[weeblone]

hi i recently brought a cheap laptop while in london,since getting home i carnt get into it,it starts up but just goes onto a log in page,i brought windows xp for it but it wont automaticaly run,i went into f12 for settings to try and run disc from there but it just askes if i want to go wireless or wired.Can anyone help or is it going to cost me more money in the shop: )

[1002richards]

Hi,
Is this the same laptop?
http://forums.techguy.org/random-dis...ed-laptop.html

Please don't multi-post.

Anyway, what make/model laptop?
What operating system already on it ?
Where did you buy it "cheap"?
Where did you buy XP from?

Thanks.
Richard.

[weeblone]

hi,i brought it at a market up e london,its a latitude d610,it has win xp already on it.i brought an orriginal win xp disc from comp shop.

[Gr3iz]

Sounds like it's looking for a username/password. You ought to be able to boot to CD (<F12> when the prompt displays, then arrow down to CD) and re-install Windows. Unless you can get the username/password for this PC from the original owners, which doesn't sound likely.

[weeblone]

when i go into f12, 3 things come up, internal hdd - bios setup - diagnostics. When i press internal hdd it takes me to a screen to select wireless or lan (wired),when i press any of them it goes onto a disc check then onto the log in page.

[Gr3iz]

Can you get into Setup? Verify the laptop sees the CD drive.

[weeblone]

it tells me the admin password is locked and wont let me in

[Gr3iz]

Not a good sign! You may need to contact Dell and see if they've got a back door to get into setup. You apparently cannot boot from CD, possibly due to the inability to configure the unit through Setup. Therefore you cannot re-install Windows. Right now, what you've got is a Dell paperweight.

[weeblone]

is there anyway around the admin lock? can i do it or will i need to put it into a shop?

[weeblone]

suppose it would look good on top of my paperwork : )

[Gr3iz]

I don't know of any way past the BIOS password. That's why I suggested Dell. I don't know if any shop, unless they were specifically Dell authorized, would have the key, assuming such exists.

[Byteman]

Hi,

You have run into notebook security, which is becoming very common. Our Rules state that we cannot help with workarounds, even if we knew of any... to get around computer security or passwords. So, I have to Close this thread. Only Dell support can help, and if they will is doubtful but you are advised to try. The previous owner probably set a password, which is very hard to remove.

Fooling around can result in you being locked out of the computer completely, and that may already have occurred.

Similar posts even at Dell user forums abound> http://en.community.dell.com/forums/...en&cs=19&s=dhs

Thank you.