Is there a generic Dell Optiplex GX1 BIOS password? There is no CMOS battery...

[CZroe]

There is a Dell Optiplex PIII system at my local Goodwill Thrift store. It's undervalued, which is a first for computers donated to Goodwill. There is one problem: It has a boot-up BIOS password and there is no way I can see to reset it. No battery, jumper or DIP-switch. This is because it is a "secure" corporate system (I believe all Optiplex systems are this way). At home, I have a retail Intel D850GB which uses Flash memory instead of CMOS and it also has no CMOS reset function.

I've seen an HP Vectra at the same place with a similar problem and "fixed" it for them (It required a logged chassis intrusion and a DIP-switch change). This system has no such option.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

The BIOS password is probably why it's undervalued.

I know there's an easy way to break that, but I don't know it offhand. Be right back.

Edit2 - Linkified.

You want to pull off "PSWD", boot and enter the BIOS, disable any passwords, then power off and replace "PSWD".

- M4H

 

[CZroe]

Thnx! But hmm... I couldn't find any jumpers on the board. That diagram even shows what looks like a battery on the adjacent corner. I hope that's it

Thnx again!

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: CZroe
Thnx! But hmm... I couldn't find any jumpers on the board. That diagram even shows what looks like a battery on the adjacent corner. I hope that's it

Thnx again!

Well, if you can't see it, there's only one thing to say.

Pics?

- M4H

 

[CZroe]

Well, I think they had a strange block that covered all the jumpers or something. If there are jumpers there, I totally overlooked them. I'll go in with a few extra jumpers so I can take the block off.

 

[13black]

KillCmos will do what you want. You'll need a boot floppy to use it. I used it on my step daughters PC to clear an unknown BIOS password. I couldn't find a battery or jumper on her motherboard either. This utility just resets the BIOS back to default's, which is no password.

 

[johnjkr1]

I worked at Dell and I've seen tons of GX1's...they DEFINETLY have a reset jumper and a cmos battery..you just might have to remove the riser cage to see it....all of this is listed in the documentation on the Dell support site.

 

[mrweirdo]

it should have some way to reset it it. I have yet to see a computer without it and i have repaired many many comps,
* this reminds me time to replace cmos battery in my comp its dead

 

[johnjkr1]

I can get you a good picture if you would like, i'm pretty sure the reset cmos jumper is located by the riser cage slot