I can't install Windows, I can't get into the BIOS

Question

I have a Dell Inspiron 1100 laptop, which I purchased about 1.5yrs ago. When I first received it, I immediately took off the splash screen and I set up a password through BIOS (so every time I start the computer, it will ask you for a password). My computer unfortunately won't load Windows. I want to get into the BIOS to change the boot order, so it can boot off a CD instead of the HD. Unfortunately, I can't get into the BIOS. I've tried F2, F8, F12...everything. The manual's I've read says to press F12 after the splash screen, but like I said, I took it off. What can I do? What are my options. Please help me. Thank you.

NemesisDB · Answer

if you're below bios A22 then this is a somewhat common problem.  download the iso for the A22 update and burn it to a CD ( www.bay-wolf.com may help).  insert the CD and shutdown.  remove the harddrive to force a CD boot and then power on.  complete the flash and hopefully you'll be good to go.  [note, if you can't access the bios because you can't remember the password, then this won't help]

xintelinsanex · Answer

@NemesisDB wrote:
if you're below bios A22 then this is a somewhat common problem. download the iso for the A22 update and burn it to a CD ( www.bay-wolf.com may help). insert the CD and shutdown. remove the harddrive to force a CD boot and then power on. complete the flash and hopefully you'll be good to go. [note, if you can't access the bios because you can't remember the password, then this won't help]

You're a genius, I can boot off the CD when I take out the HD...but it gives me an error:

This BIOS update cannot proceed unless the Supervisor Password is clear. ROM update not performed. Press any key to exit.

Any other ideas?

Thanks for all your help.

NemesisDB · Answer

a new motherboard?    actually ...   this probably won't work, but remove a ram chip (assuming you have two) and see if it gives you an option to enter setup -- if it goes, remove the password

bakalao1 · Answer

I have the exact same problem, i spent hours talking to dell support without an intelligent answer. Since this is such a common problem with the Phoenix Bios (read 1000s in the forum) Dell should give us a concrete solution....oh that's right, we're all out of warranty, so they don't give a...

If you need to format your hard drive the only thing that worked for me was pulling out the hard drive and push it back in when i got the windows installation screen from the CD. This is very risky, but it worked for me.

If you find another solution for this problem, please, PLEASE let me know. Thanks a million!

Crash1963 · Answer

Hey folks has anyone tried removing the cmos battery and jumper for reset? This should reset the post and bios to the original format, no password. Respectfully Crash

NemesisDB · Answer

new security measures on dell notebooks prevent over-riding the password by removing the CMOS battery -- and posting how to overcome passwords will get you banned from these forums

Crash1963 · Answer

[quote] a new motherboard?    actually ...   this probably won't work, but remove a ram chip (assuming you have two) and see if it gives you an option to enter setup -- if it goes, remove the password [unquote] Huh, never heard the such, my apologize to the mods for my oversight. And to you Nemesis, might want to look into your own post for these errrors before you go posting about anothers oversight..... see above. Respectfully Crash

NemesisDB · Answer

I'm still not seeing errors in my post, but let's clarify the following:

1) telling users how to disable/wipe bios passwords will get you banned

2) the bios password of the i1100 cannot be clearly be simply removing the cmos battery -- which is a security feature that I rather appreciate in my i5100 as well

3) the new motherboard solution was made jokingly given the cost

4) removing ram will usually prompt to enter setup, that said, as far as I know it still asks for a password -- thought it was worth trying as a last case option though, as I'm out of ideas

5) proving ownership with dell is the only real way to resolve this

Crash1963 · Answer

Ahh Nemesis the idea of a work around to get past the password as you state is a bannable offence. IE removing ram to trick the bios into getting into the setup is just as serious as telling someone to reset the cmos with a battery boot. Sheesh and they call me jumpy.....

Respectfully

Crash

NemesisDB · Answer

getting into setup won't remove the password (unless you already know it), it might let you change the boot order though ...   basically it was a bad suggestion because it's not going to help much even if it did work (which it won't) as I just tried and you still get a password prompt

Locked Topics – Laptops General

I can't install Windows, I can't get into the BIOS

Was this post helpful?