Dell BIOS Password Removal

I am an IT manager for a non profit org. I have 6 inspiron 3800 laptops, anyone here know how to remove the configure setup option? i have the bios pawword, and startup password, but does me no good. can't chage the boot order. Anyone here know a free way/passcode that wont give me an invalid response? Dell's passwords arent helping. :dead:

Thank you.
my email is email removed

[QUOTE=dcse_guy]I am an IT manager for a non profit org. I have 6 inspiron 3800 laptops, anyone here know how to remove the configure setup option? i have the bios pawword, and startup password, but does me no good. can't chage the boot order. Anyone here know a free way/passcode that wont give me an invalid response? Dell's passwords arent helping. :dead:

Thank you.
my email is email removed


First you have to enable Configure Setup with the Administrator PW. Then you can configure setup.

To delete the Administrator PW first type in the actual PW and then leave the fields for New PW empty.

I hope this wont give you an invalid response.

Klaus

I do not know what the admin password is just the primary. When trying to enable the feature to change settings, I must know what the configure password is.

Hi Paragon33

I have a problem with Dell BIOS admin password and got the grey screen that does not let me proceed. I search the solution on internet for a long time and finally find the forums. I read lots of article and it seems that you have best solution or manual that could solve my problem. I have downloaded technical manual from Dell website and have stripped it down easily. But what process should I do next? Find chip 24CXX? Which pin should I short? Or others?

My E-mail : email removed
Laptop type : Dell C810
Server Tag : CZHK51S-595B
BIOS Revision : A12

Sorry for my poor English and thank you so much.
Go to this website hosted by IdidmyC600, download the Additions File and one or both of the DST file versions and instructions. The chip is under the Fixed Optical Drive guide and requires that piece be removed from the board, but a complete board removal from the chassis is not necessary. The Additions file has a picture of the location.
The chip on these boards requires the Power-On first and then short technique. There is a picture of a Modified shorter/grounder I use on the website which is easier to control on the very small pins, and which I used again yesterday. The paperclip has blunt ends and requires keeping 2 contacts under control; this one uses one pointed contact. Good Luck and stay away from pin#8 with the shorter, as that is the voltage connector to the chip.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/judslat/paragon/

My you have been busy, and I thought you were taking it easy Paragon, could you explain the "<space>/jabil extension " part to me I'm adding it to the FAQ/Notes section on the site when I get some time, (I have been busy of late with other matters), as th site needs some serious updating with some notes I have been doing plus the feedback comments I have recieved. Jud
There are 3 extensions to a Flash command for special purposes( ex. CPSJ_A15 /jabil{note the space between the 5 and the /}) /jabil is used when forcing BIOS for a different Dell model on another model using the same motherboard; /forceit is used to override not having both battery and AC Adapter in use, and also if you are downgrading BIOS versions to a previous one; /forcetype works better than /jabil on some models, but the opposite is also true.

I do not know what the admin password is just the primary. When trying to enable the feature to change settings, I must know what the configure password is.

If you have two different PWs, then the Startup PW is the same as the User PW. The user may not change configuration.

The second PW, which you mention as Bios PW, should be the Admin PW. The feature to change settings is disabled, when you set the Admin PW.

Klaus

Go to this website hosted by IdidmyC600, download the Additions File
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/judslat/paragon/


Oh Crap I forgot to upload that file....... :rolleyes:

It's Ok I just did it,

My Mistake

:haha: :haha:

Oh boy a double post, duly edited,

Hey Mr P I recieved this via email

Hi Jud,

first my feedback:

Thank you for collecting the essentials for resetting passwords.

Now my problems:

1. After I had paperclipped a C610, the laptop does no longer boot. No screen, nor any other activity except the NUM/CAPS/SCROLL-LEDs alight and shutting off after three seconds. Exchanging the 24C02 and the Bios-Chip with a functioning copy did not help. What other parts might have been erased or damaged? A used board from eBay (declared as 'not PW protected') is showing the same behavior. By exchanging all removable parts (VC, RAM, HDD, battery. power supply) from a full functioning C610 did not help.

2. The laptop, from which I copied the 24C02 has an other strange behavior:
- When I reassembled the system, I tested the system without the peripherals like keyboard, HDD, speakers. I entered the BIOS-Setup and changed time and date. Then without saving the changes I switched the system off.
- Then I completed reassembling.
- Now when starting with a HDD, that is not PW-protected, it is shutting off immediately after a short flickering of the screen. No DELL splash screen, no access to the setup.
- When starting with a PW-protected HDD, the system is asking for the PW and is shutting off after the correct PW has been typed in. When removing the HDD before typing in the PW the system does not shutt off immediately. Mounting a CD, the CD-drive is starting, but there is just a black screen.After a timeout the system is shutting off. Exchanging peripherals did not help.

Meanwhile I bought another mobo from eBay, which is working fine.


Any Ideas, your more up on faulty boards than me...

Shorting anything out is not an option.

I do not know what the admin password is just the primary. When trying to enable the feature to change settings, I must know what the configure password is.

Shorting anything out is not an option.

As long as you can access the machine then do this


If you go to my website and download either of the DST files (one is a floppy and one is a CD) you can use that to reset the Service Tags and clear any passwords except the HD password.

If you are unable to set the Boot Order then follow the guide for creating a bootable Hard Disk Drive, as this will always be set as a bootable drive.

Simply build it and install it in the Laptop switch on and follow the instructions,

Once cleared use the asset command to reset the tag and allow the setting of all the Passwords.

Jud
Site link below

Go to this website hosted by IdidmyC600, download the Additions File and one or both of the DST file versions and instructions. The chip is under the Fixed Optical Drive guide and requires that piece be removed from the board, but a complete board removal from the chassis is not necessary. The Additions file has a picture of the location.
The chip on these boards requires the Power-On first and then short technique. There is a picture of a Modified shorter/grounder I use on the website which is easier to control on the very small pins, and which I used again yesterday. The paperclip has blunt ends and requires keeping 2 contacts under control; this one uses one pointed contact. Good Luck and stay away from pin#8 with the shorter, as that is the voltage connector to the chip.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/judslat/paragon/

Hi Paragon33

Your tool is good for me. But my problem is which pin of chip I should short to ground. And you said I should keep away from pin#8 because it’s voltage, right? Others, which pin is #1 or #8? I have electronic background and know it should have a mark on any IC to recognize which is pin#1, but I can't see any mark or small hole on chip. I just see IC's brand and some letters with 24 on chip.

The chip numbering starts with #1 on the lower left corner looking at the chip with the legend right side up and continues around the chip counter-clockwise, ending with #8 in the upper Left corner

Got it working, called the IT Manager 2 people before me, and remembered the password. :angel:

All is good, ty for everyones time in this incident.

-Brett

Hi, i just bought Dell latitude D400 as second hand or 3th with out AC adapter. I just buy AC adapter from ebay and then turn on, it required primary and administrator password protect by authentication when first logon. Dell required for ownership, but i dont have as said this is used notebook.

Any body has any idea or any suggestion? please reply me. I need your help.
Your response is very appreciate and thankful

Brandon
email removed

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/judslat/paragon/

Wont make much difference, it doesn't include the 1150 only the 1000.

I know I have the Dellpass manual, best hang on a minute I'm sure someone may know.

Have you actually done a hunt for it, it's half the fun after all and most of the achievement if you find it yourself, then you can post in here and tell us all where it is.

Jud
I got my dell 1150 up & running. Didn't need to do the paper clip after-all.
I bought the paper clip, but didn't need to use it. It is very informitive & I will keep it for future issues.
Dell support finally gave me the master password & also emailed it to me.
I have transferred ownership to me & all is well & still has 6 months warranty !
I suggest to call them & try to get help. I called/talked to them 4 times & finally they helped me out.
The master password is made from the service tag & it DOES matter if they are Capitol or Lower-case letters. (You gurus already know this, but I didn't)
I had to put in a new hard drive, since the hard drive password was different.
Thanks to Ididmyc600 & paragon33 for your help.

[QUOTE=papafetch]I got my dell 1150 up & running.
Dell support finally gave me the master password & also emailed it to me.
QUOTE]


Your one of the lucky ones who has a Tag abled Password, some of us (me) had to paperclip,

Were glad that we were able to help, Please return to the forum when your free and help others is all that we ask.

Jud

Hello,

I just finished reading the last 30 or so pages of this thread and I must say what a wealth of information!

Many thanks to Paragon33 for the info and to IdidmyC600 for making it available on your site.

I just cleared my C640 (595B) of the admin password with the DST files on a bootable floppy. Worked like a charm. Booted up, confirmed deleting the service tag, entered the same tag when prompted. Boom! Good as new.

I'll try some C600's tomorrow.

Just had to sign up and say thanks! Good luck with the knee Paragon33. Also, Ididmyc600, if you send your address to me at email removed I may have that floppy you seek. (your on your own with the DVD drive, sorry)

Mato

Hello,

I just finished reading the last 30 or so pages of this thread and I must say what a wealth of information!

Many thanks to Paragon33 for the info and to IdidmyC600 for making it available on your site.

I just cleared my C640 (595B) of the admin password with the DST files on a bootable floppy. Worked like a charm. Booted up, confirmed deleting the service tag, entered the same tag when prompted. Boom! Good as new.

I'll try some C600's tomorrow.

Just had to sign up and say thanks! Good luck with the knee Paragon33. Also, Ididmyc600, if you send your address to me at email removed I may have that floppy you seek. (your on your own with the DVD drive, sorry)

Mato


Dam I so wanted the DVD drive :haha:
Thanks for the offer of the Floppy drive, I have however since found one via Ebay along with a CDRW for a measly £11.50, however I'm sure someone else reading this thread may have an interest in it so keep hold of it for now.

As for the C600 's download the Additions Document, it shows the location of the chip,

As you seem to have a multitude of Lappy's to do, is there any chance you can do some pictures of work in progress and let me have them for the site if it's not to much trouble.

Cheers

As you seem to have a multitude of Lappy's to do, is there any chance you can do some pictures of work in progress and let me have them for the site if it's not to much trouble.

Cheers


Sure, however since they are all admin passwords, there is not much to see. I have not run into any power-on (primary) passworded Dells lately.

Sure, however since they are all admin passwords, there is not much to see. I have not run into any power-on (primary) passworded Dells lately.


Ahh right then in that case, hold that thought.
Unless you run into any POP's

Hi all,

I added click counters to the site to monitor what went on, unfortunately the company that runs the web counter appears to be having problems, this resulted in the inability to get the files from the site./


I have now turned off the click counter so it is now working OK

Jud

Hi All,

Here is some interesting info....

Laptop: CPx H500GT BIOS Ver. A05
Issue: ADMIN PASSWORD

When running the DST bookdisk I get "This system is not supported by this utility"

So I ran ee-cpa.exe buy itself and it cleared the eeprom.

I then ran the ee-value but I kept getting a bad write to the eeprom (wrote FF read FE)
Also, when I first ran ee-value it told me the battery was required and stopped. I'm guessing that it won't run without a battery just incase the power fails.


So I started using asset.com and found a "/s" command switch that I was able to use to write the service tag. I found the /s command switch in the readme.txt. It's not displayed if you type "asset /?"


A couple of notes.

When using asset.com you must enter the service tag all uppercase.
You only enter the prefex. For example, the FULL service tag when looking at the primary power-on screen is 6VXIL**-d35B but when using asset.com you enter "ASSET /S=6VXIL"

I then entered a primary password and looked at the service tag and it added the **-D35B


Hope that helps someone out there. :)

Enjoy!

P.S. IDIDMYC600, feel free to add this to the website if you think it may help others.

Hello.

I have dell latitude c610.

When I turn on my laptop I see gry screen "Thi computer syste, #G48W90J-595B , is protected......"

I saw this page http://homepage.ntlworld.com/judslat/paragon/ and download files.

But I dont know what is paper clip and how do this.

Please for help, maybe some pictures.

My mail is email removed

Sorry for my english language, but I am from Poland, and I still larn this.

Hi there, I was attempting to unlock the admin password, with the paperclip method on my Inspirion 8500.

I was using pins 2/7 3/6 etc.. staying away from pin 8 while I was booting I had almost made it into the screen where you can hit FN-X etc..
Then immediatley the error No timer tick interrupt appeared and forced me to cold boot as laptop was un responsive.

now I just get error: No timer tick interrupt

Should I keep trying to short the eeprom, or is chip/system board dead.

TYIA
Rick

I have never seen that error, but you should not be shorting pins indiscriminately. What chip were you shorting(type number etched into the upper surface)?
The first thing I would try is disconnecting the CMOS battery for a while and see if resetting BIOS defaults will help. If it recovers, the pins to short on the chip-if it is a 24 type-are pairs 4/6 or 4/5. There have been a few folks who did what you did and have messed up their boards. It is the reason for the Disclaimers

I have never seen that error, but you should not be shorting pins indiscriminately. What chip were you shorting(type number etched into the upper surface)?
The first thing I would try is disconnecting the CMOS battery for a while and see if resetting BIOS defaults will help. If it recovers, the pins to short on the chip-if it is a 24 type-are pairs 4/6 or 4/5. There have been a few folks who did what you did and have messed up their boards. It is the reason for the Disclaimers


Thank you for your response, I understand the disclaimer quite well!! As I have found out the hard way. I will try removing the CMOS battery, but I am still unable to get into the BIOS. I will try those pin sequences you have mentioned above and report back if this is fixable.

Thank you
Rick

Hello.

I have dell latitude c610.

When I turn on my laptop I see gry screen "Thi computer syste, #G48W90J-595B , is protected......"

I saw this page http://homepage.ntlworld.com/judslat/paragon/ and download files.

But I dont know what is paper clip and how do this.

Please for help, maybe some pictures.

My mail is email removed

Sorry for my english language, but I am from Poland, and I still larn this.


Hi
My polish is terrible sorry so i'm afraid its English
The paper clip method:translated as the shorting of a chip on the motherboard to remove the password screen.

It isn't for the feint hearted as it involves stripping the laptop apart to get to the chip and then shorting 2 pins whilst powering on the laptop.

The chip is about the size of you littlest fingernail and the distance between the pins is about 1-2mm in size, you need a very steady hand,
AND IF YOU DO IT WRONG THE LAPTOP CAN BE DAMAGED,

We can advise you where the chip is located and you can download the service manual from Dell which will help you strip the Laptop down, however as I said it is not for the feeble minded.

If you still feel like giving it a go let us know and we will advise on chip location and method that generally works, if not then feel free to find someone local who can do it (But be prepared to pay a lot)

Jud

Hi,

Thx for answer snd help.

I location my chip on my board - this is in very wrong place on my MB - but I try paper clip method.

I know where is

8 7 6 5
---------
| 24C02 |
---------
1 2 3 4


But I don't know witch two pins I must switch #3 an #6 ?? maybe others ??

And I don't know power from: baterry or AC or ... ???

And.

How long switch two pins?? How many times ??

And when I started switching I must do this >>>

1st method:

1. Switch pins
2. Power ON
3.Power OFF

or

2nd method:

1. Power On
2. Switch pins
3. Power OFF

Now I must go to sleep, couse in my time-zone is now 1 AM and I morning ( about 6:30 AM I must go to work, so if You can answer for my cuestiones , I thx for you, and do this when I come back from work.


P.S. I find what is mean :feeble-minded, and I'm not this :haha: ... only my english lenguage :blush:

Thx for help and good night or good morning, whatever You want :)

Amigos, Gracias/Thanks to Paragon33 and Co for all the help and info. Took a couple deep breaths and a few attempts about 15 or so and then presto I got it. For those who are stuck keep on trying different combinations on the pins 4/6 4/5 and so on and hold the power button till it reboots and thats it. I am currently Installing Xp on a D600 and happy I didnt end up with a Dell paper weight.

Hi i got the same problem with a Dell Latitude CpiA and i dont know how to get the admin pass...can someone help me...my tag number is #VH8VP**-D35B... please anyone help me :(

Are you getting the grey screen asking for a password?

Are you getting the grey screen asking for a password?

Or can you get into the BIOS???

If so see the website listed below for all the help you need.

Jud

Well i must admit i just tried the paper clip method, i don't know how the pins are numbered, but looking at the pic in the files that Paragon sent me i shorted the 2 and i can say this, it works. I did get to the Fn-X screen, but as i was patting myself on the back caught up in the moment, a few seconds later the gray screen popped back up again. I repeated my steps and again i got to the Fn-x board, but it's there i'm lost. I dont see an Fn-X key to hit. I tried just hitting F2 but it said invalid command and went back to the gray screen. Can u good people give me some insight on how to hit an Fn-X key? I do now see the Fn key, but it doesn't have an X on it, so i'm wondering do i hit the Fn key and the shift button and the X keys all at once? Let me stop right here and give much needed Thanks to Paragon for his time in helping me with the files he sent. Your a life saver man, i truly appreciate it. I can now say the paper clip method does work for getting rid of the Gray screen on the Dell D600, but again if u good people could break down how i'm suppose to hit the Fn-X keys. I'm tired right now so i'm taking a break, and i'll go at it again. Thanks in advance for all the help. I've read every post on this topic and it helps. Also i found my eeprom chip underneath the PC smart card slot on the motherboard covered in some kind of black tape. Lol, sneaky dell. :haha: :haha: :haha:

dang this is one big thread. All for a lost password???? Just try replacing the harrdrive, then set old one as master, harddrive #2 as slave, then simply transfer old data from the old harrdrive to the new one. (You need to install the OS on HDD #2)

Well i must admit i just tried the paper clip method, <SNIP>. I dont see an Fn-X key to hit. :



On the bottom of the keyboard is the FN key it's second in next to the CTRL Key and the Windows Key

Nearly all laptops have the FN key if yours doesnt then go buy a mini Laptop keyboard from your local PC shop.

You hold that down then press the X Key.

So hold down the FN key then press X

Got it now

Jud

dang this is one big thread. All for a lost password???? Just try replacing the harrdrive, then set old one as master, harddrive #2 as slave, then simply transfer old data from the old harrdrive to the new one. (You need to install the OS on HDD #2)


This thread is for Laptop owners, you can't slave drives on a Laptop.

And if their is a password on the Drive then you cant access it full stop if you could set it as a slave and access it then the whole point of having a drive that is protected by a password (To prevent sensitive data being stolen) would be a total waste of time.

Jud

After a bit of investigation I decided to post this

Passwords on a Dell Latitude C600

At default
Primary is disabled
Admin is disabled

If the Primary is set then the Admin is Disabled automatically and the system is locked with the grey screen.

If the Admin is set then the System is not locked

If you unlock the Primary then you can set the Admin then the Primary, again the system will be locked with the grey screen.

If you set the Admin PW then 2 more fields appear these are
Config Setup
Config Passwords

Once these appear the Admin PW cant be disabled until the Config Setup is enabled using the the Admin PW

Config Password cant be enabled/disabled until Config Setup is enabled using the Admin Password

As for Hard Drive Passwords these can be enabled/disabled at anytime as long as the BIOS is accessible.

If the HD PW is enabled then you get the following at power on

HD password required please enter the password for
Hard Disk #**95EL1140S-595B, (this is what shows on mine, yours maybe different.
You get 3 tries before the system enters the BIOS but the HD password section is Blank.

If the Primary PW is set and the HD PW is set, at power on you get
the grey screen asking for the primary password and if entered correctly,
you then get the HD PW request screen.

Jud

If any one has any other types of password then please mail me as I will be adding this to the site soon.

Well i must admit i just tried the paper clip method, i don't know how the pins are numbered, but looking at the pic in the files that Paragon sent me i shorted the 2 and i can say this, it works. I did get to the Fn-X screen, but as i was patting myself on the back caught up in the moment, a few seconds later the gray screen popped back up again. I repeated my steps and again i got to the Fn-x board, but it's there i'm lost. I dont see an Fn-X key to hit. I tried just hitting F2 but it said invalid command and went back to the gray screen. Can u good people give me some insight on how to hit an Fn-X key? I do now see the Fn key, but it doesn't have an X on it, so i'm wondering do i hit the Fn key and the shift button and the X keys all at once? Let me stop right here and give much needed Thanks to Paragon for his time in helping me with the files he sent. Your a life saver man, i truly appreciate it. I can now say the paper clip method does work for getting rid of the Gray screen on the Dell D600, but again if u good people could break down how i'm suppose to hit the Fn-X keys. I'm tired right now so i'm taking a break, and i'll go at it again. Thanks in advance for all the help. I've read every post on this topic and it helps. Also i found my eeprom chip underneath the PC smart card slot on the motherboard covered in some kind of black tape. Lol, sneaky dell. :haha: :haha: :haha:

I had a similar problem typing the Any-Key, but now I don't dare telling you how I solved the issue :haha:

Klaus

Hi,

Thx for answer snd help.

I location my chip on my board - this is in very wrong place on my MB - but I try paper clip method.

I know where is

8 7 6 5
---------
| 24C02 |
---------
1 2 3 4


But I don't know witch two pins I must switch #3 an #6 ?? maybe others ??

And I don't know power from: baterry or AC or ... ???

And.

How long switch two pins?? How many times ??

And when I started switching I must do this >>>

1st method:

1. Switch pins
2. Power ON
3.Power OFF

or

2nd method:

1. Power On
2. Switch pins
3. Power OFF

Now I must go to sleep, couse in my time-zone is now 1 AM and I morning ( about 6:30 AM I must go to work, so if You can answer for my cuestiones , I thx for you, and do this when I come back from work.


P.S. I find what is mean :feeble-minded, and I'm not this :haha: ... only my english lenguage :blush:

Thx for help and good night or good morning, whatever You want :)

Did you succed with your C610. I did not. My C610 will no longer start and I can't find the reason. I did not find any post, where C610-owners succeeded with Paperclip.

Klaus

:bounce: Hi,
I've been up and down these posts. Have taken the Laptop apart about 3 times. I have looked high and low for this chip and I can not find it. The closest of come is to a chip that says 93LC86. Nothing with 24c04 on it. If anyone has this particular computer. Please help me with the location of this chip as I am going GA-GA! Thank you in advance

:bounce: Hi,
I've been up and down these posts. Have taken the Laptop apart about 3 times. I have looked high and low for this chip and I can not find it. The closest of come is to a chip that says 93LC86. Nothing with 24c04 on it. If anyone has this particular computer. Please help me with the location of this chip as I am going GA-GA! Thank you in advance

It's under the MOBO just to the left of Dimm 1, I am trying to find someone who has done one to supply a pic as I dont have one yet.

Keep perservering, it is there but it is a very small chip.

Regards
Jud

Did you succed with your C610. I did not. My C610 will no longer start and I can't find the reason. I did not find any post, where C610-owners succeeded with Paperclip.

Klaus
Yes it can be done

From feedback I received

Greetings,

Thank you for the instructions and the software.

With your help I was able to get a Dell C610 working.

BTW, I did not have to modify the laptop. Using a
small wire, secured at one end under one of the "B" screws, I was able to tickle the 24CXX after about 4 or 5 tries and get it to reset. Grounding one end makes it ALOT easier to perform.

Thanks,

GClarkII

--
GB Clark II | Roaming FreeBSD Admin
edited from post | General Geek
CTHULU for President - Why choose the lesser of two evils?

So please try not to be negative in the forum,

Regards
Jud

CTHULU, h-m-m-m? Someone is an H.P. Lovecraft fan. While you are at it, how about Yog-Sothoth for Vice_President?

:bounce: Hi,
I've been up and down these posts. Have taken the Laptop apart about 3 times. I have looked high and low for this chip and I can not find it. The closest of come is to a chip that says 93LC86. Nothing with 24c04 on it. If anyone has this particular computer. Please help me with the location of this chip as I am going GA-GA! Thank you in advance
Yours is the first example of that chip I have heard about, and it is indeed an EEProm chip. I have no idea what it is doing on a C640 board, as all the other reports were about a 24 series chip on the C640 boards. I am attaching a .pdf file about that chip. Notice particularly the difference in the pin usage. Pin 8 is still the voltage connection , but 5 is the ground on this one. I was unsuccessful with a similar 93LC46 on Inspiron 1000 and I wish you better luck. As a last ditch measure, unsolder and lift the #8 terminal and lift it clear of the board. That will lock the password and Service Tag on the chip and prevent them loading on each boot into BIOS. You will no longer have a Service TAG in BIOS and will not be able to set a Primary or Admin Password of your own, but the laptop will be usable. The .pdf file is too large for this forums system, so here is a link to that file for download.
http://www.datasheetcatalog.com/datasheets_pdf/9/3/L/C/93LC86.shtml

I want to thank everyone in this forum and especially those who tried to help me. After downloading that $13 price tag software. I was able to locate the correct chip under the metal housing on the hard drive side of the board. Once agian it was no easy task to paperclip it. In fact it took four hands to do in becuase I had to bend the metal plate back to get to the chip. The chip also had a different number then in previous posts on this forum, 24c05 if not mistaken. I would think that the software sold on ebay would be in this forum some were. I think that it is a shame to make money off of other peoples misseries. In any case the paperclip trick works and I'm a happy camper.

Hey bluecat1.

I`m pleased your problem is solved.

Thanks for letting us know.

Regards Howard :)

Yours is the first example of that chip I have heard about, and it is indeed an EEProm chip. I have no idea what it is doing on a C640 board, as all the other reports were about a 24 series chip on the C640 boards. I am attaching a .pdf file about that chip. Notice particularly the difference in the pin usage. Pin 8 is still the voltage connection , but 5 is the ground on this one. I was unsuccessful with a similar 93LC46 on Inspiron 1000 and I wish you better luck. As a last ditch measure, unsolder and lift the #8 terminal and lift it clear of the board. That will lock the password and Service Tag on the chip and prevent them loading on each boot into BIOS. You will no longer have a Service TAG in BIOS and will not be able to set a Primary or Admin Password of your own, but the laptop will be usable. The .pdf file is too large for this forums system, so here is a link to that file for download.
http://www.datasheetcatalog.com/datasheets_pdf/9/3/L/C/93LC86.shtml

The EEPROM 93LC46 on the C640-MoBo or the chip 93C86 on the C610-MoBo of mine does not contain any PW. It is located on the upper side between the PCMCIA- and the HDD-housing. I tried to find out, what it is for. I read out the binary content, exchanged it with an empty chip and started the Diag-Program. The only fault was the Voice-Rrecording-Test. Maybe someone can tell us, what it is for.

Klaus

I google search the chip and found that it is also a EEROM chip. That is why I thought is was the one I was looking for. Nothing happen when i jump it. So my search went on. I found the right chip underneath the metal plate on the left side of the board. It read 24c05. Del hid it very well.

Ahhh sucess at last. I finally got the paperclip to reset my Dell D600 laptop. I changed the time and date in setup and when i rebooted it said the HDD was password protected. It gave me 3 tries to guess then went to a black screen that said

Primary hard disk drive 0 not found
No bootable devices--strike F1 to retry boot, F2 for setup utility

Now i have these 2 Dell CD's, one is drivers and utilites and drivers, and the other is operating system. I was wondering if i should put either one of these into the CD port and run them, but i wanted to ask here 1st. I know my knowlege is low and this may be an easy ?, but thanks for the help.