Originally Posted by syphear

Hi I just found a random wee software pack from a link on this site and I used it to remove my service tag number and re install the same number and in doing so erase the admin and config passwords that someone else enterd before I brought my laptop (dell latitude c610) from its NVROM chippy thingie. The filename for this amasing wee pack is svctag.exe and apparently it works on all dell portable systems. It runs under a win98 dos boot disk I just extracted the files to my USB memory disk, as it tells you to do then copied them onto my floppy disk and booted off the floppy disk then ran the program. When it asked if i wanted to remove my service tag i said yes and then when it said what service tag would you like to enter i re-enterd the origional tag number and it worked. re booted the laptop and the passwords were reset. No dicking round shorting the NVROM pins and rebooting for me. Well pleased. syphear@yahoo.co.nz if you want the file if you cant find it with google or somthing put dell in the subject line.

Originally Posted by Ididmyc600

Resetting BIOS Passwords

There are 2 instances of this

You get a grey screen with "this system is locked and can only be unlocked by entering....."

The BIOS is accessible but you dont know the Master Password to change the boot order

Well despite what Dell might tell you there are utilities and fact files out on the net that will allow you to reset the password using 2 methods

1 is the paper clip method, Dell would go mad to know that there is a simple way to reset the BIOS Password using a bit of metal, but it does work.

Second is the software method where you can get access to the BIOS

in the first instance you can download a password generator that will give you the master password BUT ONLY FOR CERTAIN TYPES OF SERVICE TAG

in the second instance their is software that will clear the eeprom that contains the service tag and you just boot from a floppy and run it.

Job done.

So when people ask how to do it tell them, Google on laptop password reset to find the answer and search ebay for items on this topic
This may be my last post and I may well be kicked out of here and this post edited but I just did it to stick it to Dell as I hate their approach to second hand users of Dell Laptops Spread the word.................

Originally Posted by Ididmyc600

Straight to the point and from that as I have said already I have had many emails from people asking for help.

SO it seems that the problem is wide spread enough that Dell should start making some kind of compromise and dealing with the problem.

But they don't, because their is always the possibility that the Lappy is stolen, and they dont want to be known as a company that helps thieves.

Which leaves you and I up sh*t creak with out the paddle, until that was the files and knowledge became available to reset the service tag and paperclip the EEPROM.

And this is what they sent me via email

judslat

We are writing in reference to your post in the Dell Community Forum,

Board:Latitude Bios
Date:03-24-2006
Title: Resetting BIOS Passwords

This post content contains information that suggests or implies advertising or promotions, junk mail, "spamming", chain letters, or unauthorized solicitation including, but not limited to, commercial and legal solicitation and is prohibited on the Dell Forum.

In compliance with the Dell Community Forum Terms of Service Agreement, the post will be removed as we must keep these Forums accessible to users of all ages and backgrounds. You can find the Terms of Service located at the following link: http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/terms

As the original author, you can re-post without the questionable/objectionable content. For your convenience, the fol-lowing is a copy of the original post:my post here.
.

We understand some situations are unintentional and our efforts at this time are to inform users of situations that could lead to DCF posting privileges being revoked.

Thank you for your cooperation and thank you for using the Dell Community Forum.

Sincerely,

DCF Administration Services
DTB2189

-----------
This message is a private communication between the Dell Community Forum and you and should not be posted to the message boards. Public posting of this message may result in immediate banning of your Dell Community Forum ac-count.

Well I didnt get banned but it shows how serious they are about preventing the knowledge we have from getting around.

So what can you do?
Join the Dell forum and post the above message, use a hotmail address or similar to sign up and then post and post and post the same message across the boards.

Who knows maybe we can change Dells (l)atitude.....

If this post offends please let me know and I will shift it to the website

Originally Posted by Sam Ontario

For other future newcomers with Dell password problem, there is no harm to try this Dell file before opening up the laptop for paperclipping.

Originally Posted by skarmory2002

I don' appreciate the rude tone from you there ididmyc600. all i am doing is trying to help. If you were me would you have read through all 37 pages? no exactly so maybe i didnt know that the origional problem was solved. in case you havent noticed it says in training, so therefore i dont know everything.

Originally Posted by Ididmyc600

Oh boy a double post, duly edited,

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...

2. ...
- 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.
...

Originally Posted by risck

Hi Jud,

as posted in the DCF my 2. issue turned out to be a broken reed contact, which serves as the standby switch, on the Power LED Assembly.

I had found out, that the laptop did indeed start with an external display. And then I got the hint to the standby switch.

Nevertheless my 1. issue remains unsolved...

Thank you for help too.

Regards

Klaus

Originally Posted by altitude

i have a latitude 110L and im planning on doing Paragon33's way of putting the dst files on the notebooks hd but my notebook doesn't have a floppy drive so if i put the files on the hdd and put it back in the laptop should it just automatically boot up in the dos screen asking to change my tag or can i just make a boot cd and do it without having to hook it up to my desktop

Originally Posted by altitude

so put the laptops hdd in my dekstop format it with fdisk then load it up to windows and load the files to the hdd in the secondary ide like the website says to do then put it back in the laptop? and what's the blade ide adapter?

Originally Posted by Paragon33

No. You Must make the HDD bootable by fdisk and formatting it beforehand with a W98 Boot Disk before unzipping the DST File to it. THE CDR method depends on getting the CDR in first place in the boot order.

Originally Posted by Mato Grosso

Hey,

Ran across a nice ftp site while searching info on a dell SX-270.

ftp://ftp1.us.dell.com/utility/

Lots of goodies!

Enjoy!

Originally Posted by rgbintx

Ihave already made an attempt to reset it by doing the proceedure in the post above. No luck, my quest now is to hunt for one of these chips and replace it.

Originally Posted by Ididmyc600

No

Place the HDD from the lappy in the PC , boot from a win98 disk. (unless your running 98 in which case just start and then shut down to a command prompt)

FDISK and delete any partitions
FDISK and create a partition and make it startable
Format the drive using the command "format c: /s"
Then boot into windows and add the files
Then put it in the laptop

Blade adaptor- a piece of plastic used in a C600 and others that makes the connection between the LAptop and the HDD, some use one some use a different method,

Any more help let us know