Flare Sci-Fi Forums: Someone please help me!

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Posted by MsChris (Member # 445) on :

As you people know...my plant closed. They have auctioned alot of computer equipment. I bought a Dell that kicks our PC's butt! Problem is that when I got it home - it's password protected. How do I get around it and remove it?

I've tried entering the set-up using the F2 key, but can't without the password. I understand that it is requiring a system password. Right now the only thing I can do is power up. I know there's a way to get around the password and remove it, but for some reason the solution escapes me!

Please help!!!!

Posted by Lee (Member # 393) on :

You mean the actual BIOS is password-protected, and you can't even get the PC beyond actually starting-up? That's a bugger.

This is why we haven't executed anyone yet at my company, we're saving the ultimate deterrent for when one of our moron users, not satisfied with password-protecting their bloody screensaver, learns how to completely lock the PC. . .

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"If Morden is afraid of green penguins, and Draal is shown to have
access to them, a speculation would be that Draal will use them
against Morden in the future. However if Draal only has a purple
moose, saying that he could use it against Morden would be a story
idea."

- rastb5m FAQ

Phasers

Posted by MsChris (Member # 445) on :

Yup! That's exactly my problem. *sigh*

Think I'll go looking for some clothes pins, call the plant to find out who the PC was assigned to, then look that person up - hang them by their toes until they are ready to reveal every single password they have used on this PC!

GRRRRRRRR

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Awww...He ate my cookie!

Posted by Lee (Member # 393) on :

Tricky. But no more tricky than wiping the BIOS and starting again from scratch.

- rastb5m FAQ

Phasers

Posted by MsChris (Member # 445) on :

But doesn't that mean I would have to re-install everything? If that's the case - I can't do it. I don't have the system disks.

Someone has recommended removing the Cmos and plugging it back in. Is that the same thing?

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Awww...He ate my cookie!

[This message has been edited by MsChris (edited May 24, 2001).]

Posted by Lee (Member # 393) on :

On the other hand. . . sorry, I should really say 'OTOH,' shouldn't I? Well, tough, I hate those cutesy little acronyms. AFAIK, IMO, IMHO. . . Oh, JGMAFBA!

Sorry. Stressful day at work. Where was I? I'm surprised you got the PC in this condition. I don't think they'd do it deliberately - can't think of a motive. . . but someone (a similarly-disgruntled employee) might have done it, and the people at the plant might have noticed, but just sold it anyway (they need the money).

Your best bet might be to contact other ex-employees and let the word go round the network - anyone who sabotaged their PC before leaving, please get in touch. . .

Removing the CMOS might do it, can't say for sure - I try not to mess with motherboards and BIOSes if I can at all help it. As for system and software disks, you might need them anyway - who knows what state the PC's actual OS will be in?

- rastb5m FAQ

Phasers

Posted by MsChris (Member # 445) on :

I can believe that the system password was intentionally initiated, but I seriously doubt the OS was compromised. These PC's were originally planned to transfer to the facilities taking the product lines and such. I can see an employee being disgruntled.

I think my best bet is to contact the upper management and find out who the PC was assigned to and have someone from the plant to contact them about the password.

*sigh*
I totally understand their motive, but man - this sucks!

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Awww...He ate my cookie!

Posted by Saltah'na (Member # 33) on :

Flashing the CMOS might do the trick. You need some jumpers in order to do so.

And no, you don't need startup disks and the such when you do that. CMOS and the BIOS are hardware based systems and have nothing to do with the software on your computer. The only thing you have to worry about is redoing the specs on the CMOS and the BIOS.

I Hate Dell.

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"Intelligence People. You guys are unbelievable. You dump a mess like this (that you created) on my lap, and then you come to me whining 'Where is our funding'? Well I'll tell you where your funding is. Can you say Health-Care?"
- The President of the United States of America, The Long Kiss Goodnight

[This message has been edited by Tahna Los (edited May 24, 2001).]

Posted by Nim (Member # 205) on :

You don't need jumpers to flash a Dell BIOS. You go to Dell's homepage, go to "support center", enter your five digit/letter serial number and Voil� you have access to all the files for your model, including flashBIOS files. Their system goes back to -93.

It's not guaranteed to removed the password though, but you'll have an up-to-date BIOS, which is also important.

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"Babies haven't any hair;
old men's heads are just as bare;
between the cradle and the grave
lies a haircut and a shave."

Samuel Hoffenstein

Posted by Nim (Member # 205) on :

And of course, if this is the only computer you have maybew you'll have problems getting on the 'net.

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"Babies haven't any hair;
old men's heads are just as bare;
between the cradle and the grave
lies a haircut and a shave."

Samuel Hoffenstein

Posted by Lee (Member # 393) on :

Sorry, I seem to have had a brainstorm, somehow convinced myself that wiping the BIOS would completely wipe the HD as well. . .

- rastb5m FAQ

Phasers

Posted by MaGiC (Member # 59) on :

Which model Dell?

The only reason I ask is that there is a jumper you can move position which allows you to reset the password. If I know the model I can probably point you to the jumper.

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never rub another man's rhubarb! - The Joker

Posted by Kosh (Member # 167) on :

I hate to say the obvious, but call Dell.

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yes, I'm very dutrnk at the moment, and i'm doing my type to best so shut up! JK

Posted by MsChris (Member # 445) on :

It's a Dell OptiPlex GX1 with a Pentium 2. Is that the info you were looking for?

Posted by MsChris (Member # 445) on :

Okay...Let's try this battery disconnect thing. What does the battery look like?

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Awww...He ate my cookie!

Posted by Charles Capps (Member # 9) on :

Ever seen a watch battery?

Large, flat, and round.

It looks just like one. Probably about the size of a US quarter.

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"Babies are squirmy, ugly, dirty, smelly, and noisy. They'd offend all five of my senses if I had any reason to lick one..."
-- TSN, 2001.01.11 23:27, PhoenixChat

Posted by MsChris (Member # 445) on :

You are the second person who has described it like that. But there isn't one. *sigh*

Tell me it's not one of those that has been welded down to the mother board...please tell me - and be telling the truth!

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Awww...He ate my cookie!

Posted by MsChris (Member # 445) on :

Is it supposed to be silver?

What I do see is black plastic - square shaped - and yeah, near the size of a quarter. There are four of those. And several like them that are smaller.

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Awww...He ate my cookie!

Posted by Nim (Member # 205) on :

No, a small, disc shaped cadmium battery. Just one, for the CMOS.
It's normally just held down by a small arm, a clamp, it shouldn't be hard to remove.
We have at least twenty of those machines in our storage at work, they have the same CMOS batteries as all the other Dells...

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"Babies haven't any hair;
old men's heads are just as bare;
between the cradle and the grave
lies a haircut and a shave."

Samuel Hoffenstein

Posted by MsChris (Member # 445) on :

If this thing is supposed to be right out in the open and easy to locate, then I don't have one.

Still sifting around under cables looking.

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Awww...He ate my cookie!

OMG!!! I just found it! It's just under the edge of my CDRom!!!! Oh thank you - thank you - thank you.

I'll be back soon and let you know if it works.

[This message has been edited by MsChris (edited May 24, 2001).]

Posted by MsChris (Member # 445) on :

It worked!!!!

Thanks everybody...I owe ya one!!!

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Awww...He ate my cookie!

Posted by Lee (Member # 393) on :

Now why didn't I remember that one? Christ knows I cut my fingers to shreds enough times trying to get the battery out. It's not like I had any spare ones lying around to remind me, though - used them all in the Coke machine. 8)

- rastb5m FAQ

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