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Date Posted: 19:01:48 10/14/03 Tue
Author: TheClown
Subject: Re: Dell Latitude CPi D233ST BIOS Password reset
In reply to: Chris 's message, "Re: Dell Latitude CPi D233ST BIOS Password reset" on 02:00:24 10/02/03 Thu

Oh brother... talk about a post of half truths from someone trying sell you a "service".lol

Lets take some of these statments one at a time.

>Dell laptops are very tricky, there's no jumpers in
>the entire machines to reset a password, and
>unplugging the internal system battery doesn't work
>either.
I agreed with you all the way to here!

>There are many known "bios killers" that boot from floppy disk...

Actually those are called "CMOS killer" applications. These applications clear the CMOS memory and NOT the system BIOS. Most of us know clearing the BIOS would kill a system! (as Clearing the CMOS memeory probably will not help clear the password either, since this will not clear the Serial EEPROM data . (more on this latter)
This person knows this by his next statements/questions! Makes me wonder why he is trying to confuse these terms/facts. (inc. sales $ maybe)

>but ofcourse how can you boot to a
>floppy disk without being able to pass the initial
>annoying password screen.

Answer: I believe on most dell, you can hit F12 (or some key) during splash screen/post and change boot in order to boot from floppy. Hit esc key during the dell splash screen..I believe it tells you which key when you look.

>There's one known way to fix
>the problem, and it's very complex....

Actually I know at least 2 that are rather simple... i suspect he does too that is way he will do it for you for the low,low price of $50... what a great guy! lol

>It requires an external eeprom programmer connected to a working
>computer, with 32 wires intricatly connected to 32
>points on a particular chip inside the laptop, then I
>can reset the chip to factory specs through some
>special software commands.

The 32 pin chip is the BIOS chip! As I stated before, the BIOS has little to do with the password! That data is on the Serial EEprom. The Serial EEprom typically has 8 pins. (far less than 32) Most have experienced replacing this chip with a BLANK one or erasing the data on the chip will get rid of this password! soo umm does factory specs through special software =blank? rofl

>It's actually a form of
>hacking, and very few people can do it. A good eeprom
>programmer costs $600, and is quite complex to use.

I do not cosider it "hacking", but if you feel like confessing that you "business" is partially based on a hack.....then go ahead. ;-) Anyone can build a homemade EEprom programmer (for BIOS chips) for about 40 dollars. (search the net for "CT Flasher") Any monkey that can read a text file and use DOS can operate a programmer.

>Here's what you can do if you
>want your problem fixed. On the bottom of the laptop,
>there is a little door that slides open and exposes
>your ram. There should be a small black chip about
>1cm squared next to it.
> Email me all the numbers off that chip, and I will known >if my eeprom programmer supports you particular laptop.

Yeah ...um humm..
He is asking you for the part number of the serial eeprom (typically a 24CXXX series)! He needs to check his parts bin or call his electronic component distributer (like digikey.com) and make sure he can get the BLANK chip. These chips typically cost under 2 dollars from a real electronic component distributer! lol

>The main laptops I commonly do this with
>flawlessly is the Dell Cpi 366ST, or 400ST. But if
>you have a dell, just email me the number off that chip
>and I'll let you know.
Need that serial eeprom info..doesn't he?! lol

Well i said there is more than one way. I give you a hint...

There may be a software utility out there that would erase /program the serial eeprom for you! That is even easier than having to desolder at 8 (yes 8) pin surface mount chip! and you don't even need a new chip. I bet the person offering this "service" knows this too. There may even be a utility to reinsert the model specific info onto a blank/erased chip... ya think? lol

I am sorry if I sound harsh.. i just don't care for greedy people. ;-0
Regards,
The Clown

BTW- The one problem reported with a blank serial eeprom is that some laptops will not allow the use of the system restore cd. Not sure that applies to dell thou.

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