was changed WITHOUT a service tag transfer, the password cannot be generated and the board will need to be replaced.
DVadas
9 Posts
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April 18th, 2017 12:00
What i found on other forum:
Attention all Dell users,
If there is a recommended update on the Dell Support website to update your BIOS to a newer version... be careful.
I updated my BIOS to a newer version from the Dell support website and after it was installed, I discovered that the BIOS setup is now locked with a password which Dell will not provide me unless I pay for it.
To me this is little different than getting a virus that demands you pay a ransom in order to regain full access to your computer.
Nowhere are you notified that this is what will happen, but after reading multiple posts on the Dell forums, I have discovered that I am far from the first person that this has gotten caught in this trap.
I have contacted Dell via an interactive website, email, and telephone and in all cases I have been told pay the fee and we will provide the password.
And this "unlock" cost 200 $ ..just call Dell support.
Jack, 800 438 9670 ext 951, Case # J41817