Solved ATI HDMI output is unplugged

[thelma]

Yes, I agree, it is a mess, because of this stupid "Dell System Restore" I really lost everything, except my pictures ( which I had saved on an external USB stick.)

It looked straight forward, and I was asked to put all the files en folders I wanted to safe in a special place with Dell ( perhaps I find them back one day.)

But I had never thought I was gonna be prompted for an administrator password to log on after this "Restore".
And this password I have never known from the start, when a friend in England set up the laptop for me in 2010 when I bought it new.

So for days, I could not log on, then I managed to go round this by creating in safe mode a user administration password. Then I was back on the laptop and noticed there was nothing, even service pac 1 had gone.

Now I really only need this (hidden) administrator password to get into BIOS to restore my sound, otherwise I would not bother.

I can get on line, I can get to my mail, I have most of my pictures back and now sp 1 aswell.

But I really hate not being able to listen to Video's, interviews, news and music. Have not looked at the TV for years.

I will take your advise and restore first.
I am not familiair with things like formatting and so on, so I will just use a CD or DVD.

Thanks for your help and I will keep on posting till this is solved.

Cheers,
Thelma

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Lets just go back to the basics when you switch on the machine and it boots to Windows - does it ask for a password? Because if the password is set in the BIOS then it is a resetting problem especially as it is a laptop.

Now that friend did you no favours if they set the password for the BIOS although if it is the Windows login screen then it is still going to be a problem and the easiest way I can suggest around fixing that is to get an OEM copy of Windows 7 and clean install it. This option is better in any case because you do not get landed with all the bloatware that Dell put on the machine. Depending on the age of the machine I would suggest also a new hard drive an if you can afford one an SSD.
If you are worried about retrieving data from that original drive then we can guide you through that.

But let us know where this "password" is located first.

 

[GokAy]

Windows password is easy to reset. Just download and make bootable media of Offline Windows Password & Registry Editor - can reset administrator password or change registry

You may need to change BIOS boot order or use the one-time "Boot Menu" for bootable media to work - should say which key to press during POST (1st screen that comes to display when you start the laptop)

However, the built-in Administrator account is disabled by default, and you may not be able to enable it if you don't have administrator privileges with your current account. That can be by-passed too, needs a bit more work as in:

- Boot with the media
- Change the registry as follows:
-- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\SetupType - set the value to 2
-- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\CmdLine - set the value to cmd.exe
- Restart the PC, it should open a command prompt
- Enter: net localgroup Administrators [UserLoginName] /add
-- where [UserLoginName] is your regular user account name, as in C:\Users\
- restart PC
- login with your own account, which should be now a local administrator

Another method would be to enable the built-in Administrator account with the command line as follows (same procedure as above, but enter the following command at cmd when windows starts)

- net user Administrator /active:yes
- reset Administrator password with the above bootable media or some other similar program
- login with Administrator

If all the above fail somehow (say, due to not being able to boot with CD/DVD-ROM or USB sticks) you can still take the hard disk to a friend and load the registry hive and change the registry keys mentioned above, etc. (No need to go into that detail at the moment)

------

Regarding a BIOS password, I will let others comment on that.

 

[thelma]

Hello ICIT2LOL,

I did the registry - backup and restore, method 2 ( as you suggested ) very early this morning and it worked ! I Checked it, it's there ! Thanks for that !

Then I went walking the dogs and when I came back, Windows was installing 225 updates so I just went to work and when I checked in the evening it was installed successful.

Could not open my Google account anymore so got back on that for the moment via Internet Explorer.

I will try this registry change "11 to 10 " thing tomorrow, it might work ?

After all these up dates, sound still the same, terrible !

Thanks,
Thelma

 

[thelma]

Thanks Gokay,

Now, before I am going to do anything about this "password" that I need to get into BIOS I would like to understand some things to do with PASSWORDS IN GENERAL, that I think are very unclear to a lot of Computer users.

First;

Control panel > User accounts ( Ad or Remove user accounts ).

Here I have 2 user accounts;

1 account is Administrator, password protected. I know that account password.

2 account is password protected. I know the password of that account also.

I think most user have that set up ?

Second;

In Security ( open on boot with F2) we find; ( in my case)

Unlock setup Status Locked
Unluck setup ( in white)

Admin Password Status Set
System Password Status Not Set
HDD Password Status Not set

Set Admin Password
Set System Password ( in blue)
Set HDD Password ( in blue)

Password in Boot ( enable)

Computrace (Deactivate).

Now as you will know by now, I need to recuperate THE Password !!!!!!, which is asked, when you open your BIOS with F2 in boot.

Which one is that, and what do the others do ?

If anybody knows this and has the time ( and interest ) to explain this, it would be so marvellous for a lot of computer users I think.

I am looking forward to any replay on this, already a BIG THANK YOU .

Thelma

 

[GokAy]

Hey Thelma, what I wrote was regarding Windows account passwords, which as you mentioned already known by you. So you can disregard that post.

The passwords you mention are BIOS passwords. Maybe it is possible to remove them with a motherboard CMOS reset (never had to reset BIOS passwords) but you may need to disassemble the laptop to get to the CMOS battery. So, wait for someone experienced with laptops to lead you.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Yep getting to laptop CMOS batteries is not for the faint hearted and most that I have disassembled to get to it means a complete take apart. Some of the older ones are actually soldered in to make things worse.
Watch this it isn’t a very good quality picture but will give you some idea on what is involved.


Now if you can get to the BIOS settings you can usually set it to factory default but I am guessing because someone has set a BIOS password (usually done on business machines) even that might not be possible.

 

[thelma]

Yes, your are right and thanks again for your answer ( the instructions are clear enough) that is not an easy way to go.

The furthest I ever got was getting the key board out as a rescue job after a full glass of red had gone over it.

I ONLY assume that my mate (when opening this new laptop for me in December 2010) put in a password, because why on earth would they otherwise ask for it ?

I did try this going into SAM in regidit safe mode command prompt, but it did not wanted to open. It says " that SAM is open somewhere else and cannot respond.

As I had so many difficulties in opening the system, I am afraid to now change things in the security.

That is really, why I asked about all the different passwords there are on a computer.

Still, no sound ......

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hum well unless I am sadly mistaken Thelma the BIOS password is embedded in the BIOS ROM chip and doesn't have anything to do with the Windows registry.

It is a problem I have had heaps of trouble with in the past in particular with some old pre owned school machines I wanted to do up for kids who couldn't afford to buy machines. In the end I was given the password by a good Samaritan and the machines went to good homes (mind you they were XP ones).

Now the only thing I can suggest now is to get that CMOS battery out and clear that BIOS to it's default settings.

 

[thelma]

Been very bad weather Yesterday and a Saturday, so I spend most time thinking about solutions for my 3 laptop problems and searching the internet.

Managed to sort out 2 of them ( if interrested, see other threads of me here on sevenforums) and I am now getting close ( I think) to solving this last one.

I went into the Dell comunity. My laptop is a Dell ( old but really good !) and I know that the solution has to be found by Dell.

They have the most terrible technical support ( this is a Word Wide Known Fact).
You cannot e-mail them.
There tel nr are not to be used out of the UK ( bought my Dell there, so have to go back there for info and support ) or you are redirected to somewhere in India to a person that hardly speaks English.

They have closed ( since only February) the possibility - for Laptops - to get your system set up Password on line.
You now HAVE to call in with all your technical details.
So, tomorrow, during normal working hrs I have to call Dell UK technical support and hope to get through.

The Dell big computers have all a password jump system build in next to the BIOS.

And then, when I can finally get into my BIOS with my new password, it is still not 100% sure that the sound problem lays there.

But I need to find this out first, before I start to buy hardware.

So, fingers crossed !!!!

Thelma

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Thelma I think you will find mot computer and components manufacturers have terrible support not just Dell. I bought a an Asus gamer laptop just before Christmas and it wasn't until I stumbled over the local Sydney based Asus service centre I got any satisfaction what had taken me nearly six months to sort out the problem using the global and "local" (Philippines call centre) support sites - was fixed within an hour!!.

As for the built in BIOS password it sounds a bit suspect to me - I can think that some companies or gov organisations would want that but the average user seems very suss.

But I hope you get somewhere or else I would be inclined to just get a new computer.

 

[thelma]

Well, I am a bit of a stubborn - never give up - type, and have over the years, over and over again, found a solution.

Other points are that I really like this little "sh.." of a laptop and, ... I don't have the money !

Up till now, in almost 5 years, I have never spent one penny on it, I has been mistreated and wrongly instructed, it has been blind and now almost deaf, but it still lights up very cheerful every day, so ... I keep on trying.

I stay in touch,

Thelma

Thanks for your help and time !!

 

[thelma]

ICIT2LOL's Avatar
ICIT2LOL
Confusion Therapist

Do you remember this ??? It was somewhere in 2008 ! My problem is an OLD problem





Join Date: Nov 2010
Desk1 8 Pro / Desk2 7 Home Prem / Main lap Asus ROG 7 Pro
14,902 posts
Central West NSW
Local Time: 02:33
Australia au new south wales

ICIT2LOL is offline Report Post
Do you remember getting a password from Dell with the media because there are a lot of Youtube videos mentioning passwords?

I found this if it is of nay help Unlock Dell Laptop with a Special Bios Password: DELL LATITUDE e5420 BIOS PASSWORD, Laptop unlock code solutions

otherwise why not contact Dell? if you have the model and serial number plus PART NO like a lot of Toshiba's have that denote region for use and / or build and get the password back form them.

Like Two Cables said why 32bit is a mystery as it limits you a bit and thta machine can support a fair bit mor RAM then 2GB!!

 

[ICIT2LOL]

No Thelma I don't to be honest I know the comments as I have used them time and again for different posts and for mostly people with Toshiba problems and that I have had a few taken apart over the years.

Mind you it is a it scary to see I joined up in 2010

As for the machine may it grow even older unless it gets demented well why not and anyway you may win the lottery and be able to get a new one. One thing I have found is that they are really quite reasonably priced now and the factory refurbished ones are worth a look at.

 

[thelma]

Ok, so I managed to get in touch with Dell UK this morning first call.

This is the phone number if you call from out of England ; +44 134 486 0456.

You have to have your Service Tag number ready and that of your Express Service code.
You are asked for your name and e-mail address.

It all took about 25 min I think, with getting put through to technical advisers.

So I asked for the password to unlock BIOS, also called the System Setup Password, or Master Password.

In my case it has 8 numbers and letters.

Did the restart,click F2 thing and went to the Bois. If you then click enter, you are asked to go to security and up in the Administrator password. (Why not the System Setup Password or Master Password, to make it complicated again I don't know.)

Well, went to Security (to clicks to the right with the arrows )

There are ALL THESE FAMOUS PASSWORDS, I have not a clue about and asked someone to explain before ( see my answer 3 days ago to GOKAY.)

Tried the new password I have from Dell and it did not work !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PASSWORD INCORRECT.

OK, I am off now, ..... to hang myself !!!!!!!!!!!!!!:devil: and :

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Oh dear it goes on and on eh? I didn't think of it before but a few use a plain "admin" as a password but seems Dell have made all the rules. I would get back onto those Dell people you deserve more than that! Frankly whenever that password was made in the BIOS someone really screwed up badly - there is no need for it unless the machine is for corporate or government type use - totally ridiculous.

Honestly I think it is time to start saving the pennies Thelma for another machine I know you are attached to tis one but after all this is it really worth the grief?

 

[thelma]

Thanks for your concern , I am actually quiet licking the challence and WILL get to the end of this.

The point is so simple really, it is my computer and has always been from the start.

There is something wrong and I want to fix it.

I know that almoost for 100 % the problem can be changed in the BIOS. It is my BIOS on my computer and I cannot get in it because of some stupid messing around with all these passwords.

Setup Password, Master Password, HDD Password, Administrator Password, User Password, Guest Password,
Password on Boot, I don't think anybody knows the nitty gritty of al these passwords.

Somewhere along the line the Admin password and THE ADMINISTRATOR password and the Elevated Administrator Password are not the same ......

If really something is broken down in my hardware I will probably need to buy a new laptop, but not before I am really sure about that.


I did the "how to Enable or disable the built in Elevated Administrator account in windows 7 " that Brink put on this forum in November 2008 and it worked.

I know all my passwords now ( exept the HDD one) it is like playing Black Jack. :banghead:

this is what I need to do;


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0xNL5H1E7Q

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Well I give you top marks for perseverance Thelma and to be honest I don't like things beating me either. I think if it were possible to get the BIOS back to default settings by either taking out the CMOS battery or telling it to do so would be where I would start.

I might contact my brother in Chippenham UK and ask him how difficult it is to remove that battery in a Dell as he has done a few now (not BIOS problems but general fixes).

Like I said before why that BIOS password was ever involved is a real pain and all you need is the User account password to open up when you are powering up the machine.

Did Dell ever get back onto the problem with you?

 

[thelma]

Hello, and thanks again for your help.

No, I need to get back to DELL really to explain that the password did not work,but I know already the are going to tell me to ....... off.

I am now starting to wonder, ( having read so much lately about audio problems that start all of the sudden ), if it has to do with a laptop overheating.

Mine some times gets really hot, I should open up en clean the dust at the fans.

This because I read now two times people got sound problems after they were installing something really big and the fan made a lot of noise.

What do you think ?

 

[thelma]

Hello I am back with more info on my sound problem.

It is still unsolved, but now my friend is back home and has more knowledge than me in computers.
We have done the build in Audio diagnostic test.

It comes out with 2 errors.

Error code 1B63:181B
Error code 1B63:1D1B

It has to do with speakers, do I need to buy something and replace ?

Thanks very much already for any help,
Thelma