Trying to remove BIOS password on Dell Latitude e5400

[hightechrex]

I got this Dell Latitude right here, that needs a password removal\reset. Usually no big deal, but this one has this pain in the ass bios password that won't allow me to boot from a USB or CD (Why DELL??) I've attempted using a tool that I found online, it gave me a password, but I still can't remove the lock. I'd imagine this would be a fairly common issue. Any help?

System Number is: 9NXKKK1-2A7B

I understand that is what's needed to generate the password.

Yes, I have used dogbert's script. Still no dice.

 

[DocGreen]

I got this Dell Latitude right here, that needs a password removal\reset. Usually no big deal, but this one has this pain in the ass bios password that won't allow me to boot from a USB or CD (Why DELL??) I've attempted using a tool that I found online, it gave me a password, but I still can't remove the lock. I'd imagine this would be a fairly common issue. Any help?

System Number is: 9NXKKK1-2A7B

I understand that is what's needed to generate the password.

Yes, I have used dogbert's script. Still no dice.

Have you checked for a dip switch on the mobo to remove the password?

 

[hightechrex]

Have you checked for a dip switch on the mobo to remove the password?

I believe this particular model has the bios settings on the NVRAM which is soldered on the board. Even if thats the case i only quoted him for a basic password removal.. its just dell made it difficult with their bios password. So id have to up the price if im to fiddle with the mobo

 

[KompuKare]

I believe this particular model has the bios settings on the NVRAM which is soldered on the board. Even if thats the case i only quoted him for a basic password removal.. its just dell made it difficult with their bios password. So id have to up the price if im to fiddle with the mobo

Well it's not that unusual for a business grade machine (in some reviews the E5400 was compared to the Thinkpad T400) to have a BIOS password a bit more robust than 'clear CMOS'. No point in buying a laptop with fingerprint sensor, full disk encrypting etc. if someone just has to remove the CMOS battery!

Some solutions for Thinkpads BIOS passwords involve serial connections to the ATMEL flash chip and decrypting software. AFAIK, after the T40/X40 series even that may not be enough and after decrypting the password you have to solder a new TPM chip (surface mounted of course)...

 

[GeeksInKhakis]

A number of Dells also have a jumper setting for a BIOS password.

 

[lima]

There is 2 algorithms for calculating bios password depending on bios version.

I used http://kulankendi.com/index.php after failing with dogbert's.

Paid 10 euro and software calculated 2 passwords, one was same as dogbert's and second one was the right one.

For now it works with Serial numbers ending with "D35B/595B/A95B/2A7B

 

[hightechrex]

There is 2 algorithms for calculating bios password depending on bios version.

I used http://kulankendi.com/index.php after failing with dogbert's.

Paid 10 euro and software calculated 2 passwords, one was same as dogbert's and second one was the right one.

For now it works with Serial numbers ending with "D35B/595B/A95B/2A7B

Any solutions that won't cost me anything? How often am i gonna really need to remove the bios password on this specific model?

 

[altrenda]

Any solutions that won't cost me anything? How often am i gonna really need to remove the bios password on this specific model?

I wouldn't be as concerned for the $15 as I would that there's no guarantee that it would work and I have to send my info to this guy.

If you did it, couldn't you pass the cost to the client?

 

[hightechrex]

I wouldn't be as concerned for the $15 as I would that there's no guarantee that it would work and I have to send my info to this guy.

If you did it, couldn't you pass the cost to the client?

I usually charge 30 for a basic password removal. Client would be looking at a $65 charge. I can run that through him, but I just wanted to make sure I didn't have to take that route.

 

[altrenda]

I usually charge 30 for a basic password removal. Client would be looking at a $65 charge. I can run that through him, but I just wanted to make sure I didn't have to take that route.

This doesn't seem to be a "basic" password removal. Windows passwords are one thing, BIOS and HDD password are meant to keep data locked, and so it's a bit more complicated, not to mention make sure that he really owns the computer.

 

[hightechrex]

This doesn't seem to be a "basic" password removal. Windows passwords are one thing, BIOS and HDD password are meant to keep data locked, and so it's a bit more complicated, not to mention make sure that he really owns the computer.

Alright, I'll just let him know that.

 

[PC Ops]

If your client is the original owner then you could try Dell Customer Support.
You will have to provide proof of ownership though.

Way better idea, forget the above for now... Since you only need to access the BIOS to change the boot device in order to boot a live disk to do a password reset, why not do this another way. The "Utilman" trick is easy as hell. I actually learned about it in an article by Bryce here on TN. Forget about the BIOS password, no need for it

Hope this helps.

 

[hightechrex]

If your client is the original owner then you could try Dell Customer Support.
You will have to provide proof of ownership though.

Way better idea, forget the above for now... Since you only need to access the BIOS to change the boot device in order to boot a live disk to do a password reset, why not do this another way. The "Utilman" trick is easy as hell. I actually learned about it in an article by Bryce here on TN. Forget about the BIOS password, no need for it

Hope this helps.

All that requires booting from a CD or DVD. Or slaving your hard drive to another machine.. Either way that's no longer a $30 service.

 

[PC Ops]

All that requires booting from a CD or DVD. Or slaving your hard drive to another machine.. Either way that's no longer a $30 service.

I knew that CD/DVD isn't possible so slaving was what I ment. Anyway, the above method is at least a solution. It beats the heck out of 'fiddling on the mobo'. And a lot less work.

There's still also the first option: give Dell Support a call.