Inspiron 3646, cannot disable Secure Boot?

Question

I've got  an Inspiron 3646 that still has Windows 8.1. Something got corrupted and I'm unable to boot windows, so it needs to be restored from a USB recovery key. When I downloaded the recovery media specific  to the service tag of the machine and tried to install it, I got a Protection error ... 'The key that you are using is either not entitled for this PC or has been modified. Please recreate the key and use it for the designated PC.' Rechecking the Dell procedure, I need to turn off secure boot in BIOS. The BIOS is InsydeH2O, Rev. 5. When I follow the process to disable secure boot, it is grayed out. I found a video that says I need to set an admin password in security to enable this. But, that is grayed out, too. I can only set an HDD password, which does not activate the ability to disable secure boot. I'm not finding any way forward. Thanks in advance for any assistance.

nyc10036 · Answer

Just go and create a USB using Microsoft's Media Creation Tool on a working PC.

Install Windows 10. It should activate with the embedded key on your motherboard.

If you want Windows 8: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows8ISO

.

savvy2 · Answer

watching wild videos is never good. do not turn on those passwords, (bios) or  you will get in big trouble now or for sure later. 99% do. just ask what to do.

Bullwynkle · Answer

This machine came from the factory 5 years ago w/ Win 8.1 and 4gb memory, so I'm not suspecting those as issues. The secure boot selection in this flavor of InsydeH2O BIOS is under the boot tab, not security. They vary a lot from what I've seen. Any ideas on unlocking that feature?

speedstep · Answer

This is a Bay Trail board Celeron J1800 Intel Atom® Processor Z3700 Series

OEM windows 8.0 would work. 8.1 might have a problem.

Secure Boot disabled is on the bios security settings.

Not entitled means the media you are using is not accepting the OEM SLP key.

TPM 2.0 requires UEFI firmware and boot. A computer set to legacy BIOS MBR and TPM 2.0 won't work.

Windows may fail to start when you have less than 8 GB of RAM installed.

Secure boot will have to be turned OFF in bios.

Bullwynkle · Answer

That is exactly what I did. And, got the result described in my first post. The instructions from Dell say the secure boot must be turned off and instruct how to do it. But, it's locked down in the BIOS. Hence, my dilemma. Any more ideas?

savvy2 · Answer

try to know what secure means, in the UEFI context, even wiki that. even more tricky is bitlocker, or SED drives, self encrupting drives. ive no idea at all what you have nor use or set, or bought, .

savvy2 · Answer

secure boot.

well you sure can turn that off, but not set to TPM mode. (never use TPM, ok>?),leave that to the CIA.

you do know, right the #1 purpose is to not allow flipping the HDD from secure to legacy non secure, right?

say some guy in the middle steals your HDD and can read it somewhere else, (NO HE CAN'T)

that is the whole plan there #1 feature top of the list. ok"

here is what to do.

so remove the HDD< and set BIOS like you want, set it to legacy. (it will not stop you, unless you did wrong things)

then erase the HDD< all that is there is useless now, if backed up, sure... erase it (ask how)

thenput the hDD back and w10-64bit loads and runs, in legacy mode, all day long..

but you played with things you should not have right, like TPM or setting BIOS PW./?

the only question really is how you messed up bios if at all..... id have to look at the whole BIOS setting to know.

savvy2 · Answer

w8,

the coa is in the bios.

load w10 fresh it sees that and bingo works, if not then MS does not like Retail over OEM COAs

MS does like to free upgrade many PC to w10, they really do , and there web site tells many to this.

but licenses are complex but w10 key is only $3 from EBAY, MS< MVP sellers, oem key, dirt cheap so to me is ways a moot topic, that.

I have dell PC here that auto updated to W10 , freshloaded. and are w7 PC, only. (recently not a 2015 answer)

the really tricky part is the digital lic, key,. if they have recorder so previous upgrades the key commutes. and sticks, on the newest key,, so... look here.

to see your KEY run this, safe site !!!! it shows the key there, if present, if there may auto authenticate.

https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/firmware_tables_view.html

Inspiron 3646 , made 2014 oldests one. 04 Jun 2014, newer bios can help. A10,

check this out, and know that MS can change the rules at any time, they do hate W7, do try.

just dont try to upgrade , GRADES, (home to home , pro to pro not pro to enterprise, match class .

when you install it asks you that, tell it the right answer,, and skip key tell dead last on desktop.

Tesla1856 · Answer

Ok, well ... then just clean-install Windows-10 64bit from microsoft.com to a completely-blank HDD/SSD.

It will Activate with a Windows-8 key (embedded or sticker) ... no problem.

The problem you are describing usually doesn't happen unless the motherboard has been replaced (out from underneath a live Windows 8/8.1/10 install).

https://www.dell.com/community/Alienware-Desktops/Aurora-R7-M-2-NVMe-bootable-options/m-p/6073081/highlight/true#M3401

Inspiron Desktops

Inspiron 3646, cannot disable Secure Boot?

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