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jaeSun

20 Posts

52830

February 25th, 2005 23:00

hard drive password.

I have a Inspiron 2650 Laptop. One day, my daughter was on the laptop, and somehow set a hard drive password. Now everytime I turn it on, or try and go into BIOS, it asks for a password. After so many tries, it locks it out and doesnt let you do it. it asks for it right at boot up before it even loads windows.

I have even tried to reformat the computer, whether with fdisk (win98 boot disk) or through a windows XP cd. says it doesnt recognize any hard drive whatsoever.

how can I get rid of the password?

i have searched the internet, and tried some "backdoor" passwords that computer manuf's include, but I think all of them apply to BIOS passwords, rather than hard drive passwords.

any help would be great.

thank you

jaeSun

20 Posts

February 25th, 2005 23:00

errr, my daughter is 10 years old. she doesn't even know how she did it (she says she never set anything).

what if I bought this laptop used? how do I prove ownership? obviously, it will not show me as the owner as I didn't buy it from Dell. I am sure this is out of warranty??

johnallg

2 Intern

 • 

7.3K Posts

February 25th, 2005 23:00

Get into the BIOS, Alt+P to the password page, enter the harddrive password to disable it.  She has to let you know what it is.  If she doesn't know it, call Dell and be prepared to prove ownership and they can provide a master password.  If that doesn't work, order a new drive from a cheap online vendor (like zipzoomfly) and make her pay.  She will be buying the old drive mounted on a wood plaque as a reminder of her deed.  That is all it will be good for.

jaeSun

20 Posts

February 26th, 2005 00:00

i dont even know where the original owner is. its been awhile since i bought it from him. and the password wasnt there before. as we've used it for quite a bit.

johnallg

2 Intern

 • 

7.3K Posts

February 26th, 2005 00:00

If you cannot prove ownership, Dell will not assist.  It is a safety measure to not aid thefts.   Contact the previous owner and see if they had on on it.

Message Edited by johnallg on 02-25-2005 09:04 PM

funtoupgrade

2 Intern

 • 

937 Posts

February 26th, 2005 00:00

From my limited experience with hard drive passwords you are stuck!  Not only is the hard drive trash, but the laptop will not recognize any hard drive you try to put in the primary hard drive slot.

funtoupgrade

funtoupgrade

2 Intern

 • 

937 Posts

February 26th, 2005 01:00

Nope - just the hard drive and motherboard.
 
funtoupgrade

jaeSun

20 Posts

February 26th, 2005 01:00

so the whole laptop is trash?

pukame2

224 Posts

February 26th, 2005 03:00

Try this if everything else fails.
 
 
We used this to find loss passwords. Read it first. Good luck! MP.

Infinite_Trial

206 Posts

February 26th, 2005 03:00

well since you didn't bought it direclty from there, you can try talking with customer service first for transfer of ownership. this often happens when the computer is bought from a computer shop or an auction. after the transfer of ownership, you can ask customer service to transfer you to tech support for help.

jankerson

2.8K Posts

February 27th, 2005 00:00


@Infinite_Trial wrote:
well since you didn't bought it direclty from there, you can try talking with customer service first for transfer of ownership. this often happens when the computer is bought from a computer shop or an auction. after the transfer of ownership, you can ask customer service to transfer you to tech support for help.



 

He will have to show proof of ownership or customer service won't beable to tell if he owns it or not. He may beable to fax in his sales invoice to them along with proof of ID etc.

leduke30

2 Intern

 • 

4K Posts

February 27th, 2005 03:00

That is not going to help him, as it is for a Windows password, and the harddrive Password is a BIOS one. Dell can not help with that one even if they were willing.

jankerson

2.8K Posts

February 27th, 2005 09:00


@leduke30 wrote:
That is not going to help him, as it is for a Windows password, and the harddrive Password is a BIOS one. Dell can not help with that one even if they were willing.


I think Dell has unlock passwords for ther Bios and HD just in case someone forgot theirs.

 

rickmktg

2 Intern

 • 

11.9K Posts

February 27th, 2005 12:00


@jankerson wrote:

I think Dell has unlock passwords for ther Bios and HD just in case someone forgot theirs.

I believe that is correct.

leduke30

2 Intern

 • 

4K Posts

February 27th, 2005 12:00

BIOS Passwords Yes, HDD No.

jankerson

2.8K Posts

February 27th, 2005 13:00


@funtoupgrade wrote:
Wrong! Once there is a hard drive password the laptop is locked as far as adding a new hard drive.  From my experience you will be able to boot to the setup screen but the laptop will never recognize
recognize a hard drive.  As I recall it will recognize a modular hard drive, but better to get a new motherboard and start over.
 
funtoupgrade


Ah, so the HD PW is stored in the Bios too. Then maybe Dell support can help, it's worth a shot anyway. :smileyhappy:

 

Although it is good to know that the security works so well. :smileyvery-happy:

Message Edited by jankerson on 02-27-2005 10:40 AM

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