Dell Latitude D510 BIOS Password

[Methical]

I have an ex-lease Dell D510 that I have had for about a year and a half now. Just got my wireless set up, and trying to get the Dell connected to it but the Wireless is turned off. There is no external switch, and I cannot turn it on in Windows, or via Function+F2. Only way through is the BIOS and it has a password set so I can't change anything.

Does anyone know how to get around Dell BIOS's?
I read on the internet that with Dell's its not as simple as taking the battery out.
And I tried a program written by some French dude that was sposed to calculate the BIOS password based on the (system i.d?) but that didn't work.

Anyone have any other ideas? I know that some might not like posting answers in the forum, but if you could PM that would be great. Cheers.

 

[Tiddle]

Call Dell they'll give you a password.
Ive done it on laptops that wont even let get to the windows screen.
Have your service tag ready and about an hour and half of free time. They will switch you back and forth to different departments, but they will give it to you.

 

[LunchBox]

Thats true dell will give it to you. However, I was always asked whether I was th owner or not. Since I always did that for clients I new all their info. Except once, the client either purchased or got the PC free. Since no one new the owners name etc we had to file a transfer of ownership which took 2 weeks. Then they helped us reset the bios password.

 

[Tiddle]

Transfer ownership for me has never taken more than 15minutes.
I guess it all depends on the situation.

 

[purple_minion]

Dell Latitude BIOS Password Recovery

Christophe Grenier has written a program that will calculate the master BIOS password for Dell Latitudes from the Service Tag number. That program is available at http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~skynet/zips/latitude.exe.

If you cannot boot your Latitude to run this program, you can get the master password for your Dell by calling Dell Technical Support at (800)624-9896.

Dell Technical Support will request the Service Tag and Express Service Code from the bottom of your Latitude.

If you were not the original owner of the Latitude, Dell will transfer registration of the used Latitude from the original owner with only the Service Tag and Express Service Code from the tag on the laptop.

To transfer the registration of a used Dell Latitude, fill out the Transfer of Ownership form on Dell's web site.

Or worst case... http://www.pwcrack.com/security_chips_dell.shtml

 

[AtYourService]

http://www.whatsmypass.com/?p=481

here's an article i wrote on some different methods to reset the dell bios password from info i gathered on the web, and yes you can reset the password using a paperclip

 

[Methical]

I managed to get a hold of a Dell Bootable Utility to erase the EEPROM =)
Worked like a charm. Now the Dell's wireless is turned on, and configured properly. My first wireless setup complete! I think I might treat myself to a Jim Beam..

Cheers for all your help

 

[purple_minion]

I managed to get a hold of a Dell Bootable Utility to erase the EEPROM =)
Worked like a charm. Now the Dell's wireless is turned on, and configured properly. My first wireless setup complete! I think I might treat myself to a Jim Beam..

Cheers for all your help

Sounds like something nice to share with us.

 

[Methical]

Yes it would be. I can't find all the pages that I got my information off which is a bugger. They were forums @ techspot.com. There was one thread, and it was a locked thread with a continually updates single post about removing BIOS's. From the CMDInfo, to the LatitudeMasterPassword program.
Buttt...

To get around mine, it wasn't as simple as just removing the CMOS battery, waiting for a few seconds and then replacing it and voila!

I have a Dell D510 and it stores everything on the EEPROM. I went to this site here..

http://www.download.centre4service.com/software1.html
and downloaded the DSTCD ISO. It was only about 300kb. Unrar, and install it to CD. There is also a bootable USB option as well, and floppy disk also.

Insert CD, Reboot, Enter Boot Menu (F12 for me).
Asks if you want to modify or erase Service Tag. Answer Yes.
Asks some other question, answer yes.
Turn off power, look in the BIOS and make sure password has been removed.

I was so stoked! I thought I was going to have to wait on the phone with Dell for ages. They have one of the worst phone services in my country (next to my ISP lol). Or do the paperclip method !!

Here is that thread I was telling you about. Invaluable piece of information for all:

http://www.techspot.com/vb/topic90285.html


*** EDIT ***

Ohh and btw, the Jim Beam tasted great! lol

 

[Tiddle]

Nice. I hate being on the phone with dell.

 

[AtYourService]

my post had the same info lol