Hi, I got this Dell GS280 from my job because they were going to throw it away. But it's password protected. I can't bypass it via safe-mode either. I just want to save the current OS installation, I don't care for other data inside it. What can I do? Worse case - I'll have to re-install, how can I back-up the drivers without being able to log-in the PC?

Where is it password protected? At the BIOS level during boot? When windows starts? If the password is on the hard drive or the BIOS you will not be able to clear it. For hard drives replace is the only option. If it is on the systemboard Dell is the only one that has procedures to clear it. You would have to contact them and see if they could assist you. Given the concerns about hardware theft they might not help. In that case the motherboard needs replaced. As for the drivers there is no easy way especially when the system does not boot. Since Dell has all system drivers for each model available the easiest way is to enter the service tag on the support screen and download the drivers to a different system and use a flash drive to install the files on the new system after a new windows install. Have you considered asking your company tech support for help. Good luck Richard

It's a log-in password. I wish it was a bios one. I did get the ERD and burned the .iso file into a disc - the file was named ophcrack-xp-livecd-2.3.1.iso - about 400mb The problem is the PC refuses to load from it - it pretends the "boot device is not available" I have a copy of Win-Xp cd so I tested that and it boots from it if I try several times, but it won't boot from the ERD cd. aparently I don't have the original OS CD so re-installing windows would be my laaaaast option

You would be better off undertaking a fresh install, if you have the DELL XP CoA Sticker, you can use any DELL XP FULL CD to re-install as they use BIOS Lock Code to ensure the XP installed is a DELL Version.

If you really got this from the boss seems simple enough to ask them for it. Something tells me this just isn't the case. Likely I want to go like my grandfather did. Peacefully in his sleep. Not screaming at the top of my longs like the passangers in his car.

Hello eldeliaj, Have you tried accessing the "Administrator" user account? On most occasions, people tend to leave the password empty or even forget to put a password for this account altogether. If you haven't done so already, you can check if the "Administrator" account is accessible by hitting Ctrl+Alt+Delete on the Welcome/Login Screen and entering "administrator" as the login user then press enter. If that doesn't log you in, than you are out of luck. If you are able to get in however, you may continue by accessing ms-dos by going to start->run and type cmd then press enter. In command prompt, type in "net user username *" without the quotations to reset the password of the username you wish to log into. Now you can access the computer again with whatever programs that was pre-installed available for you to use.

Interesting developments - I installed XP-home edition (that's the only CD I have) - leaving the current OS intact - once in through the Home Ed. I can see all files in the PC. Using L0phtCrack - 6 I'm scanning the SAM file from the XP Pro version in ...system32\config folder but the damn thing has been running for 16 hours and hasn't cracked any password yet, plus the free version of it won't do a "Brute Force" scan which is . Anyhow... even if I find the Admin password and make the xp- pro OS usable I'd still be left with the Home Ed. version installed. So I think I just complicated matters by having 2 OS in same partition. Soooo my solution (correct me if I'm wrong) I'm buying a Dell XP cd from ebay or amazon for under 10 bucks and wipe out this PC. And as for my fear of my drivers being lost I'll take your advice and download them directly from the dell website (something I didn't know before).