resetting bios on a laptop?

Question

ok, so ive got an ispiron 8200, and my bios password got changed, im assuming by i virus. all i want to know is how to reset the bios,but dell technicians wont help unless i have my shipping address and phone number, both of which i dont have anymore because i moved several times since i bought the laptop. can anyone tell me how i could go about resetting the bios on my laptop? thanks in advance.

darrin99 · Answer

@rollinb2 wrote:
ok, so ive got an ispiron 8200, and my bios password got changed, im assuming by i virus. all i want to know is how to reset the bios,but dell technicians wont help unless i have my shipping address and phone number, both of which i dont have anymore because i moved several times since i bought the laptop. can anyone tell me how i could go about resetting the bios on my laptop? thanks in advance.

It sounds pretty fishy that you have a computer you can't get into, and you can't remember your old phone number and address. If somehow you're legit, your name and service tag should be all Dell needs to help you.

bacillus · Answer

my bios password got changed, im assuming by i virus. http://delltalk.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=insp_bios&message.id=16628

darrin99 · Answer

@bacillus wrote:

http://delltalk.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=insp_bios&message.id=16628

C'mon. Maybe the guy really did just happen to get locked out of his computer, forgot where he lived, and what his own phone number was. LOL!

Message Edited by darrin99 on 07-25-2004 06:51 AM

Ed C · Answer

Sorry you are out of luck unless you can remember where you lived and what the phone number was. Give me and the rest of the people on this forum a break, DUH. Does anyone know what my address is. I can't remember where I lived when I purchased a $2000+ notebook. Yeah RIGHT.

rollinb2 · Answer

so the situation described seems impossible to all of you? i mean its not like i memorize all my past phone numbers and addresses. i just need some help, give me a break. my dad works for an oil company with which he gets transferred a lot, so we move every couple of years. i guess that is pretty ridiculous, isnt it?

Ed C · Answer

@darrin99 wrote:

@rollinb2 wrote:
so the situation described seems impossible to all of you? i mean its not like i memorize all my past phone numbers and addresses. i just need some help, give me a break. my dad works for an oil company with which he gets transferred a lot, so we move every couple of years. i guess that is pretty ridiculous, isnt it?

Yup. It's pretty ridiculous that you move "every couple of years" and can't remember where you lived. So, I suggest maybe you ask your dad what your address was. I'm sure he can remember.

Not only that but the i8200 was only produces from 2002 to the early part of 2003 and it now 2004 just past the half year mark so a the least the notebook is no more than 2 years old give or take a little. So you can't remember where you lived 2 years ago. Boy you should stop smoking that stuff.

Have fun storming the castle. Do you thing they have a chance? It would take a miracle. (Said by miracle MAX in the princess bride)

darrin99 · Answer

@rollinb2 wrote:
so the situation described seems impossible to all of you? i mean its not like i memorize all my past phone numbers and addresses. i just need some help, give me a break. my dad works for an oil company with which he gets transferred a lot, so we move every couple of years. i guess that is pretty ridiculous, isnt it?

Yup. It's pretty ridiculous that you move "every couple of years" and can't remember where you lived. So, I suggest maybe you ask your dad what your address was. I'm sure he can remember.

Ed C · Answer

Well ask your father what the address and phone number was when you bought the notebook. I bet he or your mother have records of every place they lived. That is if they paid the bills at each residence. Or don't you talk to your parents anymore.

Malletman · Answer

You are my hero....for today...lol.    I'll call now.

Malletman · Answer

Ok, rollin...you may be in a world of hurt, but mine is actually legite.  I have an Inspiron 4000 which as been a wonderful computer that has taken a beating over the years.  My 2 year old conquered it though.  After 2 minutes alone with the computer (I know, I lost track...I have 2 other children besides this cute little tornado), he has completly drowned my computer in water from his sippy cup.  After 1 day of sitting a fan and drying out, I find that my laptop still works (at least so far).  The only problem I have is that all of a sudden there is a password set in the bios.  I don't know it (I didn't set it, the water did...weird), I'm out of warrenty and hate to buy support (outrageous), and I'm at my wits end as to what to do.  I've tried removing all power (including the batteries that I thought powered the cmos chip), but no luck yet.  Tried reflashing the bios and, of course, it asks for a password before it accesses the floppy drive.   HELP.  I hate to call it a paper weight...to be perfectly honest, I was lucky to get this thing and would hate to lose it.

johnallg · Answer

@Ed C wrote: 'Have fun storming the castle.  Do you thing they have a chance?  It would take a miracle.'  (Said by Miracle MAX in the Princess Bride) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093779/http://www.godamongdirectors.com/scripts/princess.shtmlhttp://my.athenet.net/~denij/PBindex.htmlhttp://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Makeup/6353/princessbride.html

Ed C · Answer

You do NOT have to buy support. Dell will work with you on a hardware problem for LIFE. That does not mean they will fix it for free but if the problem is just a BIOS password and you are the registered owner Dell will give you a master password to unlock the BIOS and remove it from the unit. Now if your problem is caused by a shorted component from the water being spilled on it then yes they will charge you to fix it IF it can be fixed.

NemesisDB · Answer

Eh, at least I'm safe in the knowledge that if anyone ever steals my laptop they're going to have to be more creative than asking dell for the password :)

markkelm · Answer

'Eh, at least I'm safe in the knowledge that if anyone ever steals my laptop they're going to have to be more creative than asking dell for the password :)' Creativity will not help.  Dell has done a great job of making the 'BIOS' password pretty much iron clad.  If an enduser cannot prove ownership to Dell - the next location of the laptop will be for use as a doorstop.  I appreciate this.  Several years ago I had a Mac Powerbook 640c stolen and all the thief had to do to make the computer his was to reformat the HD to override the old third party Mac Password application.  Even though I am pretty much sure that if someone took my i8600 I would never see it again, I get a certain amount of satisfaction from knowing that they will not be able to use it either...  Thanks Dell! Mark

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resetting bios on a laptop?

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