[SOLVED] Dell Inspirion Can't Access BIOS Boot Menu

[smokiestech]

I have a Dell Inspirion that I am needing to change the boot order to USB first. I can access the BIOS through F2 and the Boot menu through F12. In the F2 menu I can scroll over to boot but can't drop down to change any options. The F12 menu will only let me change the UEFI boot to secure boot. No options of boot location though. I have removed both the batteries with no change in anything. Can't access Windows, that's the root of the call is a inebriated son in law set a log in password that he didn't remember doing the next day. Any ideas on how I can get it to boot from USB? Thanks!

 

[Megan1980]

This won't help you change the boot order but could you put the drive in a different machine and run the password reset on it from there? Or make a CD with the password reset on it?

 

[GTP]

Put the drive in another computer. You could use Ophcrack to open the "sam" file and run the "Rainbow Tables" on it.

 

[Markverhyden]

Sounds like a BIOS security setting may have been changed. Can you reset BIOS to defaults?

 

[MichaelEC]

Does Dell BIOS have an option to lock the boot ordering even if you make it to the menu?

Lenovo uses:

1. Power-on password.
2. Hard drive password, user hard drive password and master hard drive password for administrators.
3. Supervisor (BIOS) password.
4. Operating System password.

I know that doesn't help, but it lets you know what Dell could possibly come up with to secure their computers for their owners.

 

[smokiestech]

Finally figured it out, was. It was not only one, but two bootable flash drives that had somehow went toes up. Set up a brand new one as a bootable Windows one and was able to change the boot order and solved the password issue.

 

[Kitten Kong]

Thanks for letting us know. I'll mark this thread as solved.