Dell Inspiron 530s Desktop Locked Out From No User Password

1697 Views 24 Replies 7 Participants Last post by NaderHussain, 7 mo ago

Radicaluser

Discussion Starter · 11 mo ago

Hello, I recently purchased a Dell Inspiron 530s desktop from an auction in like new condition. It's still on Windows Vista and had been sitting for 10 years. I got it powered up and able to go online using the guest user option but I cannot run anything due to the previous owner's user password I do not have. I cannot even set the current time and date without it requesting the previous user's password. I understand that I would not be able to update Vista, but I would like to upgrade it to at least Windows 8.0 or 8.1. or Windows 10 if it's capable. Everything I try and enter or change it keeps asking for that previous password. I've tried all the common fixes including entering the BIOS and changing the BIOS password and it's still requesting the original password. I tried removing the CMOS battery, unplugging the blue jumper wire off of the motherboard and letting it sit overnight then starting it back up but it will not clear the previous owner's user password.

Any help or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

John

1 - 20 of 25 Posts

texasbullet

· #2 · 11 mo ago

Can you provide us with the service tag number.
Just to let you know we cannot provide any help with passwords on any circumstances.

Radicaluser

Discussion Starter · #3 · 11 mo ago

texasbullet said:
Can you provide us with the service tag number.
Just to let you know we cannot provide any help with passwords on any circumstances.

Yes, I can. Thank You for the prompt response.
Service Tag # 12ND8F1
Express Service Code # 2336963293
Model # WL-138GV2

So, if you cannot help with passwords can you tell me how to reset/restore it to factory condition and I can start from scratch and reinstall a new Windows operating system?

Thank You
John

Radicaluser

Discussion Starter · #4 · 11 mo ago

Yes, I can. Thank You for the prompt response.
Service Tag # 12ND8F1
Express Service Code # 2336963293
Model # WL-138GV2

So, if you cannot help with passwords can you tell me how to reset/restore it to factory condition and I can start from scratch and reinstall a new Windows operating system?

Thank You
John

flavallee

· #5 · 11 mo ago (Edited)

Service Tag # 12ND8F1
Express Service Code # 2336963293
Model # WL-138GV2

You have THIS Dell Inspiron 530s which was purchased new in December 2007 and came with Windows XP 32-bit or Windows Vista 32-bit/64-bit.
What is the exact Windows version on the Certificate-Of-Authenticity sticker of yours?
When you purchased yours at the auction, did any discs come with it?

So, if you cannot help with passwords can you tell me how to reset/restore it to factory condition and I can start from scratch and reinstall a new Windows operating system?

Official support for Windows XP ended in April 2014.
Official support for Windows Vista ended in April 2017.
Official support for Windows 7 ended in January 2020.
Your Dell Inspiron 530s is not capable of running Windows 10.

I do not know what possessed you to purchase an almost 15-year old computer.
Hopefully, you paid very little for it because it will probably be useful only as a paperweight or a doorstop.

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plodr

· #6 · 11 mo ago

I've asked this be moved to the forum section dealing with Vista.

Couriant

· #7 · 11 mo ago

I assume you mean the Windows user account? If so, then doing the CMOS battery/jumper trick won't work, that would be for the BIOS.

Since the machine is that old, Dell does not have any information on the original setup so it may have been upgraded. If it had Windows XP, then upgraded to Windows Vista, then the original OS Recovery is no longer available. If it had Windows Vista originally, then you should be able to get to the System Restore by pressing F8 when you boot up the computer (before the windows logo) and go into the advanced system options.

If you do not have any options, then your only recourse is to find the exact Windows version on the COA sticker, and then find an ISO for the OS to install. If you are successful in finding it, then use the link from Frank to download at least the basic drivers (video, network) so that way you can access the internet and download the rest.

At this point though, it may be more better to use Linux if you are planning on doing basic work/internet.

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Radicaluser

Discussion Starter · #8 · 11 mo ago

flavallee said:
You have THIS Dell Inspiron 530s which was purchased new in December 2007 and came with Windows XP 32-bit or Windows Vista 32-bit/64-bit.
What is the exact Windows version on the Certificate-Of-Authenticity sticker of yours?
When you purchased yours at the auction, did any discs come with it?

Official support for Windows XP ended in April 2014.
Official support for Windows Vista ended in April 2017.
Official support for Windows 7 ended in January 2020.
Your Dell Inspiron 530s is not capable of running Windows 10.

I do not know what possessed you to purchase an almost 15-year old computer.
Hopefully, you paid very little for it because it will probably be useful only as a paperweight or a doorstop.

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Hello, thanks for your input here.
The sticker says Windows Vista home premium OEMAct.

The 530s came with an abandoned storage locker contents I bid on blind that came with many items I'm just going to resell. No discs, just the tower.
I tried all the F2, F8, F10, and F12 options on startup and they all led to a dead end.

Updating it to Windows 8.0 or 8.1 would be fine for the grandkids to learn on. My primary machine is a Dell XPS 8930 which I won't let them touch.

Thank You
John

Radicaluser

Discussion Starter · #9 · 11 mo ago

Couriant said:
I assume you mean the Windows user account? If so, then doing the CMOS battery/jumper trick won't work, that would be for the BIOS.

Since the machine is that old, Dell does not have any information on the original setup so it may have been upgraded. If it had Windows XP, then upgraded to Windows Vista, then the original OS Recovery is no longer available. If it had Windows Vista originally, then you should be able to get to the System Restore by pressing F8 when you boot up the computer (before the windows logo) and go into the advanced system options.

If you do not have any options, then your only recourse is to find the exact Windows version on the COA sticker, and then find an ISO for the OS to install. If you are successful in finding it, then use the link from Frank to download at least the basic drivers (video, network) so that way you can access the internet and download the rest.

At this point though, it may be more better to use Linux if you are planning on doing basic work/internet.

Hello, thanks for your input here. I don't think it's a Windows user account type password I think it's just for use with the machine in general.

The sticker says Windows Vista home premium OEMAct.

The 530s came with an abandoned storage locker contents I bid on blind that came with many items I'm just going to resell. No discs, just the tower.
I tried all the F2, F8, F10, and F12 options on startup and they all led to a dead end.

Updating it to Windows 8.0 or 8.1 would be fine for the grandkids to learn on. My primary machine is a Dell XPS 8930 which I won't let them touch.

Thank You
John

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Couriant

· #10 · 11 mo ago

There are no Windows 7/8 drivers from Dell, though Dell doesn't show it's not supported. If you are able to install Windows 8, it may not work as well. Can you get into the BIOS and check how much RAM and storage drive?

Linux may be the only option.

Radicaluser

Discussion Starter · #11 · 11 mo ago

Couriant said:
There are no Windows 7/8 drivers from Dell, though Dell doesn't show it's not supported. If you are able to install Windows 8, it may not work as well. Can you get into the BIOS and check how much RAM and storage drive?

Linux may be the only option.

Yes, I can get into the BIOS and it looks like 8GB RAM installed. I cannot install Windows 7 or 8 because it won't let me do anything without that password and Admin. rights.

Thank you
John

flavallee

· #12 · 11 mo ago

The sticker says Windows Vista home premium OEMAct.

The 530s came with an abandoned storage locker contents I bid on blind that came with many items I'm just going to resell. No discs, just the tower.
I tried all the F2, F8, F10, and F12 options on startup and they all led to a dead end.

Updating it to Windows 8.0 or 8.1 would be fine for the grandkids to learn on.

From what I can determine, the Dell Inspiron 530s originally came with Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit.
Its 3.6 GB size ISO file which contains Service Pack 2 can be downloaded from HERE, which you can then use to create a bootable install DVD.

The cost of purchasing Windows 8.1 Home 64-bit DVD would be much more than what that Dell is worth, so that is not feasible.
And you also run the risk of drivers not being available for all of its primary devices.

Not knowing the current administrator username and password is not a problem.
Once you boot from the install DVD to wipe everything out and do a clean install, you will have the option to create your own administrator username and password.

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Couriant

· #13 · 11 mo ago

Ahh, I see so it seems to be a BIOS type password.

Here is a link from Dell on how to do the bypass just in case you may have missed a step.
Here is the Dell Manual and on page 190 has the information too.

Radicaluser

Discussion Starter · #14 · 11 mo ago

flavallee said:
From what I can determine, the Dell Inspiron 530s originally came with Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit.
Its 3.6 GB size ISO file which contains Service Pack 2 can be downloaded from HERE, which you can then use to create a bootable install DVD.

The cost of purchasing Windows 8.1 Home 64-bit DVD would be much more than what that Dell is worth, so that is not feasible.
And you also run the risk of drivers not being available for all of its primary devices.

Not knowing the current administrator username and password is not a problem.
Once you boot from the install DVD to wipe everything out and do a clean install, you will have the option to create your own administrator username and password.

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Hello, first of all, I would like to thank you for your input and help here. You sound very very knowledgeable about computers which is exactly the type of person I wanted to talk with regarding my issue.
From what it sounds like you suggested I download that link you sent me and burn it to a blank disk then boot it with that disk in the machine. I have never burned a disk before for music or movies but I did give it a few tries with the disks I had available. I had some new & used disks to try and I keep getting a notice that there's not enough space on the disk or that the disk isn't writeable. I also tried a flash/thumb drive with the same notice not enough room on the thumb drive. I don't know if I'm doing it wrong or its all my disks aren't capable of this type of download.

I did want to let you know I am above average when it comes to computer use and management. I regularly run all my and family & friends' maintenance tasks such as removing temp files from RUN option, disk clean up, DISM repair, SFC /scannow optimize disks option, and so on you get the idea. So with that said I should be capable of running the download and burn operation you have suggested I would think.

I just thought I would let you know where I stand and thank you for your help and knowledgeable suggestions.

Thank You.
John

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PeterOz

· #15 · 11 mo ago

I would try this
Download vista from Frank's link
Then use rufus to make a bootable usb
Rufus - Create bootable USB drives the easy way

Radicaluser

Discussion Starter · #16 · 11 mo ago

PeterOz said:
I would try this
Download vista from Frank's link
Then use rufus to make a bootable usb
Rufus - Create bootable USB drives the easy way

Thanks but I wouldn't have a clue about doing anything like that. I've never heard of Frank's link or Rufus either. I've never downloaded anything to a disk or USB drive before. I don't even know the differences between a GB or MB. I never needed to in the past. I cannot even figure out what type or size of disk I need for a download a previous user sent me on here. I'm starting to think what I would like to do cannot be done.

Thanks for your suggestion/
John

flavallee

· #17 · 11 mo ago

Once you've created bootable install media which contains Window Vista Home Premium SP2 64-bit, installing it is pretty straight-forward.

However, what's difficult and time-consuming to do is getting it up-to-date to April 2017 (its official end of life).
https://forums.techguy.org/threads/updated-steps-for-installing-updating-windows-vista-sp2.1224605/

If you're lucky to get that far, you'll discover that almost no up-to-date software apps and browsers will install and work in it.

Personally, it's not worth the time and effort to do.

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Radicaluser

Discussion Starter · #18 · 11 mo ago

flavallee said:
Once you've created bootable install media which contains Window Vista Home Premium SP2 64-bit, installing it is pretty straight-forward.

However, what's difficult and time-consuming to do is getting it up-to-date to April 2017 (its official end of life).
https://forums.techguy.org/threads/updated-steps-for-installing-updating-windows-vista-sp2.1224605/

If you're lucky to get that far, you'll discover that almost no up-to-date software apps and browsers will install and work in it.

Personally, it's not worth the time and effort to do.

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Thank you for that information and I agree with you about the time and effort. So let me ask you this. Is it possible to create and install Windows 8.0 or 8.1 or do I have to install the original Vista first and then update it or is that machine not capable of 8.0 or 8.1 which was my plan? Is Windows 7 an option if 8.0 or 8.1 isn't?
I do have some time to put into it and like I have said I want it for the grandkids to learn basic computer knowledge on because I don't want them on my XPS 8930.

I also was curious to know what type of disk will I need to create the media on since I have no idea. Is it a CD or DVD type and what size MB or GB?

Thank you for your time & knowledge in helping me.
John.

Couriant

· #19 · 11 mo ago

The method of creating a bootable disc for Windows 8.1 is the same as Vista, the only difference should be that you need an Windows 8.1 ISO.

Even so, the Windows would be unlicensed and may get very limited after a grace period.
You should use an unused 8GB or bigger USB thumb drive. If you insist on making a disc, then a DVD should work.

flavallee

· #20 · 11 mo ago

James:

I've said everything that I need to say in post #17, so I'll leave it to you and the others from here on.

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