I don't have much experience with pre-os passwords, but it could be a hard drive password. Removing the battery should have fixed it if it was a firmware password.

Sent from my iPad

On May 25, 2013, at 2:42 PM, Harvey Rose <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> I work in a housing complex and someone threw out the computer in the snow bank. I rescued it this spring and cleaned it up, it was full of dust.  I got error on the screen so tried a different video card as mine own computer had the same graphic card Geforce 8800GT. This solved that problem but it is asking for a password. I've taken off the jumper to reset the password and have removed the motherboard battery to reset the CMOS but still asking for the system password. Maybe I have not left the jumpers or battery out long enough? I at least waited 10 minutes. Does Dell have a special password? The only thing I see wrong really is the graphics card and it was so dirty. Pressing F2 or F12 doesn't do anything.
> There is only one hard drive in it. According to Dell it has Windows Vista on it. I was thinking of putting Linux on it if I can't get the Windows to work.
> 
> Harvey Rose
> 
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         PCBUILD maintains hundreds of useful files for download
                     visit our download web page at
                  http://freepctech.com/downloads.shtml