Dell BIOS Password Removal

Just wanted to give some feedback to you for putting together the files, and also for the hoster of the website. Thank you both for your time and efforts.

I have been reading these threads for days trying to short my eprom chip with no success.

today i went on a shorting frenzy repetedly shorting every possible combinaton of pins avoiding the 8 pin.

finally after a week of pulling my hair i have eliminated the password.

thanks everyone for all your help and usefull information. :)

If you havent done it already, I have been working on a disk that will

1 boot your PC
2 format (or allow you to FDISK your HD) your chosen HD
3 copy the files needed
4 run the DST software

It can be found on the site in my tag under "servicetag,exe"

All the instructions for its use are on the page and on the Floppy, it is a trial thing and if anyone finds any fault with it please let me know

Whilst i'm on about the site did you know that so far (since it was concieved) there have been over 2500 visitors to the site.

I dont admit to being the best software writer on the market but I do try.

yeah thanks again for the great software i downloaded the new servicetag.exe from the site and created the floppy, this disk will run fdisk and format the hdd while adding the files right

this disk will run fdisk and format the hdd while adding the files right

You can use the disk to run FDISK it wont do the work for you (there is no way to do this as far as I know) but otherwise it should do as the site says, but please do post back if you find any faults or have any questions

i have to buy a new adapter because my stupid ide cable has that middle pin blocked and in process of pulling off the pin i couldnt get it all the way out and ended up messing it up :( but what is the best way i can remove that pin on this adapter?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Showimage.asp?Mode=&Type=&Image=12-203-012-02.jpg%2C12-203-012-03.jpg&CurImage=12-203-012-03.jpg&Description=Kinamax+ADP-IDE23+Laptop+2.5%22+to+Desktop+3.5%22+IDE+Hard+Drive+Adapter+Converter+-+Retail

I don't know if anyone has used this one before but its soooooooooo flimsy

EDIT: on the new service tag floppy on the website when i have to make my choice to format the hdd in the notebook my keyboard doesn't work to make a selection none of the lights go on either (caps lock, num lock etc) the keyboard is usb..

EDIT: on the new service tag floppy on the website when i have to make my choice to format the hdd in the notebook my keyboard doesn't work to make a selection none of the lights go on either (caps lock, num lock etc) the keyboard is usb..

I think the problem lies in setting your BIOS, somewhere there is a setting for DOS support for USB keyboards or similar.

I dont have a USB keyboard myself but i'm certain that that is the setting.

I am trying to use the CD to change the service tag on my system, I tried using the svctag.exe to no avail!

Please help this is driving me nuts!

Thanks in advance.

email removed

Where did you get the Service Tag.exe File? If it is from a Dell ftp site, that one doesn't work. Try the DST file and instructions from this linked site http://homepage.ntlworld.com/judslat/paragonnew/

Where did you get the Service Tag.exe File? If it is from a Dell ftp site, that one doesn't work. Try the DST file and instructions from this linked site http://homepage.ntlworld.com/judslat/paragonnew/


Sorry that link isnt right, it was a temporary name whilst I worked on the new site, the site is now up and running and once again I ask for feedback for the content.

The correct address is
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/judslat/paragon/

Anyone try this on an XPS M140?

I have read thru this whole thread and also read the PDF file which talks about the varying places for the chips. For the M140, it says that it is between the Ram module and the modem/wireless module. I am unable to gain access to that section and cant find a way there. Something is holding the board down very tightly and I cant get to it. Do I have to turn the laptop right side up and disconnect things there first and then turn it back over to gain access? I can see some microchips there but there is no way to see which one is the correct one because I cant see the chips.

So far, I have turned the laptop face down and taken the CDrom, HD, Battery, Ram out but I need to get to a section that I cant get to?

Can anyone shed some light on what I need to do? Should I attempt to try this as if I am taking the system board out as it shows how to do on Dell's website?
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/xps140M/en/sm/sysboard.htm#wp1000473

Any input would be appreciated!

Usually its better to strip it right down as they are usually underneath the board somewhere

Hello to one and all I hope i am posting this message in the right place if not i am sorry.. I am new to this forum and am in need of assistance i have a dell inspiron 8100 that some one who was supposed to be my friend locked up with the administrator/ primary password in the infamous gray dell security screen. would you be able to provide an unlock code for it. the guy palyed a april's fool joke on me amd locked the laptop to the point where i cant boot from cd, floppy anything else for that matter and he even forgot what the password was or so he says... any help would be appreciated. i need to file my taxes and the info is in my laptop so you know the stress i am in. :blackeye:

my info is as follows:

SERVICE TAG: #HR1V311-595B
EXPRESS SERVICE CODE: 38641016341

Well this is certainly an entertaining thread; I did a search on Google and it comes up at the top of the list. I began reading the first few postings and then was hooked.

Great stuff here, and hats off to Paragon and Ididmy600 for all the help and support they have offered to folks here.

So why am I here? I bought several C-series laptops from the company I work for and am getting them ready for resale. I came across a CPxJ650GT that has the dreaded HD lock. The CMOS is accessible and the HD lock is the only lock in place. The ID info it is prompting for is:

#***********-595b

Since I can verify ownership I called Dell and after they verofied the number of asterisks and my service tag number they offered me the unlock password of n4dvw4de which sounded good but didnt work. They recommended holding the ctrl key and hitting ENTER twice but no change. No num lock or caps lock was on, I even tried and external kbd and no change.

In most circles this unit is considered to be as old as Methusalah (<-sp?) and I am not sure that I can hold Dell liable. (but I will try :) )

Are there any secret keystrokes I missed in this thread? Or am I destined to certain fate armed with a screwdriver and paperclips and chewing gum? I really thought Dell should have been able to unlock this but has there been other that didnt unlock when the correct master password was applied?

model: CPXj 650GT
service tag: JXM5501

Just junk the drive and install a new one, or at least one that is not Password protected. Dell frequently is not able to help with HDD Passwords as they are stored on the drive in either Firmware, or on a maintenance cylinder at the drives root, and not in the EEProm Chip. There are pro services that can crack them, but unless the data on the drive is needed, or it is a large fast spinning drive, the cost is not worth it.

Thats what I thought too. I have tried a few different drives in it and the PC still has the password protect on bootup.

EDIT: It would appear you are correct. The drives I was testing were from other later model machines. I had some older Hitachi Travelstars and they work fine. BIOS shows HD password as disabled.

Thanks for the response, I will tinker with the suspect locked drives in other machines to see what can be done to remedy this.

Is it me or does the DST-CDR.iso.zip file not work?

I tried to burn directly using nero and it said "unknown file format"

tried to unzip and still nothing, tried to change the name to .iso!

Please help.

It's Alive It's Alive!!!

Ok heres what I did, I used the floppy disk to create an image using Undisker, Undisker created a .img file, Used Nero to create a boot image and Voila bobs your uncle!

Thanks so much for the help, such an informative thread.

Is it me or does the DST-CDR.iso.zip file not work?

I tried to burn directly using nero and it said "unknown file format"

tried to unzip and still nothing, tried to change the name to .iso!

Please help.

Glad to hear you used your head and found a way round the problem, however the ISO is made from an original Dell Disk so it should work OK,

Sorry to ask a dumb question but you did extract the file from the ZIP first then try to burn it, you didn't try to burn the ZIP file as an ISO did you?

I will download the file from the site (in case there is some corruption) and test it.

I'll post the results shortly.

Hello to one and all I hope i am posting this message in the right place if not i am sorry.. I am new to this forum and am in need of assistance i have a dell inspiron 8100 that some one who was supposed to be my friend locked up with the administrator/ primary password in the infamous gray dell security screen. would you be able to provide an unlock code for it. the guy palyed a april's fool joke on me amd locked the laptop to the point where i cant boot from cd, floppy anything else for that matter and he even forgot what the password was or so he says... any help would be appreciated. i need to file my taxes and the info is in my laptop so you know the stress i am in. :blackeye:

my info is as follows:

SERVICE TAG: #HR1V311-595B
EXPRESS SERVICE CODE: 38641016341


Sorry to tell you but there is no shortcut to this, you are going to have to go down the road of resetting the EEPROM chip, for all the info you need then visit the site in my tag.

If your friend (ha some friend) has locked the Hard drive then your stuffed as there is no way to defeat the passwords (well there is a way but its costly).

If your friend (ha some friend) has locked the Hard drive then your stuffed as there is no way to defeat the passwords (well there is a way but its costly).

Well this is still a valid topic for me as the drive that is locked is a newer 40GB.

Can I slave it in a desktop machine and do a low level format or something? I couldn't care less for the data, I just want the drive to be usable

MT

Thanks for the response, I will tinker with the suspect locked drives in other machines to see what can be done to remedy this.


I live in hope that one day we meet someone who can provide a way to defeat a locked HD, just think of the glory this thread and all those who contribute will reap.

Well this is still a valid topic for me as the drive that is locked is a newer 40GB.

Can I slave it in a desktop machine and do a low level format or something? I couldn't care less for the data, I just want the drive to be usable

MT

Hi Mike

Nope I tried that, if you slave it as a drive it just shows as a zero sized drive, I have tried reading the Sectors with a Hex Editor and it would'nt read it, I'm still looking for a way.

I work for a large telecom company and have laptop drives fail all the time. If I cant figure it out I guess I can engineer some sort of damage that might render the drive even more useless and submit it for warranty replacement.

I would much prefer to find the solution and emerge a hero than take the cowards way out on this you know :bounce:

I appreciate both you guys responses here

MT

You may have to resort to a sledgehammer to render them more useless :haha:

You may have to resort to a sledgehammer to render them more useless :haha:

:haha: :haha: :haha: :knock:


How was the Gumbo ?

I tasted it after I made it and it is fine, but it is being held in abeyance for Dinner on Palm Sunday.
If I did not send you the link for the Harddrive crackers, mea culpa and here it is
http://hdd-tools.com/products/rrs/

As my handle would suggest I am a Newbie to this site. But as it goes I have a Dell Latitude CPi A366XT Laptop, and I am trying to get pass the Administrators Password (like alot or other people here are).
I have read about the paper clip method but instructions on how to actually apply that method in practicle terms have seemed to allude me in this thread. I was hoping that someone out there could point me in the right direction to get such procedures. I have found the 24c04 eeprom chip and all I need is detailed and concise instructions on how to short that chip out with the paper clip method.

All assistance with the above would be much appreciated.

Regards

Newbie Techco :cool:

a great thank to paragon 33 his solution forked fine on my dell d600 bios protected.The hd still locked but i'll replace it.the important thing is laptop now is un***.A great thank :angel:

As my handle would suggest I am a Newbie to this site. But as it goes I have a Dell Latitude CPi A366XT Laptop, and I am trying to get pass the Administrators Password (like alot or other people here are).
I have read about the paper clip method but instructions on how to actually apply that method in practicle terms have seemed to allude me in this thread. I was hoping that someone out there could point me in the right direction to get such procedures. I have found the 24c04 eeprom chip and all I need is detailed and concise instructions on how to short that chip out with the paper clip method.

All assistance with the above would be much appreciated.

Regards

Newbie Techco :cool:
The chip should be located under the CPU/Integral Circuit board and a paper clip will not work. You must spot solder a small insulated wire to Pin # 6(see attached diagram) bring the wire outside the recess, reinstall your CPU and heatsink, touch the free end of the wire to a ground point on the motherboard and then Power On the laptop. That should clear you to Manufacturing Mode. Screws attaching the M'board to the bottom chassis or the holes for the screws with bare metal "haloes" are reliable ground points. Pin 3 or 4 on the 24 series eeproms are grounded also and are one of the 2 pins shorted with a paper clip when the chip is accessible with the board in bootable condition. The CP/CPiD/CPiA all have the chip under the CPU. Some of the very late models have it under the video card and require the same shorting/grounding technique.

Hi any chance of sending me the pdf file for dell d400?

Cheers.....roy email removed

Hi any chance of sending me the pdf file for dell d400?

Cheers.....roy email removed


The Dellpass PDF does cover the D400 and in detail too, However If I send it to you I will be breaching a copy right agreement that I have when I bought it, the manual can be downloaded via a link in my website and costs a measly $13.

Yes at last thanks to this thread ive turned my door stop into a working note book :angel: ,,,, the EEprog chip was located to the left of the keyboard
next to the caps lock key,,, under a plastic cover ,,, i found pins 4 - 5 where
the pins to short for me, the service tag is now clear , thank you all for the help,, i do have pics if anyone wants them .
regards all
for pic`s feel free to email me ,,, email removed :approve:

The Cap Locks key appears to be on the left side and not the right :rolleyes:

If I did not send you the link for the Harddrive crackers, mea culpa and here it is
http://hdd-tools.com/products/rrs/


I went to the site that Paragon33 showed and read the info that was there. It mentioned that the password can be stored in the system area of the hard drive or on an eeprom. Just out of curiosity, if the password was stored in the system area of the hard drive, could you use a bulk eraser to wipe the entire hard drive clean, thereby removing the password? I understand the data on the drive would be lost, but at least you would have a working hard drive, providing the bulk eraser didn't do anything else to the electronics. Again, just curious...

Al

SORRY EVERYONE yes paragon33 i ment the left ,,,,damn can get past the password but don`t know me left from right ,,,, sorry its on the left ,,,duh
and thank you all again

I went to the site that Paragon33 showed and read the info that was there. It mentioned that the password can be stored in the system area of the hard drive or on an eeprom. Just out of curiosity, if the password was stored in the system area of the hard drive, could you use a bulk eraser to wipe the entire hard drive clean, thereby removing the password? I understand the data on the drive would be lost, but at least you would have a working hard drive, providing the bulk eraser didn't do anything else to the electronics. Again, just curious...

Al


The problem is, once the drive is locked, it becomes unrecognised by most BIOS's or is only recognised as a Zero sized drive, because of this most programs wont do anything to the drive contents.

I did a read up on the web , there are programs that claim to be able to remove the password, but they dont work, it seems the drives are built with the capability to be locked and who ever designed it made sure there was no easy way past it.

Yes the service tag is now clear
Did you use the software to reset the tag, I mean why shouldn't you have the capability to set passwords, you made it your machine with your own blood, sweat and tears, so go on do it....

The problem is, once the drive is locked, it becomes unrecognised by most BIOS's or is only recognised as a Zero sized drive, because of this most programs wont do anything to the drive contents.

I did a read up on the web , there are programs that claim to be able to remove the password, but they dont work, it seems the drives are built with the capability to be locked and who ever designed it made sure there was no easy way past it.


By a bulk eraser, I meant the type that you would use for erasing tapes, etc. like the type shown here http://www.cdimediasolutions.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=21_49_108

When you erase the drive, it wouldn't even be connected to a computer.

By a bulk eraser, I meant the type that you would use for erasing tapes, etc. like the type shown here http://www.cdimediasolutions.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=21_49_108

When you erase the drive, it wouldn't even be connected to a computer.

It might erase the contents, of the drive, but as for the password.....

Paragon ... thoughts please....

Well it got busy since I last posted but I finally got a chance to tinker with that locked drive today.

I put it in an XP machine and it didn't show up at all in My Computer. The first time I launched Disk Mgr the dynamic disk wizard popped up. I cancelled the wizard to see what other options were available but the properties and all else on the drivewas greyed out. doh!

Subsequent reboots and the drive virtually disappeared and wasnt present in Disk Mgr. Removed it, booted, then shutdown and restarted with the drive now reconnected and the dynamic disk wizard pops up again. This time I tell it to make this otherwise inaccessible disk dynamic, create the partition, and format. Away it went and the drive is working as normal again.

Not a big deal but truly only half of the battle won. I REALLY was curious as to what might be on the drive to make folks go to such lengths. I guess for now I will have to settle for having a working drive again for another laptop.

this thread has alot of momentum going - keep up the good work!

HTH
Mike

Hello to all,

I get two days ago a second hand latitude d510 and I was really happy until I found out that the bios is locked. When I first saw that I didn't really bothered because I though I still can format my hard disk. The bad thing is that my first boot device is my hard disk and my second is my NIC card so I can't even use my laptop now.

My service tag ends with -595b

I tried all the software you have (with caps lock and without) but still nothing.
Yesterday I unscrew all the laptop but I didn't fount the eeprom chip or any chip similar...

I can log on into bios but under security the admin password is SET and in Unlock Setup as well so I cannot change the boot sequence in order to do a new installation.

I 'm really confused I read all the pages but I didn’t found much information about latitude D 510

HELP PLEASE I'VE GOT NIGHTMARES WITH PASSWORDS :dead: :dead:

Thanks in advance

Email:email removed

My service tag ends with -595b

I tried all the software you have (with caps lock and without) but still nothing.


HELP PLEASE I'VE GOT NIGHTMARES WITH PASSWORDS :dead: :dead:

Thanks in advance

Email: email removed



Your service tag ends in 595B, it says on the site that the password maker wont work with it.

Read the site thoroughly, it has the answer you seek, but I'll tell you anyway coz i'm feelin generous

On the site is a section on making a bootable Harddrive, and a disk on the software page that will do it automatically, use the instuctions or the disk, you will need a spare drive, but if your planning on doing a reinstall you can use the one in the laptop,

Once you have made the disk simply pop it into the laptop and let it boot.
Erase the service tag and it's bye bye passwords.

Any questions please ask

Well it got busy since I last posted but I finally got a chance to tinker with that locked drive today.

I put it in an XP machine and it didn't show up at all in My Computer. The first time I launched Disk Mgr the dynamic disk wizard popped up. I cancelled the wizard to see what other options were available but the properties and all else on the drivewas greyed out. doh!

Subsequent reboots and the drive virtually disappeared and wasnt present in Disk Mgr. Removed it, booted, then shutdown and restarted with the drive now reconnected and the dynamic disk wizard pops up again. This time I tell it to make this otherwise inaccessible disk dynamic, create the partition, and format. Away it went and the drive is working as normal again.

Not a big deal but truly only half of the battle won. I REALLY was curious as to what might be on the drive to make folks go to such lengths. I guess for now I will have to settle for having a working drive again for another laptop.

this thread has alot of momentum going - keep up the good work!

HTH
Mike
Mike, it would help to know the Brand and type number on the drive you cracked. As previously commented, not all drives use the same storage point for the password, and the security level varies depending on what brand and model laptop on which it was set. Not to disparage your triumph, but what worked in your case may not work in another, and anyone who tries your successful method should be prepared for disappoint if it does not work on their drive. Thanks for your feedback.

Mike, it would help to know the Brand and type number on the drive you cracked.

Me thinks I will try some of the tosh's I have here and see if it does work on them,

I have read many threads regarding tearing open laptops and re setting the EEPROM chip with a paper clip, not only is this time consuming but it can also be dangerous. So, after trawlling the internet for months here's the lowdown:

If you wish to reset the machines Service Tag or Asset Tag, use ASSET.com from a DOS boot disk. The program LATTITUDE.EXE will only reset the BIOS password on the older Dell laptops, if you have a password on a newer machine you will need something a bit more precise. I have purchased a bootable CD that will erase the EEPROM taking all the BIOS passwords with it, works a treat!! Flashing the BIOS with a download from Dell WILL NOT remove passwords, the CD bootdisk is the way forward.

Or you could hack the machine to bits and stab it randomly with paper clips.....I know which one I'd prefer!!

And FYI, I have used the disk so far on A C600, C610 and a CPIa, all are now unlocked!!

I have read many threads regarding tearing open laptops and re setting the EEPROM chip with a paper clip, not only is this time consuming but it can also be dangerous. So, after trawlling the internet for months here's the lowdown:

If you wish to reset the machines Service Tag or Asset Tag, use ASSET.com from a DOS boot disk. The program LATTITUDE.EXE will only reset the BIOS password on the older Dell laptops, if you have a password on a newer machine you will need something a bit more precise. I have purchased a bootable CD that will erase the EEPROM taking all the BIOS passwords with it, works a treat!! Flashing the BIOS with a download from Dell WILL NOT remove passwords, the CD bootdisk is the way forward.

Or you could hack the machine to bits and stab it randomly with paper clips.....I know which one I'd prefer!!

And FYI, I have used the disk so far on A C600, C610 and a CPIa, all are now unlocked!!



And what do you do if your faced with the grey screen asking for a password, the one that stops you from doing anything...

Answer... you have to hack the laptop to bits and reset the EEPROM,

Please dont think I'm being rude but you obviously haven't read this whole thread.

And as for the CD you bought, If you wanted the same thing I have it on the site in my tag FOR FREE.. along with other tools that make floppy versions and a way to make a bootable Hard drive should your boot order be locked to boot from HD only

Sorry to rain on your parade.

The CD I have boots up with 'For Internal Dell use only' and happily bypasses the Grey password screen by erasing the EEPROM without having to open up the laptop.

The CPIA I used the disk on has this password screen, doesn't anymore..........

The CD I have boots up with 'For Internal Dell use only' and happily bypasses the Grey password screen by erasing the EEPROM without having to open up the laptop.

The CPIA I used the disk on has this password screen, doesn't anymore..........


This disk I have to see,

The grey screen prevents any booting up whatsoever from any medium until a password is inputted.

I would very much like to see a file list of the files on this supposed wonder disk, you can private message me with them or post them here

What and angry little man you are!! I'm not trying to sell this disk, merely telling of my own experience.

Perhaps you feel you own private enterprise is under threat? Well I can assure you I am completely uninterested in undermining you cottage enterprise and think you should perhaps take a holiday and calm down a bit?

What an odd little fellow.

What and angry little man you are!!

What an odd little fellow.



I'm not angry, just bemused that after all this thread , a disk that claims to be able to get rid of the grey screen comes to light

do you not realise what a break through this would be if it was true,

Why dont you answer my question and upload a copy of this disk somewhere so that we can see if it does work,

before you do just visit my site and see if the grey screen you talk about matches that on the homepage of my my site

If it does I can close the site down and retire this thread.

I wait for your reply (hopefully without the insults)