Dell BIOS Password Removal

[jointheparty]

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

 

[Ididmyc600]

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

 

[Ateris]

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

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

 

[erodriguex2k]

got it

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.

 

[Cubensis]

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

 

[Paragon33]

Are you getting the grey screen asking for a password?

 

[Ididmyc600]

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

 

[cuegt]

Dell Latitude D600

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:

 

[sw123]

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)

 

[Ididmyc600]

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

 

[Ididmyc600]

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

 

[Ididmyc600]

A Word about "Passwords"

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.

 

[risck]

Fn-X key

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

 

[risck]

Paperclip with C610

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

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

 

[bluecat1]

Can't find EEROM in Latitude 540/640

: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

 

[Ididmyc600]

: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

 

[Ididmyc600]

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

 

[Paragon33]

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

 

[Paragon33]

New EEProm Chip

: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

 

[bluecat1]

Can't find EEROM in Latitude 540/640

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.

 

[howard_hopkinso]

Hey bluecat1.

I`m pleased your problem is solved.

Thanks for letting us know.

Regards Howard

 

[risck]

Eeprom 93lc46, 93c86

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

 

[bluecat1]

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.

 

[cuegt]

Dell D600 latitude Admin password finally gone

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.

 

[bluecat1]

Even though I cleared all the passwords with the paperclip trick on my C540 Bios, I still formated the hard drive and reinstalled the OS. If you have a Stand alone operating system (EX: Windows 98SE, XP) then I would boot with this CD and put in a fresh install.