Computer Hope

Microsoft => Microsoft Windows => Windows Vista and 7 => Topic started by: fivepoint8 on May 14, 2010, 04:04:32 AM

Title: Dell Laptop
Post by: fivepoint8 on May 14, 2010, 04:04:32 AM
I am trying to reinstall Windows 7 or windows vista i have the installs, i have acces but not Administrative access. Ive been using it this way for months, ive tried booting from the installs but the bios is locked, so i cant change boot pattern and the password i use for the user account i am on does not unlock it.
I dont want to Flash it or open it up its kind of expensive. what can i do? ive tried F8 and stuff... ??? Id really appcate it. TY
Title: Re: Dell Laptop
Post by: camerongray on May 14, 2010, 04:11:34 AM
You should ask the person who does have administrative access to remove the BIOS password.
Title: Re: Dell Laptop
Post by: fivepoint8 on May 14, 2010, 04:19:54 AM
I've asked her and she doesnt know neither, Administrator , she doesnt know what BIOS even is. Lol . I just found out today. She asked her bf but no luck. Ive tried installing hoping it would boot up on its own, i guess i need to change the bios pattern :/

[edit] I was told to install Linux? but im sure i need to boot off a disc or usb and well, no can do, Mission Impossible?
Title: Re: Dell Laptop
Post by: BC_Programmer on May 14, 2010, 06:09:59 AM
take out the battery for about ten minutes. this will clear the CMOS RAM.
Title: Re: Dell Laptop
Post by: fivepoint8 on May 14, 2010, 06:27:43 PM
As in open it up, and take the silver battery out? Coin sized battery.
Title: Re: Dell Laptop
Post by: fivepoint8 on May 14, 2010, 08:45:58 PM
I don't want to open it up and mess it up.
Title: Re: Dell Laptop
Post by: patio on May 15, 2010, 08:48:16 AM
Then it will probably stay messed up....

Find someone who has done it before and have them walk you thru it...
Title: Re: Dell Laptop
Post by: fivepoint8 on May 15, 2010, 09:04:18 PM
I will try to find someone, and ty for all ur help everyone. Still no luck tho.
Title: Re: Dell Laptop
Post by: Salmon Trout on May 16, 2010, 07:35:41 AM
where did you get this laptop?
Title: Re: Dell Laptop
Post by: fivepoint8 on May 17, 2010, 04:09:32 AM
A girl,
Title: Re: Dell Laptop
Post by: Salmon Trout on May 17, 2010, 07:34:07 AM
A girl,

Well there ya go. No receipt, no proof of sale, no proof of ownership? You got a brick.

Title: Re: Dell Laptop
Post by: sandy6633 on May 19, 2010, 11:05:23 PM
Hi, Five star

U cant do anything unless u use windows 7 or windows vista cd released by DELL.
U have to use only those cd's to install the OS.
Title: Re: Dell Laptop
Post by: Salmon Trout on May 20, 2010, 12:07:27 AM
U cant do anything unless u use windows 7 or windows vista cd released by DELL.
U have to use only those cd's to install the OS.

No CD whether from Dell, or anybody else, is any use with a locked BIOS.

Title: Re: Dell Laptop
Post by: fivepoint8 on May 20, 2010, 02:32:58 AM
A brick, starting to look that way. SHe probably has the cd that she installed 7 with, unless it came with 7 pre-installed, which i doubt bcos its not really new, plus some dude told me it came w/ vista so idk, :/ wishing me luck lol...
Title: Re: Dell Laptop
Post by: fivepoint8 on May 21, 2010, 12:14:29 AM
No CD whether from Dell, or anybody else, is any use with a locked BIOS.


The only way i found out that can probably fix this, it's not even 100%, is by performing the paperclip method?
But it's too risky, somewhere else i read said to replace something? But i liked it how it was b4 i don't want to change anything.  :-\

Thnx for your time though, really appreciate it :)
Title: Re: Dell Laptop
Post by: fivepoint8 on May 21, 2010, 05:15:54 AM
A brick, starting to look that way. SHe probably has the cd that she installed 7 with, unless it came with 7 pre-installed, which i doubt bcos its not really new, plus some dude told me it came w/ vista so idk, :/ wishing me luck lol...
bad news, i asked abt the cd, she told me it was a bootleg version of windows that one of her friends installed, vista was legit but was pre-installed in the laptop, if i had a cd the serial is located on the bottom, lol didnt realize that :-\
Title: Re: Dell Laptop
Post by: talontromper on May 22, 2010, 01:37:28 AM
what you can do and i've done before is pull the HD out and format the disk. next you install the OS of your choice to the HD then put install the HD back into the laptop. the first boot will be rather slow since it will look for the proper drivers but it does work. after that you install the proper software for missing drivers etc. a long way to do it but it is a viable work-around
Title: Re: Dell Laptop
Post by: fivepoint8 on May 22, 2010, 03:16:00 AM
what you can do and i've done before is pull the HD out and format the disk. next you install the OS of your choice to the HD then put install the HD back into the laptop. the first boot will be rather slow since it will look for the proper drivers but it does work. after that you install the proper software for missing drivers etc. a long way to do it but it is a viable work-around
Where would i find the HD for the laptop? ANd would this really remove the BIOS password? I really hope i dnt have a brick, i want to have administrative function to install other programs, and i cant do that on regular account. TYVM talontromper.
Title: Re: Dell Laptop
Post by: fivepoint8 on May 22, 2010, 03:59:18 AM
i can access log-on screen but theres no admin account, and wen i try to login : Username Administrator Password:"BLANK" like in safemode it doesnt work, i,ve tried system restore but prompts me for password. LAst thing i tried was install with usb, but need access to bios to change boot sequence :/ TYIA
Title: Re: Dell Laptop
Post by: fivepoint8 on May 22, 2010, 04:19:34 AM
all i want to do is erase everything if its the only way, start fresh, it had alot of music in itanyway.
Title: Re: Dell Laptop
Post by: Salmon Trout on May 22, 2010, 04:22:36 AM
Where did this lap top come from in the first place? How did it get passworded? Why can't the person who set the password unset it? If there is even the slightest possibility that this laptop was stolen somewhere back down the line, then in effect it is a brick because no repair store will fix it for you.
Title: Re: Dell Laptop
Post by: fivepoint8 on May 22, 2010, 04:37:50 AM
Where did this lap top come from in the first place? How did it get passworded? Why can't the person who set the password unset it? If there is even the slightest possibility that this laptop was stolen somewhere back down the line, then in effect it is a brick because no repair store will fix it for you.

my chick , helped her w/ her new laptop. I'm  sure its not. Wat she told me is that she erased her Admin account to sell it , and abt the BIOS, she doesnt even know what that is. She tried putting her old admin password into the bios, but no luck. TY well it goes in the trash it looks pretty old,  :-\ Or more research on it.
Title: Re: Dell Laptop
Post by: talontromper on May 22, 2010, 09:07:42 PM
Where would i find the HD for the laptop? ANd would this really remove the BIOS password? I really hope i dnt have a brick, i want to have administrative function to install other programs, and i cant do that on regular account. TYVM talontromper.

what you can do is open up the bottom of the laptop there should be some sort of cover with screws in it. take that off and the HD is inside. next pull that install it into another computer using the IDE ribbon the the other computer's HD was attached to. install the os. there u go
Title: Re: Dell Laptop
Post by: fivepoint8 on May 22, 2010, 11:14:29 PM
ty for the advice, it still prompts for password though :/
Title: Re: Dell Laptop
Post by: talontromper on May 23, 2010, 12:15:44 AM
so it prompted for a password after you installed the HD into another computer?
Title: Re: Dell Laptop
Post by: Salmon Trout on May 23, 2010, 12:38:15 AM
my chick , helped her w/ her new laptop. I'm  sure its not. Wat she told me is that she erased her Admin account to sell it , and abt the BIOS, she doesnt even know what that is. She tried putting her old admin password into the bios, but no luck. TY well it goes in the trash it looks pretty old,  :-\ Or more research on it.

The thing is, BIOS passwords don't set themselves. Somebody at some point set that password, for a reason. I'm not suggesting anything here, but you'd be amazed how it's always a girlfriend or the kids, a brother or sister...

Title: Re: Dell Laptop
Post by: fivepoint8 on May 23, 2010, 12:47:08 AM
so it prompted for a password after you installed the HD into another computer?
correct sir.
Title: Re: Dell Laptop
Post by: fivepoint8 on May 23, 2010, 12:54:39 AM
The thing is, BIOS passwords don't set themselves. Somebody at some point set that password, for a reason. I'm not suggesting anything here, but you'd be amazed how it's always a girlfriend or the kids, a brother or sister...


I get your point, wat i thought at 1st was maybe she set it and forgot but she doesn't know how to get in BIOS, doesn't remember setting one. And right now i have this laptop with its guts out, its kinda fun. Ive looked everywhere on how to do it legitimately but can't find anything that doesn't involve cracking or short circuiting something :/ i called dell and asked for proof of purchase which myself and previous owner do not have . Im positive she bought it herself.
Title: Re: Dell Laptop
Post by: Salmon Trout on May 23, 2010, 01:01:55 AM
One good tip to come out of this... folks reading this, if you buy a used laptop, get a signed, dated, legible receipt for your money with the verifiable name and address of the seller and the seriual number off the label on the laptop (which should be present). If they are not the original purchaser, a receipt that they got from him or her. Better, any warranty and original purchase documents. The more the better. A paper trail that leads from you to the dealer who first sold the laptop. If these are not forthcoming, then consider very carefully whether you want something that could become a brick. Or get you in trouble.
Title: Re: Dell Laptop
Post by: fivepoint8 on May 23, 2010, 01:35:11 AM
One good tip to come out of this... folks reading this, if you buy a used laptop, get a signed, dated, legible receipt for your money with the verifiable name and address of the seller and the seriual number off the label on the laptop (which should be present). If they are not the original purchaser, a receipt that they got from him or her. Better, any warranty and original purchase documents. The more the better. A paper trail that leads from you to the dealer who first sold the laptop. If these are not forthcoming, then consider very carefully whether you want something that could become a brick. Or get you in trouble.

Good tip for it it was stolen, she has the windows Vista serial number...is that good enough?
Title: Re: Dell Laptop
Post by: Salmon Trout on May 23, 2010, 01:37:33 AM
Good tip for it it was stolen, she has the windows Vista serial number...is that good enough?


That does not link to the actual physical PC.
Title: Re: Dell Laptop
Post by: fivepoint8 on May 23, 2010, 02:02:36 AM
I know its possible to remove or bypass the p/w but its risky, so I'd rather wait and see if she can find anything, a receipt maybe call her credit card company for receipt , i mentioned it so ill wait to see if she takes action lol.
TYVM for Ur help tho everyone really appreciate it.
Title: Re: Dell Laptop
Post by: fivepoint8 on May 29, 2010, 12:00:03 PM
So the boot sequence is this.
Diskette Drive
1. Internal HDD
    USB Storage device

My question is...if i remove hdd would it skip it and go for the usb?