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.

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!

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

[QUOTE=Baldanders]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.[INDENT]

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.[INDENT][/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.

"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!

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)

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

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.

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 !!!

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

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.

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!

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!

Hi i m pretty new to this forum. I read all the posts. i got latitude cpi A series and need admin/master password. I tried using latitude.exe and password that i got does not work. I saw some of you mention about latitude_MasterPw.exe, does anyone have any idea where i can get that???? My tag number is VRDCN**-D35B....

The Latitude_MasterPw.exe is posted on this thread. It is on page 3, message 53. It is listed as Latitude.exe, but it is the MasterPw version.

Using the tag you listed, I came up with fc9iy7r8 as the generated master password.

Good Luck!

It is posted on this thread. It's on page 3, message 53. It is listed as Latitude.exe, but it is the MasterPW version.

No doubt there are thieves who can't access their stolen Dell notebook computers, but I imagine most people have bought or received the laptops legitimately only to discover that they are locked out by passwords installed by unknown previous owners. Dell computers are very popular, so there are a bunch of them floating around, and I think it is a terrible waste to have a perfectly usable old laptop stuck in the back of the closet or dumped into a landfill.

Many people get rid of their laptops because they want the hottest new model, not because there is anything inherently wrong with their old one. There are plenty of users who only need a notebook computer for word processing, web surfing, and maybe some old games (I think it's great fun to play the old text adventures on a notebook), so the older laptops are all they need, and in many cases all they can afford.

Dell notebooks are especially difficult to access because the passwords are stored on an EEPROM chip that is not dependent on a power supply (sort of like a flashable MMC or SD card), so there are probably many more folks searching for info on how to get the Dells--as opposed to some other brands--working again.

I think it's great to find sites like this one where people freely relate their experiences; after all, one can never have too much knowledge. As far as thievery goes, there will always be thieves, and there will always be honest people. I hope that the folks asking for help here are the honest ones, but I won't refuse to share the little bit I know for fear that it will be misused. That only denies legitimate users information that might help them out.

Cheers!

Parn,

I have the Latitude Masterpw.exe and it does not work with a 595B tag. Everyone seems to want you to buy the paperclip doc from them. Can't blame them if i had to pay for it, but i believe in free information.

Good Luck