Dell Latitude locked!!!

[jaggrey]

I'm in an odd scenario. I've been left with a Dell Latitude CPx, but there's a BIOS password on it, which wasn't given to me. From what I understand with the Latitude it's more complex than shorting out a jumper or removing a CMOS battery. Matter of fact, the only way I've heard of getting around it is getting the master password (which depends on the service tag from what I understand) from Dell. After calling Dell they say the only way I can get it is to do a Transfer of Ownership into my name, but for this I'd have to have the original Order Invoice number in addition to the order info in the exact manner it was entered when placing the order.

I've done searches on the web and come up with a "master password generator" which doesn't work.

Any other ideas? Any1 got a hookup at Dell?

 

[JackBurton]

Is it set to boot from the floppy first, or it a password that you have to input to just boot the machine?

 

[jaggrey]

Originally posted by: JackBurton
Is it set to boot from the floppy first, or it a password that you have to input to just boot the machine?

The BIOS password...just to boot the machine.

 

[Jeff7]

If it's like the Dell laptop I had open, it's got a rechargeable battery backup for the CMOS; disconnect it, wait awhile, re-connect it, and the BIOS should be cleared. Opening those things can be a chore though, especially to get all the way inside at the top of the motherboard. Plus, I don't know for absolute sure that this will work, though I think it's probable that it would.

 

[JackBurton]

You've got pm.

 

[fr]

If you have all the owner's info, couldn't you just say you're them?

 

[jaggrey]

Originally posted by: fr
If you have all the owner's info, couldn't you just say you're them?

That's the thing...I don't have all of the owner's info. I have their address, but I don't have their Invoice #.

 

[everman]

Just remove the bios battery for a few mins to clear it.

 

[bacillus]

Originally posted by: everman
Just remove the bios battery for a few mins to clear it.

I'm afraid that the only way is using the original password or master password.