According to another thread on EE, Dell bios can be reset as follows:
http://www.experts-exchang
1. Boot up and enter the BIOS
2. Turn Caps Lock, Num Lock, and Scroll Lock on
3. Press in sequence Alt+F, Alt+E, Alt+B
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BIOS password for Dell XPS M140. I do not know the previous owner, so DELL can't help.
I need to get past the BIOS password (white screen); but, I don't know the previous owner. I purchased this computer from someone who received it from someone. I found the information that DELL requires but they want the previous owner information. Please help, is there a master password?
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Answers
"is there a master password?" Yes, but dell has to generate it(no 2 systems have the same one) after you verify ownership. Try filling out the transfer of ownership form on Dells support site(support.dell.com). You can try removing the cmos battery as mentioned above but on most modern laptops this won't clear a bios password as the password is saved in nvram.
It's not hard at all here's a link to the service manual for the M140.
http://support.dell.com/su
It may be worth looking into(go back to the house where the garage sale was), the system still has 172 days of warranty with complete care according to Dell's support site. http://support.dell.com/su
No luck. The Online Tech Agent said that I could get help even without the previous owner's information. Customer Care would not help me at all without it. I suppose that I will have to try to replace the motherboard. That is pretty costly, do you really think that it would be worth it to try?
I am really strapped for cash, which is why I bought a second (or third) hand unit.
Thanks so much for all of your help.
All you need for the transfer of ownership is the original owners first name and last. I know a legal way(kinda of a loop hole i discovered) to get it from dell but I don't want to post the loophole as it may be used for ill intentions(mainly stolen systems), please check my profile for my email address. Again the info I have is not illegal but there are people who would use it for purposes other than what I intended for. Your chat with Dell verified to me it hasn't been reported as stolen or your contact with them would have gone differently.
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by: joefreedomPosted on 2009-08-07 at 11:21:50ID: 25045563
Check out this link: http://www.techspot.com/vb
If the above doesn't work you can try pulling the CMOS battery out of the machine, let it sit for at least a couple of minutes, reinstall and check to see if the password is cleared.