Dell BIOS Password Removal

[Baldanders]

Latitude Password

I have an old Latitude CPx with a password that the owner's daughter set. Now they don't know it and I haven't been able to figure out how to reset it. I haven't been able to get my hands on a copy of the latitudePW.exe or find the chip inside to short the pins. Anyone have ideas or suggestions (or a link for the program) so I can reset the password? I couldn't find what I needed up to now. Many thanks!

Sorry, I didn't write out the full name: It should be Latitude_MasterPW.exe. This version worked on my XP and Win98SE computers without having to use a Command Line or DOS window. As I wrote before, from what I have read, it will not work on anything but a service tag that ends in D-35B (you will see it when the administrator password prompt screen appears when you try to boot up). I've included the attachment on this post. If the attatchment does not come through (I've never tried to send one here), I'll look for the link where I found the attachment and post it for you.

If you want to short out the NVRAM (or EEPROM), you have to take the laptop apart (you can download a service manual from Dell) and remove the microprocessor board to get to the EEPROM (erasable-programmable) chip. It's an eight-pin chip marked with 24c02 -- though I've heard it can be a 24u05 or something else that starts with a 24. You have to solder fine wires to the third and sixth pins, then put them together (no more than two seconds per try) to short out the chip after you have powered up the computer. Definitely not for the faint-of-heart or unsteady-of-hand -- though the computer is just a doorstop anyway if you can't get it to boot. You can find more detailed info by doing a Google search using terms like Dell/EEPROM/short/password. I took it apart but decided to try the password thing again, and got it to work with the Latitude_MasterPW.exe utility.

Best of luck.

 

[Vigilante]

They way my IBM works is you have 3 password options:

1. Bootup password (after all post, can be reset by remove battery)

2. Hard drive password (more secure, can't get into BIOS without it, but has ways to remove)

3. Master password (big momma password written to the BIOS ROM and can't be removed without replaceing the BIOS).

This is what IBM will tell you. Beyond that, trying to short pins on the BIOS or some such horror, will probably just wipe your whole bios out. Replace the BIOS chip. There are manufacturers out there, if you give them the dimensions, type, number of pins, and so forth, they can burn a generic BIOS to the chip and send the chip to you. For only like $20 or $30 bucks. We did this on a DIPP BIOS once and worked perfectly. Good luck trying to get the BIOS from DELL or IBM directly!

cheers

 

[Baldanders]

IBM Passwords

Yep, you can forget about getting help from Dell support unless you are the original owner. I imagine there are plenty of second-hand notebook computers around that are the equivalent of bricks with keypads, thanks to forgotten passwords.

I didn't try the EEPROM short thing, so I can't vouch for it, but several posters on various forums claimed it was a workable option. Replacing the BIOS chip won't do any good: The EEPROM will just flash the passwords right back onto the new chip when you powerup. The site I checked that offered replacement EEPROM chips were not cheap, and completely removing an NVRAM chip from the motherboard is not a trivial thing to do. You need the proper desoldering tool and some soldering experience. Soldering on a new chip would be difficult, and it's possible (easy, in fact) to overheat the motherboard or end up with a solder bridge that would destroy the chip. The components have gotten so tiny over the last few years that no manufacturers use hand solderers anymore (except for certain types of repairs); they just send the entire circuit board through a wave solder machine (I know, because I used to operate one). I'm not saying it can't be done; I used to do similar repairs, but that was in a factory with all the proper equipment, and I would only try it as a last resort at home.

There is another method for getting the password by building your own little circuit that can be soldered to the EEPROM, connected to another computer, and used to capture a data dump (with a small utility called Ponyprog) when you power up the notebook; however, you would have to send the dump to someone who can read the hex and extract the password from all the other stuff. Jeez Louise, what a holy pain in the a**! I suppose it would be worthwhile for a thousand-dollar-plus notebook, but not for an old warhorse like this Dell I've been tinkering with. It probably wouldn't bring over $150 on the used market.

The passwords on the Dell notebook are:
1)Primary 2)Administrator 3)Configure Setup 4)Hard Drive

The Primary is on the post bootup, and equivalent to a Master password. ALL of the passwords are stored on the NVRAM and cannot be cleared by resetting the battery. Since you can't get past the post bootup without a Primary password, there is no way to flash the BIOS. Even if you could flash the BIOS, the original passwords would would be loaded back onto the BIOS chip via the NVRAM.

I'm just looking forward to getting the OS installed and handing it back to my son-in-law. If I ever buy a laptop computer, it will NOT be a Dell.

 

[Secondgunman]

At this point I would...

At this point I would be looking for a very high building to test if Dell Laptops are airodinamic enoughf to fly... the More I lear about dell the more I think they are evil and not worth my time.

The Do make cool doorstops though don't they. :giddy:

 

[cracker666]

chips

we can replace or erase the chip, and reprogram it.
over 10 years exerience with consoles etc.
in uk
email removed

 

[ironman86]

Thanks for your reply, Baldanders! That was the version of the program I was looking for. However I ran into another problem. The master password doesn't work even if I hold control and press enter twice. The password screen says "This computer system, #6GBEN**-D35B, is protected by a password authentication system." I don't know why the * characters are inserted there as everybody else's examples had complete service tag numbers. Entering that into the program gives an Invalid Input error and entering just 6GBEN gives me a password that doesn't work. Anything I'm missing?

 

[Baldanders]

Dell Latitude

Thanks for your reply, Baldanders! That was the version of the program I was looking for. However I ran into another problem. The master password doesn't work even if I hold control and press enter twice. The password screen says "This computer system, #6GBEN**-D35B, is protected by a password authentication system." I don't know why the * characters are inserted there as everybody else's examples had complete service tag numbers. Entering that into the program gives an Invalid Input error and entering just 6GBEN gives me a password that doesn't work. Anything I'm missing?

I think you may be entering the # sign. That is not part of the password, but all the rest of the characters are. If you just enter 6GBEN it will give you a Master password, but it won't work. Enter 6GBEN**-D35B and you should get a Master (Primary) password that reads: qb80eycj. When you type it in the first time, I would suggest that you only strike the Enter key (don't hold down control), because if you have a Hard Drive lock password, that screen will come up next. Then you can enter the HDD service tag that's displayed on the screen into Latitude_MasterPW.exe, and it will give you the Hard Drive Master Password. The HDD Master password will permanently disable the password and unlock your hard drive (I suppose you could enter a new one later). The Master (Primary) password will have to be entered each time, until you do the Control/Enter thing to completely clear it.

Please let me know if it works for you.

Good luck!

 

[ironman86]

Success! The master password worked this time and I have full access to the computer again. I really appreciate the help of Baldanders. Many thanks!

 

[Secondgunman]

Wow...

WOW! you learn something new everyday, I am going to take nots on this as I get stuck with Dells all the time. :bounce: ... I still would like to know if you and use some of these Dells as a wing??

 

[Baldanders]

Success! The master password worked this time and I have full access to the computer again. I really appreciate the help of Baldanders. Many thanks!

That's great! You're welcome. I hope this thread will be of some help to other people who run across it. I got my diskette drive yesterday and finished installing the OS and drivers. Now I'm just adding a few extras to it (firewall, SpyBot, etc.) before I give it back to my son-in-law.

Cheers!

 

[Baldanders]

Flying Dell

WOW! you learn something new everyday, I am going to take nots on this as I get stuck with Dells all the time. :bounce: ... I still would like to know if you and use some of these Dells as a wing??

I'm guessing it would drop like a rock, but I'm not going to try it. Just my luck it would land on someones head, and my fingerprints are all over it inside and out. Besides, it's fixed now.

 

[GodOffsck]

I found this page with the help of Google, I just want to say thankyou to all of you. Last time I had to reset the passwords of a Dell laptop I had to use the paperclip method. This time, using Latitude_MasterPW.exe to generate the master password, holding control and hitting enter twice, then using it again to generate the HD password, I now have a working laptop. Cheers guys, Baldanders especially.

 

[Baldanders]

I found this page with the help of Google, I just want to say thankyou to all of you. Last time I had to reset the passwords of a Dell laptop I had to use the paperclip method. This time, using Latitude_MasterPW.exe to generate the master password, holding control and hitting enter twice, then using it again to generate the HD password, I now have a working laptop. Cheers guys, Baldanders especially.

I'm glad it helped you out. I was hoping a few people would run across this page through their web searches. I spent so many hours gathering all the info I needed, sifting through the useless stuff, trying things that didn't work -- I figured it would be nice to post a mini-faq on how to use the password generator.

I never figured out the paperclip method (unless it is similar to shorting out the third and sixth pins with wires). The sites I checked were no longer available or wanted payment for instructions. I guess you have to do a hardware fix on the later model Dell notebooks, so it is probably a handy method to know.

Cheers!

 

[halfmachine71]

Latitude_MasterPW... It workz...

After searching and searching and searching the net, I thought my case is hopeless... But thanks to this forum, I now can access my CPx H500GT laptop... Thank you very much to the contributor...

Halfmachine71

 

[R00549]

Password entry clarification

I think you may be entering the # sign. That is not part of the password, but all the rest of the characters are. If you just enter 6GBEN it will give you a Master password, but it won't work. Enter 6GBEN**-D35B and you should get a Master (Primary) password that reads: qb80eycj. When you type it in the first time, I would suggest that you only strike the Enter key (don't hold down control), because if you have a Hard Drive lock password, that screen will come up next. Then you can enter the HDD service tag that's displayed on the screen into Latitude_MasterPW.exe, and it will give you the Hard Drive Master Password. The HDD Master password will permanently disable the password and unlock your hard drive (I suppose you could enter a new one later). The Master (Primary) password will have to be entered each time, until you do the Control/Enter thing to completely clear it.


I'm a new poster. Perhaps someone can clarify the password entry procedure. As I understand it there are four different passwords. In my case, I have a Dell Latitude CPi D266XT with a locked hard disk. I would just like to retrieve the data - the laptop has a broken screen (but I can cable to another monitor to see what is on the screen). I am able get into the BIOS to change the boot drive assignments, so I don't think the BIOS is locked. After I get past the BIOS settings, I don't see a HDD service tag on the screen (as quoted above). I see eleven stars, followed by -D35B (some of the stars are letters, and the letters change on each reboot - but there are always eleven of them). In my case I entered ZXDNF (the service code) into the Latitude.exe program and got 953N6R4E as the master password. However this is apparently the wrong password, since neither it, nor the form 953N6R4E***-D35B would unlock the hard drive. I also tried inputting ZXDNF******-D35B into the Latitude_MasterPW.exe program, which yielded 2ryp5k3v or (for older BIOS's) rvfuebti as passwords. Neither of these seemed to unlock the hard drive either. Then I figured that I should be inputting the service tag for the HDD shown on the screen (per the quote), rather than for the laptop, but nothing seemed to work. Last, I tried some numbers on the hard drive case, since Latitude_MasterPW.exe asked for HDD serial numbers as an option, but it rejected all the numbers I could find as being the improper format.

​

 

[Baldanders]

I'm a new poster. Perhaps someone can clarify the password entry procedure. As I understand it there are four different passwords. In my case, I have a Dell Latitude CPi D266XT with a locked hard disk. I would just like to retrieve the data - the laptop has a broken screen (but I can cable to another monitor to see what is on the screen). I am able get into the BIOS to change the boot drive assignments, so I don't think the BIOS is locked. After I get past the BIOS settings, I don't see a HDD service tag on the screen (as quoted above). I see eleven stars, followed by -D35B (some of the stars are letters, and the letters change on each reboot - but there are always eleven of them). In my case I entered ZXDNF (the service code) into the Latitude.exe program and got 953N6R4E as the master password. However this is apparently the wrong password, since neither it, nor the form 953N6R4E***-D35B would unlock the hard drive. I also tried inputting ZXDNF******-D35B into the Latitude_MasterPW.exe program, which yielded 2ryp5k3v or (for older BIOS's) rvfuebti as passwords. Neither of these seemed to unlock the hard drive either. Then I figured that I should be inputting the service tag for the HDD shown on the screen (per the quote), rather than for the laptop, but nothing seemed to work. Last, I tried some numbers on the hard drive case, since Latitude_MasterPW.exe asked for HDD serial numbers as an option, but it rejected all the numbers I could find as being the improper format.

[/QUOTE]

I can only tell you what worked for me. After I got past the BIOS password screen, another screen popped up asking me to enter the HDD password. I typed in the string of characters (into the Latitude_MasterPW.exe utility) exactly as they appeared on the notebook screen (without the # sign), and the generated password I received cleared out the HDD master password (after entering it into the notebook password screen and striking the Enter key, of course). Evidently this does not work for everyone, because another poster had a problem similar to yours. You don't use the service tag numbers, by the way -- in your case ZXDNF**-D35B -- except for generating the BIOS password. The HDD character string I got on the notebook (at the HDD password Enter screen) was a very long series of letters and numbers.

If you are able to change boot order, you are not locked out of the BIOS configuration. I don't have any idea why your numbers are changing on the HDD password screen, but I'm no expert on this stuff. Wish I could be of more help, but that about taps me out.​

 

[R00549]

Password Entry

"I typed in the string of characters (into the Latitude_MasterPW.exe utility) exactly as they appeared on the notebook screen (without the # sign), and the generated password I received cleared out the HDD master password (after entering it into the notebook password screen and striking the Enter key, of course). ........You don't use the service tag numbers, by the way -- in your case ZXDNF**-D35B -- except for generating the BIOS password. The HDD character string I got on the notebook (at the HDD password Enter screen) was a very long series of letters and numbers."

"If you are able to change boot order, you are not locked out of the BIOS configuration. I don't have any idea why your numbers are changing on the HDD password screen, but I'm no expert on this stuff."



Baldanders, thanks for all your information.

I found by trial and error of inserting a string of 1's, that the Latitude_MasterPW program responds to either a 5 character string or an 11 character string (or 11 characters with -D35B tacked on). This apparently corresponds to either the Service Tag (5 characters long) or the Hard Disk Drive Serial number (11 characters long, including any asterisks added on), since the program asks for either Service Tag or Hard Disk Drive Serial number. From an above posting, it appears that the HDD serial number could be less than 11 characters, with asterisks making up the remainder of the 11 characters. Apparently the HDD serial number is normally read by the computer upon bootup. Unfortunately, I haven't had any success entering the 11 character field that shows up on the HDD password screen.

For a number of reasons I suspect now that my computer is not correctly reading the HDD serial number. First, it isn't showing the same number each time after bootup, and there are mostly asterisks. Second, after I enter a serial number, the computer says that the hard disk is the wrong one -- as though it is checking the serial number again, reading a different number, and concluding that I have swapped hard disks. Third, I never had to enter a HDD password until the computer fell (as apparently one would have to do regularly if it was set) -- and I'm doubtful that I could have entered a HDD password accidentally just by pressing keys after the screen went out. I'm not sure that this HDD behaviour isn't a result of the computer having been dropped.

I can try Dell again, but they have rejected my two electronic submittals. I was never sure that I was giving them the correct computer numbers (except I am sure about the service tag number), and it's also possible that the previous owners 3 years ago (who I believe were original owners) registered using a middle name or something. Fortunately I had most of the files backed up -- I will just have to reconstruct these files (which had to be in the same directory as the program, so were not backed up) from a very outdated copy. I suppose I could try the $13 paperclip method, but I'm not sure it would solve my problem.

Anyway, I hope this info will help someone else. Thanks again Baldanders!

 

[hugues0509]

For my Dell latitude c640, the latitude.exe does not function. I choose the solution with the 24c04, I have access to the bios now. If you need Doc., do not hesitate to ask.
Edit: whit latitude C640, it's not necessary to open laptop. the chipset is accessible near Dimm A (ram)

 

[extramild]

hugues0509, do your documents mention anything about Inspiron 8600`s ? None of the passwords I generate with latttitude.exe have brought me any luck. I am just about to open the enclosure and attempt to clear the EEPROM, but would like confirmation about which pins to bridge.
Cheers extramild

 

[hugues0509]

Extramild,
The chip is located on top of the motherboard under the hard drive caddy.
Near the headphone socket on the left side of the laptop.
It's normaly a chip 24c04 and you must short circuit pin 3 and 6.

It's possible that you have to try the short circuit at different moment of boot.
With my latitude, it works after 15 or 20 boots.

 

[kik.scool]

For my Dell latitude c640, the latitude.exe does not function. I choose the solution with the 24c04, I have access to the bios now. If you need Doc., do not hesitate to ask.
Edit: whit latitude C640, it's not necessary to open laptop. the chipset is accessible near Dimm A (ram)

Hi! I have the same problem with my Latitude CS.
I have a admin password and the latitude.exe does not work.
Can you help me ??

Thanks for all !!!

 

[extramild]

hugues0509
Thanx for the reply...wish I had checked back to this thread earlier. I have unlocked the Master password and now have access to my bios...yah....Shame I had to "purchase" my doc,but it was 3:30am here and frustration was setting in.
You`re right about getting the timing right for the bridging, took me about 150 goes but I wasn`t going to give up!!! Now, any ideas on unlocking Toshiba 60gig IDE`s???
Thanx Again

 

[green29man]

I have a Dell Lattitude CPi R series Service Tag 780zl, system# 780zl**-595b. I have no information as to previous owner. I have tried the lattitude.exe, lattitude_masterpw.exe, and just about anything else that i could think of. I do not have the "paperclip" doc.

If anyone could assist I would be grateful.
Thanks in advance.

 

[parn158]

Latitude.exe only works with the D-35B models. With the service tag you gave I am getting "0zprhnvz" (using the updated Latitude MasterPW.exe). If your service tag number ends in D-35B, be sure to type in all the characters that are displayed on the "enter password" screen, for example, "FAZNG**-D35B". You will have to use the Latitude MasterPW.exe, because the older Latitude.exe only takes five characters.

I'm having problems of my own, but I'll write about it in another post.

Hi I am also having problems with this. Can someone send me or tell me where to get it the Latitude MasterPW.exe?

Thanks a lot!

 

[RealBlackStuff]

Out of curiosity, there must be an enormous amount of people who got rid of their Dell laptops. Either they are bad, or they are very popular with thieves!
Over 10'000 reads for this post means, lots of Dell problems or lots of stolen Dells!