Children locked password up .. help

My children got on my laptop and put a password on it and now they don't remember what it is... have read dell site it said to disable the password on the system board... can someone tell me where that is?

I have taken the laptop apart but I don't see any jumpers that I have to remove...

help........ if you can

Thanks

 

usually once a password is set, you can't disable it. Was it an XP password?

 

Right, password in windows or on the computer itself (i.e. the BIOS). if it is in windows, you may have a couple of options, including reinstalling windows.

 

Somehow they got into the bios and setup a startup password..

 

Here's a list of things to try for circumventing the BIOS password.

http://labmice.techtarget.com/articles/BIOS_hack.htm
http://www.dewassoc.com/support/bios/bios_password.htm

 

Thank you.... I'll read this..

 

" if the system is registered to you (as it will appear here at tech support) you will be able to give the information and they will give you out the master password on that system. there is no other way to unlock that password as that system does not has a password reset jumper nor a password chip that is removable, the only other option you might have is to get a motherboard replacement on that system which could be somewhat expensive. hope this is helpful. "

So, as long as you're the registered owner you need to just call dell, and they can help you it sounds like.

 

They wanted to charge me a fortune... so I thought I could do it myself .... yes it is registered to me.... my laptop is out of warranty....

 

on a desktop you would just remove the bios battery and the power supply to reset bios maybe you could try the same on the laptop?

 

They won't charge you anything.

This seems kind of iffy. Many people put BIOS passwords on their laptops and then their laptops get stolen. The thieves come on websites like this to try and figure out how to remove the password.

Dell laptops are special. Removing the CMOS battery won't remove the password.

 

kids just love playing in the bios dont they?

 

Yeah, Dell shouldn't charge to help you reset. I'd call them again.

 

All passwords I ever entered into BIOS needed two typings. The original and confirmation. Kids who enter the BIOS and know how to set the system password (twice) know what they are doing. I would ask them. Or support guys.

Ivan

 

Was it really set on the BIOS or in the Windows logon? If entered on the Windows logon, go to safe mode and enter as an administrator, once there, reset the password. If in BIOS, I would google it.

 

if she really is the registerd owner, she should have no problems getting dell to take care of it

 

Well, we we did try and verify if BIOS or Windows. And, we did google and you see the responses here.

Basically her two choices are as follows: Call Dell (who *is* free as long as she is the registered owner) or order a new mobo.

 

Oooooooh Kiddos in de BIOS, wonder what else they changed along w/ the password?????


TheRealist

 

please do not post ways to get around security.

OP, you should call dell. there's nothing else to do except buy a new motherboard if you can't unlock it.

i'm closing this thread.

to the OP, please do not ask for help bypassing security. even if it is your notebook, we don't allow threads like this.

in any case, you have a couple strategies to pursue, so good luck, but again, this thread is closed.