This is a question that only Dell tech support can answer. Did you set the password on the BIOS?? Are you the original owner??
If all the above is correct then Dell will help you figure it out.
If the above is not correct, I.E. you are not the original owner, you did not set the password and the ownership has not been transferred to you and registered with Dell then you are S.O.L.
Did you set the password on the BIOS?? Are you the original owner??
If all the above is correct then Dell will help you figure it out.
Yes, and yes.
However, I haven't forgotten my password -- I'm using the laptop to post this now -- I just can't get into BIOS setup, so I'm not sure how getting the Master password from Dell is going to help. Or am I missing something obvious? (wouldn't be the first time!)
Well again this is a question for Dell tech support. If you can't get into the BIOS to set/disable the BIOS password or set the boot order then Dell might have a special key combo that will or if the unit is still in warranty you might need the motherboard changed. It's no go to you the way it is and no one on these forums can help you.
I'm not trying to be a smart a hole but the first thing I would of done is call tech support. These forums are not tech support they are user to user forums and if you read the sticky posts you will see giving any help to someone trying to defeat the Dell BIOS/Setup password is verbotten.
Have you tried hitting the F2 key repeatedly during the POST screen or as soon as you hit the power button, like *********************. Not just holding it down.
What model laptop, OS and present BIOS version?(1) Have you tried Fn+F1 or Fn+F3 to get into BIOS? The 2nd if it works will take you to the Battery screen and then you can Alt+P to move to the other pages. (2)If you have the Dell LOGO Splash Screen up, behind the scenes, the POST is taking place, which counts up your memory and scans your hardware. All that can take a while so just hold down the F2 key. If it still boots up to Windows in spite of that, ?????(3) If you can remove the Harddrive and access the Floppy, you should also be able to get into BIOS, unless the Password you set is preventing it. Are you getting a screen on boot prompting you to enter the password?
leduke30 wrote: What model laptop, OS and present BIOS version?
It was all in my first post, under my name - ie:
Inspiron 5100
Current BIOS: PHOENIX TECHNOLOGIES LTD. A03 03/12/2003
XPHome
leduke30 wrote: (1) Have you tried Fn+F1 or Fn+F3 to get into BIOS? The 2nd if it works will take you to the Battery screen and then you can Alt+P to move to the other pages.
Thanks for the suggestions. Sadly, neither of them worked.
(3) If you can remove the Harddrive and access the Floppy, you should also be able to get into BIOS, unless the Password you set is preventing it.
As I also mentioned in my first post:
"However - I tried the "workaround" - ie, removing the HDD to force a boot from floppy or CD. It booted fine from a floppy. But the program wouldn't flash the BIOS because the security password is set."
Are you getting a screen on boot prompting you to enter the password?
I get a prompt for the BIOS system password and then for the HDD password (I used both).
Anyway - many thanks for taking the time to reply to my original post. Now that I've elminated the "obvious" I'll contact Dell.
if you read the sticky posts you will see giving any help to someone trying to defeat the Dell BIOS/Setup password is verbotten.
Yes, I know (and quite rightly so).
However I don't want to defeat the BIOS password. I know my BIOS password. I just want to be able to access BIOS setup. I just thought I'd ask on here in case there was anything obvious I was overlooking. Unfortunately it seems not, so I will contact Dell.
Sorry I could not be of help. Your case is puzzling; you know the password you set, but the machine will not accept it when you are prompted to enter it. The only other possibility I can think of is Passwords are lettercase sensitive, and Caps Lock or capitilizing letters will prevent them from working, both when setting them and entering them, unless they are exact duplicates
After booting to the floppy and aborting the flash, getting a DOS prompt, try hitting Fn+F1 as a combo and see if the BIOS is accessable. Have you tried constantly hitting F2 while the Dell screen shows with the hdd out and the floppy in?
yeah these dells are a POS , i am a computer tech and currently have one on the desk, a shiny new inspiron 5100 that wont go into bios, what a nice $1500 pc huh ? this is what i had to do, do it at your own risk because it could fry the ide controller, but it worked from me, put a bootable cd into the cd rom, remove the harddrive from the system and boot, soon as it starts boot'n from cd, slide the harddrive back into the tray, now run your xp repair load or restore however you like, viola
Brax
Nice tip BUT the OP is trying to get into the BIOS so he can set it to boot from the floppy and flash the BIOS NOT reload the OS.
yeah these dells are a POS , i am a computer tech and currently have one on the desk, a shiny new inspiron 5100 that wont go into bios, what a nice $1500 pc huh ? this is what i had to do, do it at your own risk because it could fry the ide controller, but it worked from me, put a bootable cd into the cd rom, remove the harddrive from the system and boot, soon as it starts boot'n from cd, slide the harddrive back into the tray, now run your xp repair load or restore however you like, viola
Ed C
2 Intern
•
3.2K Posts
0
April 28th, 2004 12:00
This is a question that only Dell tech support can answer. Did you set the password on the BIOS?? Are you the original owner??
If all the above is correct then Dell will help you figure it out.
If the above is not correct, I.E. you are not the original owner, you did not set the password and the ownership has not been transferred to you and registered with Dell then you are S.O.L.
Have a nice day.
SpiderJon
8 Posts
0
April 28th, 2004 13:00
Yes, and yes.
However, I haven't forgotten my password -- I'm using the laptop to post this now -- I just can't get into BIOS setup, so I'm not sure how getting the Master password from Dell is going to help. Or am I missing something obvious? (wouldn't be the first time!)
Spider
Ed C
2 Intern
•
3.2K Posts
0
April 28th, 2004 14:00
Well again this is a question for Dell tech support. If you can't get into the BIOS to set/disable the BIOS password or set the boot order then Dell might have a special key combo that will or if the unit is still in warranty you might need the motherboard changed. It's no go to you the way it is and no one on these forums can help you.
I'm not trying to be a smart a hole but the first thing I would of done is call tech support. These forums are not tech support they are user to user forums and if you read the sticky posts you will see giving any help to someone trying to defeat the Dell BIOS/Setup password is verbotten.
Have you tried hitting the F2 key repeatedly during the POST screen or as soon as you hit the power button, like *********************. Not just holding it down.
bacillus
2 Intern
•
14.4K Posts
0
April 28th, 2004 14:00
getting a master password would be pointless if you can't enter bios setup.
leduke30
2 Intern
•
4K Posts
0
April 28th, 2004 16:00
SpiderJon
8 Posts
0
April 29th, 2004 07:00
It was all in my first post, under my name - ie:
Inspiron 5100
Current BIOS: PHOENIX TECHNOLOGIES LTD. A03 03/12/2003
XPHome
Thanks for the suggestions. Sadly, neither of them worked.
As I also mentioned in my first post:
"However - I tried the "workaround" - ie, removing the HDD to force a boot from floppy or CD. It booted fine from a floppy. But the program wouldn't flash the BIOS because the security password is set."
I get a prompt for the BIOS system password and then for the HDD password (I used both).
Anyway - many thanks for taking the time to reply to my original post. Now that I've elminated the "obvious" I'll contact Dell.
Rgds
Spider
SpiderJon
8 Posts
0
April 29th, 2004 07:00
Yes, I know (and quite rightly so).
However I don't want to defeat the BIOS password. I know my BIOS password. I just want to be able to access BIOS setup. I just thought I'd ask on here in case there was anything obvious I was overlooking. Unfortunately it seems not, so I will contact Dell.
Cheers
Spider
leduke30
2 Intern
•
4K Posts
0
April 29th, 2004 14:00
johnallg
2 Intern
•
7.3K Posts
0
April 29th, 2004 20:00
Ed C
2 Intern
•
3.2K Posts
0
May 19th, 2004 16:00
Nice tip BUT the OP is trying to get into the BIOS so he can set it to boot from the floppy and flash the BIOS NOT reload the OS.
brizax
1 Message
0
May 19th, 2004 16:00
yeah these dells are a POS , i am a computer tech and currently have one on the desk, a shiny new inspiron 5100 that wont go into bios, what a nice $1500 pc huh ? this is what i had to do, do it at your own risk because it could fry the ide controller, but it worked from me, put a bootable cd into the cd rom, remove the harddrive from the system and boot, soon as it starts boot'n from cd, slide the harddrive back into the tray, now run your xp repair load or restore however you like, viola
Brax