Laptop troubleshooting forum: Laptop inaccessible due to password. What should I do?

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Answer Best answer as chosen by user rainbowpandabear

Probably best would be to restore to factory settings

by wpgwpg - 2/26/13 2:36 PM

In Reply to: Laptop inaccessible due to password. What should I do? by rainbowpandabear

If you got the discs to restore to factory settings, that's what I'd do. If you don't have them, you could probably get Dell to ship them to you for a small fee. You'll need to give them the service tag from the sticker attached to the computer. Otherwise you'll have to buy an XP install disc from Amazon or wherever you can find them and reinstall from scratch. If you do, be sure to get the drivers you'll need.

Good luck.

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tried these suggestions already

by rainbowpandabear - 2/26/13 3:15 PM

In Reply to: Probably best would be to restore to factory settings by wpgwpg

I have no discs, i have tried to change the bios settings to boot from USB and CD to re install complete OS but only get blinking cursor on black screen. i have also tried f 11 from dell splash screen to access partition/ reformat to re-install OS to no avail, i have no formal training in this field only experience from use of computers over the past 20 years as a consumer and any help would be very much appreciated.

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Since no CDs you don't have the tools to do repairs.

by R. Proffitt - 2/26/13 3:22 PM

In Reply to: tried these suggestions already by rainbowpandabear

As such you have to consider what happens when you are missing tools and parts. I'm guessing you need to have it written so here goes.

You'll need to find or obtain the right CDs as well as fix the laptop's issues. If the CD drive is old, then you replace that. If the HDD has failed you fix that (by replacing.)

Once the machine is repaired and you have your CDs then you can install the OS fresh and get the drivers from Dell.com.

This is how most learn about how awful Windows installing can be. There is no single guide to get you out of where you are. But as you can tell, you get to repair what's broke and then install fresh.
Bob

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Answer Best answer as chosen by user rainbowpandabear

I'd start fresh.

by R. Proffitt - 2/26/13 2:46 PM

In Reply to: Laptop inaccessible due to password. What should I do? by rainbowpandabear

You didn't reveal which password stopped you so you can put the HDD into a good machine to boot NTPASSWD from CD and reset the one on that HDD. Put the HDD back into the PC and try again.

HOWEVER if the system was set to boot and connect to a domain, it's game over. You'll need to fix whatever stops the CD from booting so you can reinstall the OS.

Again, no. There is no other supported method to change from a Domain login to a login you are used to. I won't write further about domain logins as you don't have a domain. It's not productive to write further.
Bob

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Answer Best answer as chosen by user rainbowpandabear

Re: password

by Kees_B - 2/26/13 2:51 PM

In Reply to: Laptop inaccessible due to password. What should I do? by rainbowpandabear

Two possibilities:
1. It's the BIOS password. Then find out how to reset that. Changing the hard drive won't help.
2. It's the Windows password and the BIOS has been set to boot from the hard drive first. Then go into the BIOS setup and change the boot sequence. Changing the hard drive to an empty one might help also, because if boot from the hard disk fails it will try the next option (the CD) so you can boot Linux or do a clean install of Windows XP.

No need to go into the details before it's clear which of the two it is. An interesting option is that it is the BIOS password, but once you've solved that the Windows on it is locked to a domain. Then you'll have to do a clean install also.

Kees

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Laptop inaccessible due to password. What should I do?

by rainbowpandabear - 2/26/13 3:27 PM

In Reply to: Re: password by Kees_B

it is the windows pass word, I have no discs, i have tried to change the bios settings to boot from USB and CD to re install complete OS but only get blinking cursor on black screen. i have also tried f 11 from dell splash screen to access partition/ reformat to re-install OS to no avail, i have no formal training in this field only experience from use of computers over the past 20 years as a consumer and any help would be very much appreciated.

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Re: f11

by Kees_B - 2/26/13 11:54 PM

In Reply to: Laptop inaccessible due to password. What should I do? by rainbowpandabear

Isn't it ctrl-F11 with a Dell?

Kees

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Isn't it ctrl-F11 with a Dell?

by rainbowpandabear - 2/27/13 6:53 AM

In Reply to: Re: f11 by Kees_B

yes it is and ive done this but nothing happens

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Re: boot

by Kees_B - 2/27/13 7:08 AM

In Reply to: Isn't it ctrl-F11 with a Dell? by rainbowpandabear

If you can't get it to boot from any CD (Windows, Linux, NTPassword) it's hopeless, unless you take the disk out and use another PC to remove that password (see Bob's reply above) or install Linux on it.

I hope you didn't pay to much for it. The value of a 6 year old laptop without warranty is no more that $75, I'd say, and only if not DOA like yours.

Kees

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