Solve : Any way to remove admin BIOS password? Dell C640?

1.	Solve : Any way to remove admin BIOS password? Dell C640?
Answer» Yesterday I acquired 14 of these old Dell C640's that where formerly used by the local school system, most seem to work, however they all have a BIOS admin password, it's not a huge deal, I can still reinstall windows and all that, but I'd like to be able to change a few settings in the BIOS that are currently locked out. I intend to sell these old machines, and the BIOS being locked out in no way prevents me from setting them up to do so, I'd just like to clear it out so the machine is as fresh as possible. Now this is my dilemma, I know there is a way to disassemble these laptops and short a chip I forgot the name of which the BIOS is stored on, 'cause these computers where often used as a business machine and they wanted it to be very hard to access them illegally. I am not motivated to, nor am I even entertaining the idea that I would take all of these apart and go through that procedure. They aren't worth enough money to make it worth that. So, short of disassembling all these machines to clear it, what else can I do? Side note, anyone want a stack of floppy drives for these things? I have no idea what I'm gonna do with all of them, I haven't used a floppy in almost a decade. As far as I know, the BIOS password is stored in NVRAM (non-volatile RAM) and cannot be erased or reset by 'shorting' anything. I hope you didn't pay a lot for these? Contact Dell directly...For Dell, the window where it asks for the bios password, does it show a serial number or a service tag number that probably starts with a '#'?? Quote from: PCdoc on June 29, 2014, 07:32:26 AM For Dell, the window where it asks for the bios password, does it show a serial number or a service tag number that probably starts with a '#'?? Yes, why? The service tag is also on the bottom of the computer, and no I did not think to try to that as the password, if that is what you are thinking. I will test that, out of curiosity. Quote from: patio on June 29, 2014, 06:39:50 AM Contact Dell directly... How would this help? The password is set by one of the technicians in the school system. Quote from: Salmon Trout on June 29, 2014, 06:31:33 AM As far as I know, the BIOS password is stored in NVRAM (non-volatile RAM) and cannot be erased or reset by 'shorting' anything. I hope you didn't pay a lot for these? No, on these machines simply clearing the CMOS, or even flashing the BIOS won't reset the password, they're quite strange. I'm just glad I didn't run into ones with a hard drive password, they have a hardware feature for that, too. Also, I didn't pay anything for them, and I'm hoping to make a little on them, not much. I know of a few people who set these up for older people learning to use computers, they don't mind something that can't even outrun them. Password preset for Dell Latitude C640 cam be done as a "hack'. This has been documented elsewhere. It is found on the Dell community. Posted in 2012... Quote I have a Dell Latitude c640 Laptop that says it needs an administrator password with a white screen and doesn't allow me to do anything not even enter setup. I believe this is a BIOS password it's asking for and I don't know it. I though I had to remove the CMOS battery and all would be well but that didn't seem to work. Just curious if anybody has a different way to fix this issue or if there is just a jumper i need to be messing with and know the location of it. ... Yes, it is not a CMOS password. Quote How would this help? The password is set by one of the technicians in the school system. Because if you can show proof of ownership they will tell you how to do it...that's why...Allow me to add a few comments to clarify what's going on here. To begin with, there is a general policy on this forum to limit the amount of help, provided to individuals with password problems. There is good reason for this, theft of laptops is a serious problem all over the world. The use of secure passwords is one of the means used to slow down or deter theft of laptop computers. Not that everyone who posts a password question is a thief, but because this is a public forum the members here have to be careful about publishing facts that could be used by anybody for evil ends. Awhile back computer companies like Dell and others adopted special METHODS to prevent unauthorized users from resetting hardware passwords. This had a dual-purpose. You could cut down on theft of laptops and it could prevent users from changing settings critical to company security. These computers were outfitted with additional hardware that goes beyond the USUAL CMOS battery backup of settings. Dell and the other companies that sell to business customers made provision to have the passwords changed or reset, but only by authorized personnel. So identification of the user is crucial to the process. If they give the information out to everybody, it compromises the whole security system and destroys customer confidence. I will not give details about how the system works. For two possible reasons. First of all is that I'm not smart enough to understand how it works. And second, if I did understand, it would be because I got the information from the manufacturer only after agreeing to a nondisclosure statement. My reason for adding this to this thread is that this problem is going to come up more and more. Theft of laptops is still a big problem and newer computers are being sold even to home users with very strong security systems built into the laptop itself. There are two reasons for this. One is the issue of laptops theft, and the other issue is the threat of mall ware that would install a root kit on a computer. Some type of hardware security is what the manufacturers are going for nowadays. A simple software solution is just not enough. So all laptop users should be aware that they need to keep track of their passwords and their backups and other pertinent information needed to repair or restore a laptop in case something goes wrong. To repeat what Patty has already said, the user has to contact the manufacturer and provide credible details that indicate he is the lawful owner of the equipment. However, for equipment that old and out of warranty, any user should expect to pay a fee to Dell for extended service on those older computers. He won't know how much it costs, until he asks. It might be a good deal, or might be just too expensive. I have already sent a PM to the OP. He can write back to me if he wants to know how you hack into that particular computer, but I am not going to post the information here on the form. End of dictation. Quote from: Salmon Trout on June 29, 2014, 06:31:33 AM As far as I know, the BIOS password is stored in NVRAM (non-volatile RAM) and cannot be erased or reset by 'shorting' anything. I hope you didn't pay a lot for these? Not any more. It's stored on a separate chip. http://www.ianmcshane.org/2009/10/01/clearing-the-bios-password-on-a-dell-d610/ It's usually an Atmel chip A FRIEND of mine recently acquired a D630 with the same issue. Dell is probably going to want them all returned to clear them, if you can have them all transferred ownership to you. They won't do it for free. Other than doing nothing, the easiest way will be to perform the "hard reset". If you could located the IT admin that set up the laptops & get the password from him, that would be the best way. Quote from: Computer_Commando on June 29, 2014, 05:46:24 PM Not any more. It's stored on a separate chip. http://www.ianmcshane.org/2009/10/01/clearing-the-bios-password-on-a-dell-d610/ It's usually an Atmel chip A friend of mine recently acquired a D630 with the same issue. Dell is probably going to want them all returned to clear them, if you can have them all transferred ownership to you. They won't do it for free. Other than doing nothing, the easiest way will be to perform the "hard reset". If you could located the IT admin that set up the laptops & get the password from him, that would be the best way. Yeah, something like that. I can't remember the specifics on the chip, but I read about it when I got these old computers. Quote from: Geek-9pm on June 29, 2014, 04:17:26 PM - theft of laptops is a serious problem all over the world. The use of secure passwords is one of the means used to slow down or deter theft of laptop computers. Not that everyone who posts a password question is a thief, but because this is a public forum the members here have to be careful about publishing facts that could be used by anybody for evil ends. I understand this, however I don't see how or why they'd use the same system to unlock a laptop twelve years later, I'd wager these laptops won't fetch more than $20 a piece. Theft of anything is common, I caught someone trying to steal my car once, however I can understand the caution, just not the reasoning behind the caution behind equipment so old. I'm not paying dell to reset these machines, what little profit margin for the time I have invested would be gone. Quote from: patio on June 29, 2014, 03:31:18 PM Because if you can show proof of ownership they will tell you how to do it...that's why... As I said above, what little profit I have would be eaten by that. I don't know what else y'all expect me to do to prove I am the rightful owner of these machines, I was expecting this response, after all it's all I found in Google searches for the same problem. I mean what else do you expect me to do? Photograph all fourteen laptops serial numbers? I make anywhere from some of to all of the money I live on by buying or acquiring what most people consider to be junk, and selling it for a little profit, so when I get stonewalled over this, well, it's just silly REALLY. I've paid the bills with CRAP found on the curb because someone doesn't want a bulky TV or a old computer laying around, so again, if providing the serial numbers isn't even good enough, I dunno what to do to prove my intentions are honest, lawful, and that I really need the money these things can bring, even if it's just $140 for all 14 of them. Noone here questioned your intentions at all... They merely explained why these precautions are in place. Quote from: Leaky Capacitor on June 29, 2014, 12:06:10 PM Yes, why? The service tag is also on the bottom of the computer, and no I did not think to try to that as the password, if that is what you are thinking. I will test that, out of curiosity. No I was not thinking that.. anyways ..

Answer»

Yesterday I acquired 14 of these old Dell C640's that where formerly used by the local school system, most seem to work, however they all have a BIOS admin password, it's not a huge deal, I can still reinstall windows and all that, but I'd like to be able to change a few settings in the BIOS that are currently locked out. I intend to sell these old machines, and the BIOS being locked out in no way prevents me from setting them up to do so, I'd just like to clear it out so the machine is as fresh as possible.

Now this is my dilemma, I know there is a way to disassemble these laptops and short a chip I forgot the name of which the BIOS is stored on, 'cause these computers where often used as a business machine and they wanted it to be very hard to access them illegally. I am not motivated to, nor am I even entertaining the idea that I would take all of these apart and go through that procedure. They aren't worth enough money to make it worth that.

So, short of disassembling all these machines to clear it, what else can I do?

Side note, anyone want a stack of floppy drives for these things? I have no idea what I'm gonna do with all of them, I haven't used a floppy in almost a decade. As far as I know, the BIOS password is stored in NVRAM (non-volatile RAM) and cannot be erased or reset by 'shorting' anything. I hope you didn't pay a lot for these?
Contact Dell directly...For Dell, the window where it asks for the bios password, does it show a serial number or a service tag number that probably starts with a '#'?? Quote from: PCdoc on June 29, 2014, 07:32:26 AM

For Dell, the window where it asks for the bios password, does it show a serial number or a service tag number that probably starts with a '#'??

Yes, why? The service tag is also on the bottom of the computer, and no I did not think to try to that as the password, if that is what you are thinking. I will test that, out of curiosity.

Quote from: patio on June 29, 2014, 06:39:50 AM

Contact Dell directly...

How would this help? The password is set by one of the technicians in the school system.

Quote from: Salmon Trout on June 29, 2014, 06:31:33 AM

As far as I know, the BIOS password is stored in NVRAM (non-volatile RAM) and cannot be erased or reset by 'shorting' anything. I hope you didn't pay a lot for these?

No, on these machines simply clearing the CMOS, or even flashing the BIOS won't reset the password, they're quite strange. I'm just glad I didn't run into ones with a hard drive password, they have a hardware feature for that, too. Also, I didn't pay anything for them, and I'm hoping to make a little on them, not much. I know of a few people who set these up for older people learning to use computers, they don't mind something that can't even outrun them. Password preset for Dell Latitude C640 cam be done as a "hack'. This has been documented elsewhere. It is found on the Dell community.
Posted in 2012...
Quote

I have a Dell Latitude c640 Laptop that says it needs an administrator password with a white screen and doesn't allow me to do anything not even enter setup. I believe this is a BIOS password it's asking for and I don't know it. I though I had to remove the CMOS battery and all would be well but that didn't seem to work. Just curious if anybody has a different way to fix this issue or if there is just a jumper i need to be messing with and know the location of it. ...

Yes, it is not a CMOS password.
Quote

How would this help? The password is set by one of the technicians in the school system.

Because if you can show proof of ownership they will tell you how to do it...that's why...Allow me to add a few comments to clarify what's going on here. To begin with, there is a general policy on this forum to limit the amount of help, provided to individuals with password problems. There is good reason for this, theft of laptops is a serious problem all over the world. The use of secure passwords is one of the means used to slow down or deter theft of laptop computers. Not that everyone who posts a password question is a thief, but because this is a public forum the members here have to be careful about publishing facts that could be used by anybody for evil ends.
Awhile back computer companies like Dell and others adopted special METHODS to prevent unauthorized users from resetting hardware passwords. This had a dual-purpose. You could cut down on theft of laptops and it could prevent users from changing settings critical to company security. These computers were outfitted with additional hardware that goes beyond the USUAL CMOS battery backup of settings.
Dell and the other companies that sell to business customers made provision to have the passwords changed or reset, but only by authorized personnel. So identification of the user is crucial to the process. If they give the information out to everybody, it compromises the whole security system and destroys customer confidence.
I will not give details about how the system works. For two possible reasons. First of all is that I'm not smart enough to understand how it works. And second, if I did understand, it would be because I got the information from the manufacturer only after agreeing to a nondisclosure statement.
My reason for adding this to this thread is that this problem is going to come up more and more. Theft of laptops is still a big problem and newer computers are being sold even to home users with very strong security systems built into the laptop itself. There are two reasons for this. One is the issue of laptops theft, and the other issue is the threat of mall ware that would install a root kit on a computer. Some type of hardware security is what the manufacturers are going for nowadays. A simple software solution is just not enough.

So all laptop users should be aware that they need to keep track of their passwords and their backups and other pertinent information needed to repair or restore a laptop in case something goes wrong.

To repeat what Patty has already said, the user has to contact the manufacturer and provide credible details that indicate he is the lawful owner of the equipment. However, for equipment that old and out of warranty, any user should expect to pay a fee to Dell for extended service on those older computers. He won't know how much it costs, until he asks. It might be a good deal, or might be just too expensive.
I have already sent a PM to the OP. He can write back to me if he wants to know how you hack into that particular computer, but I am not going to post the information here on the form.
End of dictation.
Quote from: Salmon Trout on June 29, 2014, 06:31:33 AM

As far as I know, the BIOS password is stored in NVRAM (non-volatile RAM) and cannot be erased or reset by 'shorting' anything. I hope you didn't pay a lot for these?

Not any more. It's stored on a separate chip.
http://www.ianmcshane.org/2009/10/01/clearing-the-bios-password-on-a-dell-d610/

It's usually an Atmel chip

A FRIEND of mine recently acquired a D630 with the same issue. Dell is probably going to want them all returned to clear them, if you can have them all transferred ownership to you. They won't do it for free. Other than doing nothing, the easiest way will be to perform the "hard reset". If you could located the IT admin that set up the laptops & get the password from him, that would be the best way. Quote from: Computer_Commando on June 29, 2014, 05:46:24 PM

Not any more. It's stored on a separate chip.
http://www.ianmcshane.org/2009/10/01/clearing-the-bios-password-on-a-dell-d610/

It's usually an Atmel chip

A friend of mine recently acquired a D630 with the same issue. Dell is probably going to want them all returned to clear them, if you can have them all transferred ownership to you. They won't do it for free. Other than doing nothing, the easiest way will be to perform the "hard reset". If you could located the IT admin that set up the laptops & get the password from him, that would be the best way.

Yeah, something like that. I can't remember the specifics on the chip, but I read about it when I got these old computers.

Quote from: Geek-9pm on June 29, 2014, 04:17:26 PM

- theft of laptops is a serious problem all over the world. The use of secure passwords is one of the means used to slow down or deter theft of laptop computers. Not that everyone who posts a password question is a thief, but because this is a public forum the members here have to be careful about publishing facts that could be used by anybody for evil ends.

I understand this, however I don't see how or why they'd use the same system to unlock a laptop twelve years later, I'd wager these laptops won't fetch more than $20 a piece. Theft of anything is common, I caught someone trying to steal my car once, however I can understand the caution, just not the reasoning behind the caution behind equipment so old. I'm not paying dell to reset these machines, what little profit margin for the time I have invested would be gone.

Quote from: patio on June 29, 2014, 03:31:18 PM

Because if you can show proof of ownership they will tell you how to do it...that's why...

As I said above, what little profit I have would be eaten by that.

I don't know what else y'all expect me to do to prove I am the rightful owner of these machines, I was expecting this response, after all it's all I found in Google searches for the same problem. I mean what else do you expect me to do? Photograph all fourteen laptops serial numbers? I make anywhere from some of to all of the money I live on by buying or acquiring what most people consider to be junk, and selling it for a little profit, so when I get stonewalled over this, well, it's just silly REALLY. I've paid the bills with CRAP found on the curb because someone doesn't want a bulky TV or a old computer laying around, so again, if providing the serial numbers isn't even good enough, I dunno what to do to prove my intentions are honest, lawful, and that I really need the money these things can bring, even if it's just $140 for all 14 of them. Noone here questioned your intentions at all...

They merely explained why these precautions are in place. Quote from: Leaky Capacitor on June 29, 2014, 12:06:10 PM

Yes, why? The service tag is also on the bottom of the computer, and no I did not think to try to that as the password, if that is what you are thinking. I will test that, out of curiosity.

No I was not thinking that.. anyways ..

Solve : Any way to remove admin BIOS password? Dell C640?

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