The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Not sure if anything can be done

    Discussion in 'Alienware' started by mysonsfather, Jun 8, 2009.

  1. mysonsfather

    mysonsfather Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    1
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Sorry guys but let me start by saying I'm not a techie it took me forever to figure out how to post a question so here's my question.

    I have a neighbor who had a death in the family and they have a Alienware M17x they would like to sell the only problem is that the laptop has finger print and face reconnection plus the password that no one knows, is there any way of getting around this so they can sell it? I would love to get it for my son but not sure if anything can be done.
     
    mysonsfather, Jun 8, 2009
    #1
  2. kilthro

    kilthro Floating in Space

    Reputations:
    222
    Messages:
    1,577
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Well, if they have all the cds that came with the notebook, you could boot from the cd and do factory reinstall of everything. This way you can set up the accounts the way you want.

    You can also get a program like the "offline NT Password registry editor" disc that will reset the admin account passord.
    You can google that and there are plenty others that do that as well. I have used them many of times in my line of supporting Network and PC users.


    To answer you, yes you can get around that. It just depends on how much effort you want to do.. I suggest the first option if the factory discs are present... Respawn DVD ect.
     
    kilthro, Jun 8, 2009
    #2
  3. whizzo

    whizzo Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    769
    Messages:
    5,851
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    206
    contact AW, see if they can reset the admin password remotely.
     
    whizzo, Jun 8, 2009
    #3
  4. MrDJ

    MrDJ Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    2,594
    Messages:
    10,832
    Likes Received:
    363
    Trophy Points:
    501
    Hi mysonsfather and welcome to the forum.
    now this could be a tricky one. Alienware Laptops and warranty are sadly not transferable. you can sell them but any outstanding warranty wont be covered and any technical help wont be honoured.
    BUT that was then and this is now as Dell have now taken over alienware.
    the only thing i can suggest is to contact the respective seller,usa,eu,aus and explain the situation and they may be able to suggest your options.

    there are also AW reps on here so they may be able to help out a bit more.
     
    MrDJ, Jun 8, 2009
    #4
  5. whizzo

    whizzo Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    769
    Messages:
    5,851
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    206
    it's not about the warranty... it's about gaining access.
     
    whizzo, Jun 8, 2009
    #5
  6. EviLCorsaiR

    EviLCorsaiR Asura

    Reputations:
    970
    Messages:
    2,674
    Likes Received:
    144
    Trophy Points:
    81
    I'd recommend this. Sounds like the best shot at getting into it.
     
    EviLCorsaiR, Jun 8, 2009
    #6
  7. MrDJ

    MrDJ Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    2,594
    Messages:
    10,832
    Likes Received:
    363
    Trophy Points:
    501
    i know whizzo but what im saying is once someone else that is not the buyer rings up they almost tell you to bugger off.
     
    MrDJ, Jun 8, 2009
    #7
  8. whizzo

    whizzo Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    769
    Messages:
    5,851
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    206
    i think that'll change with dell support, no? dell's warranties are transferrable.
     
    whizzo, Jun 8, 2009
    #8
  9. MrDJ

    MrDJ Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    2,594
    Messages:
    10,832
    Likes Received:
    363
    Trophy Points:
    501
    yup,and thats what i put above :)
     
    MrDJ, Jun 8, 2009
    #9
  10. KimoT

    KimoT Are we not men?

    Reputations:
    560
    Messages:
    1,128
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    If you have the discs, I'd say reinstalling everything is the best option. You can use a utility to completely wipe the hard drive and remove all personal information, and then make the system as good as new.
     
    KimoT, Jun 8, 2009
    #10
  11. idq000

    idq000 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    205
    Messages:
    761
    Likes Received:
    5
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Yes, I agree. If your neighbor is absolutely paranoid, download http://www.dban.org/ and burn it to a CD or DVD. Boot up from it and follow the instructions to wipe the drive. Otherwise, if your neighbor isn't that paranoid, you can just use the Windows Vista discs or Respawn Disc (optional, if this person ordered it) to reformat the hard drive and reinstall the Operating System.
     
    idq000, Jun 8, 2009
    #11