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Desperately need help with a Dell Optiplex and Windows 7 - files inaccessible

S

stvsxm

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Nov 8, 2022
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i know this is all self inflicted but, never the less , i really need help...... dell optiplex/win 7 ran and drove fine. went to sleep for an hour then when i went to wake it up , password wouldn't work. screwed around with that for an hour tried everythin know how to do which, compared to you guys is probably a 2 out of 10. at any rate... then followed some online instructions and managed to screw up the bios. now i have no display. tried all the usual stuff ... f2 / f5/ f8 f10 f12 all of that... with oem boot discs.... nothing. so... save me from myself.... how do i get the screen to come back on ? you can tell me how to fix the password thing later... please...
 
Have you tried pulling the Cmos battery? unhook the computer from the mains, pull the battery and leave it for 5mins then plug everything back in and see what happens.
 
thats worth a shot. will do and report back. i presume that in plain sight on the mother board somewhere ?
 
stvsxm said:
thats worth a shot. will do and report back. i presume that in plain sight on the mother board somewhere ?
Click to expand...

looks like this

lithium_bios_battery.jpg
 
When it comes to password protected bios, we can't help you crack your way back in for obvious (or not so) reasons :)
 
freeagent said:
When it comes to password protected bios, we can't help you crack your way back in for obvious (or not so) reasons :)
Click to expand...
Screwed up the bios... Hmm, can he flash it now?
May be resetting the bios doesn't help since he said it's screwed
 
Lei said:
Screwed up the bios... Hmm, can he flash it now?
May be resetting the bios doesn't help since he said it's screwed
Click to expand...
I'm not sure what he did, clocking in windows on older systems can hose the bios, but he made no mention of that.
 
Step away from the bios boys :D
 
@stvsxm @Sargunes1903
Read this:

www.technewstoday.com

How To Update BIOS Without CPU

Updating BIOS without a CPU is achievable using the BIOS Flashback on most modern motherboards. This guide ensures you do it right and safely.
www.technewstoday.com www.technewstoday.com

The CPU doesn't matter in this article.
The point is: download the bios file from dell website, rename as instructed and copy it on a fat32 formatted usb with the capacity specified as dell says.
Plug it into a usb port back there where there's a little led and button next to it...

And btw, if you don't have such a port with button next to it, buy a new motherboard. I hope your PC has EZ Flash, otherwise I think you must accept death.

poison GIF


Without that button, I can not think of any true love's kiss tbh
 
Hi,
Power on
Wait a minute and use Ctrl+Shift+Alt+Delete keys all at the same time repeatedly.
If you ever see setup option select that option and use optimize defaults and save and exit.

You can also repeatedly startup and keep pressing the start button to shut down again a few times and you might be directed to bios to use F1
 
freeagent said:
I'm not sure what he did, clocking in windows on older systems can hose the bios, but he made no mention of that.
Click to expand...
I learned that the hard way in 2003 with an overclocked AMD CPU on a premium Asus mobo. Thankfully, the shop accepted the RMA and sent me a replacement.
 
ok.... the coms batt thing didn't work.... same black screen but i have a second system.... slightly different model # but same form factor and style... so i swapped the hd into that .... and now i have a screen but im back to the password thing.... and without remarking on my stupidity for not having a back up or a recovery disc etc.... wat i have on this hd is critical and can't be lost.... now.... if you know how to get by this then i need to know... failing that, if i buy an external hd caddy as i have done in the past, can i get access to the files ? common.... you guys are the smartest geeks there are... save a poor unfortunate soul from himself....
 
Most people won't forget their password for their windows account...Especially when using every day...
 
Take the PC to a repair shop for help.
 
stvsxm said:
ok.... the coms batt thing didn't work.... same black screen but i have a second system.... slightly different model # but same form factor and style... so i swapped the hd into that .... and now i have a screen but im back to the password thing.... and without remarking on my stupidity for not having a back up or a recovery disc etc.... wat i have on this hd is critical and can't be lost.... now.... if you know how to get by this then i need to know... failing that, if i buy an external hd caddy as i have done in the past, can i get access to the files ? common.... you guys are the smartest geeks there are... save a poor unfortunate soul from himself....
Click to expand...
It's pretty much impossible to help you since all we have is "the password broke just sitting there, I didn't do anything" (yeah, right) and "I did unspecified stuff in the BIOS and now it doesn't boot up".

But yes, if you install the HDD in a different PC (no need for a caddy, just plug it into another cable) will give you access to your files.
 
i had this years ago with Win7 i had to reinstall windows I've never used or had windows log on password since I installed w11 offline so I didn't have to have a password and Microsoft account. i feel for you bud but sadly don't know a way of sorting it.
 
P4-630 said:
Most people won't forget their password for their windows account...Especially when using every day...
Click to expand...
not forgotten..... worked and then an hour later didn't.

bug said:
It's pretty much impossible to help you since all we have is "the password broke just sitting there, I didn't do anything" (yeah, right) and "I did unspecified stuff in the BIOS and now it doesn't boot up".

But yes, if you install the HDD in a different PC (no need for a caddy, just plug it into another cable) will give you access to your files.
Click to expand...
did that as in installed it in second system and it wants to do a recovery but requires the pw to do it.... not tried the caddy yet

bug said:
It's pretty much impossible to help you since all we have is "the password broke just sitting there, I didn't do anything" (yeah, right) and "I did unspecified stuff in the BIOS and now it doesn't boot up".

But yes, if you install the HDD in a different PC (no need for a caddy, just plug it into another cable) will give you access to your files.
Click to expand...
look.... it went to sleep and when i went to wake it the pw didn't work which had worked fine an hour ago.... sorry if thats hard to believe. as for the bios... no mystery there... i followed some instructions that i shoouldn't have and screwed it up. that prob fixed by putting the drive in another frame... i have a screen now but pw problem remains,..... i don't need to be told i don't know what im doing or that i was stupid. i need a rational and intelligent solution.
 
stvsxm said:
did that as in installed it in second system and it wants to do a recovery but requires the pw to do it.... not tried the caddy yet
Click to expand...
Make a live ubuntu usb, from there access and copy your files.

ubuntu.com

Try Ubuntu before you install it | Ubuntu

Ubuntu is an open source software operating system that runs from the desktop, to the cloud, to all your internet connected things.
ubuntu.com ubuntu.com
 
64K said:
Take the PC to a repair shop for help.
Click to expand...
love to. but im on an island in the caribbean where i am probably the smartest guy here and i still use a flip phone... believe me... if i could just drop this off somewhere and write a check we wouldn't be having this conversation.
 
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