20 Most Recent Dell Vostro A860 Notebook Questions & Answers

The best method to reset a BIOS password depends on what BIOS the computer has. Common BIOS's include AMI, Award, IBM and Phoenix. Numerous other BIOS's do exist, but these are the most common.

Some BIOS's allow you to require a password be entered before the system will boot. Some BIOS's allow you to require a password to be entered before the BIOS setup may be accessed.

The general categories of solutions to reset a BIOS password are:

* Using a Backdoor BIOS Password
* Resetting the BIOS Password using Software
* Resetting the BIOS Password using Hardware
* Vendor Specific Solutions for resetting the BIOS Password

Using a Backdoor BIOS Password

Some BIOS manufacturers implement a backdoor password. The backdoor password is a BIOS password that works, no matter what the user sets the BIOS password to. These passwords are typically used for testing and maintenance. Manufacturers typically change the backdoor BIOS passwords from time to time.
AMI Backdoor BIOS Passwords

Reported AMI backdoor BIOS passwords include A.M.I., AAAMMMIII, AMI?SW , AMI_SW, BIOS, CONDO, HEWITT RAND, LKWPETER, MI, and PASSWORD.
Award Backdoor BIOS Passwords

One reported Award backdoor BIOS password is eight spaces. Other reported Award backdoor BIOS passwords include 01322222, 589589, 589721, 595595, 598598 , ALFAROME, ALLY, ALLy, aLLY, aLLy, aPAf, award, AWARD PW, AWARD SW, AWARD?SW, AWARD_PW, AWARD_SW, AWKWARD, awkward, BIOSTAR, CONCAT, CONDO, Condo, condo, d8on, djonet, HLT, J256, J262, j262, j322, j332, J64, KDD, LKWPETER, Lkwpeter, PINT, pint, SER, SKY_FOX, SYXZ, syxz, TTPTHA, ZAAAADA, ZAAADA, ZBAAACA, and ZJAAADC.
Phoenix Backdoor BIOS Passwords

Reported Phoenix BIOS backdoor passwords include BIOS, CMOS, phoenix, and PHOENIX.
Backdoor BIOS Passwords from Other Manufacturers

Reported BIOS backdoor passwords for other manufacturers include:

Manufacturer BIOS Password
VOBIS & IBM merlin
Dell Dell
Biostar Biostar
Compaq Compaq
Enox xo11nE
Epox central
Freetech Posterie
IWill iwill
Jetway spooml
Packard Bell bell9
QDI QDI
Siemens SKY_FOX
SOYO SY_MB
TMC BIGO
Toshiba Toshiba

Remember that what you see listed may not be the actual backdoor BIOS password, this BIOS password may simply have the same checksum as the real backdoor BIOS password. For Award BIOS, this checksum is stored at F000:EC60.
Resetting the BIOS Password using Software

Every system must store the BIOS password information somewhere. If you are able to access the machine after it has been booted successfully, you may be able to view the BIOS password. You must know the memory address where the BIOS password is stored, and the format in which the BIOS password is stored. Or, you must have a program that knows these things.

You can write your own program to read the BIOS password from the CMOS memory on a PC by writing the address of the byte of CMOS memory that you wish to read in port 0x370, and then reading the contents of port 0x371.

!BIOS will recover the BIOS password for most common BIOS versions, including IBM, American Megatrends Inc, Award and Phoenix.

CmosPwd will recover the BIOS password for the following BIOS versions:

* ACER/IBM BIOS
* AMI BIOS
* AMI WinBIOS 2.5
* Award 4.5x/4.6x/6.0
* Compaq (1992)
* Compaq (New version)
* IBM (PS/2, Activa, Thinkpad)
* Packard Bell
* Phoenix 1.00.09.AC0 (1994), a486 1.03, 1.04, 1.10 A03, 4.05 rev 1.02.943, 4.06 rev 1.13.1107
* Phoenix 4 release 6 (User)
* Gateway Solo - Phoenix 4.0 release 6
* Toshiba
* Zenith AMI

Resetting the BIOS Password using Hardware

If you cannot access the machine after if has been powered up, it is still possible to get past the BIOS password. The BIOS password is stored in CMOS memory that is maintained while the PC is powered off by a small battery, which is attached to the motherboard. If you remove this battery, all CMOS information (including the BIOS password) will be lost. You will need to re-enter the correct CMOS setup information to use the machine. The machines owner or user will most likely be alarmed when it is discovered that the BIOS password has been deleted.

On some motherboards, the battery is soldered to the motherboard, making it difficult to remove. If this is the case, you have another alternative. Somewhere on the motherboard you should find a jumper that will clear the BIOS password. If you have the motherboard documentation, you will know where that jumper is. If not, the jumper may be labeled on the motherboard. If you are not fortunate enough for either of these to be the case, you may be able to guess which jumper is the correct jumper. This jumper is usually standing alone near the battery. If you cannot locate this jumper, you might short both of the points where the battery connects to the motherboard.

If all else fails, you may have to clear the BIOS password by resetting the RTC (Real Time Clock) IC (Integrated Circuit) on your motherboard.

Many RTC's require an external battery. If your RTC is one of this type, you can clear the BIOS password just by unsocketing the RTC and reseating it.

RTC's which require external batteries include:

* Dallas Semiconductor DS12885S
* TI benchmarq bq3258S
* Motorola MC146818AP
* Hitachi HD146818AP
* Samsung KS82C6818A

Most RTC chips with integrated batteries can be reset to clear the BIOS password by shorting two pins together for a few seconds.

You will see more than one option for some chips due to testing by various people in the field. Remember to remove power from the system before shorting these pins.

RTC Chip Pins
Dallas DS1287A
TI benchmarq bp3287AMT 3 (N.C.) and 21 (NC/RCL)
Chips & Technologies P82C206 12 (GND) and 32 (5V)
-or-
74 (GND) and 75 (5V)
OPTi F82C206 3 and 26
Dallas Semiconductor DS12887A 3 (N.C.) and 21 (RCLR)

You should be able to discover how to reset the BIOS password stored in most RTC (Real Time Clock) chips by reading the manufacturers data sheet for that RTC. Some RTC's, like the Dallas DS1287 and TI benchmarq bq3287mt cannot be cleared. The solution to resetting the BIOS password on systems with those RTC's is to purchase a replacement RTC chip. How inconvenient!

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one of this will help you

Dvd needs replacing sometimes they just fail, like you can have hard ware and not software the reverse also applies dvd are cheap enough now

There is a coin cell style battery inside that keeps the cmos values while the notebook is off. In time that battery will run down and needs to be replaced.

hardware failure, such as harddrive not working properly, cpu fan is not working....

As the computer starts, press <F8> on the keyboard until the Advanced Boot Options menu appears on the screen. Note: You must press <F8> before the Windows logo appears on the screen. If you press <F8> after the Windows logo appears on the screen, the Advanced Boot Options menu will not appear on the screen. If you do not see the Advanced Boot Options menu, restart the computer, and then repeat this step until you see the menu on the screen.

That error code means that your hard drive is faulty or failed. Try starting up in Safe Mode (using F8 key) ans see if that is ok. If you need detailed steps, Microsoft has a page at http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_vista-system/error-code-2000-0146-unit-1dst-dell-laptop/8595604b-8cba-4ab8-b886-fad0725eb7cc

update driver in windows

Did you buy a replacement battery? Usually this will be because the battery is not an OEM part (made by Dell), your laptop can detect this and will give you a warning. I would always recommend using OEM parts as you don't know the quality of replacement parts and will void your warranty with Dell.However, if it works, then you may well be ok to carry on.If this has suddenly just developed from an original part then you have a faulty battery on your hands most likely and I would recommend replacing it.

Enter to bios after powering and watch if it still go off. If not, go to Healt or sensors section and watch the temperature of CPU and system. The computer might turn off because of overheating.

This is the solution from dell website :"Connect your computer to an electrical outlet to charge the battery. If the problem persists, call Dell for technical assistance". if laptop have warrenty then take it to DELL. if no warrenty, if you know how to open laptop , just replace the CMOS battery. or take out the CMOS battery for minute or two, and put it back. try both methods. if problem persists take it to DELL. best of luck..

It may be bad. Has the laptop been damaged? Dropped? Open Device Manager, DVD/CD Rom drives, is it listed? In Start Menu, Computer, Is it listed? Try re installing the DVD rom driver, the MS Vista 32bit drivers can be found here: http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/us/en/04/Product/vostro-a860

I will assume you did a OS upgrade and didn't check compatibility with Win 8. Did you have Win Vista? Or Win 7 before? That said, drivers for the Video will be on the DELL website. SOMETIMES you can use Win 7 drivers. You may have to change compatibility of the drivers. You didn't say is you had Win 8 32 or 64bit?

You can remove or change the Window's User or administrator's password. You need access to a computer with Internet access to download the Hiren's Boot CD and burn it onto a CD. Then insert this CD into the laptop/computer and boot up the laptop/computer with the Hiren's CD and follow the instructions. There are very useful utilities CD and it a Linux boot CD which contains quite a lot of Utility programs including a password removal program. Click on one of these links to download HIREN'S BOOTCD :- http://www.hirensbootcd.net/ http://67.20.82.163/

Very possibly you muted the sound. Check the little speaker icon in the system tray. When you click it you should see if it is muted or not. Muting the speaker does not mute the headphones, as a general rule.

It is the screen Inverter, or the LCD screen itself. Screen Inverter: A small circuit board located behind the Display Bezel, and mounted towards the bottom of the LCD screen,http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/vosA860/en/sm/display.htm#wp1183775The yellowish long object, at the bottom, is the screen Inverter.Here is another look at it,http://www.batterycenturys.com/dell-vostro-a860-inverter-p-185294.htmlDell Support > Vostro a860 Notebook PC > Service Manual,http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/vosA860/en/sm/index.htmIn the list clicking on -> Display, will get you to the first link above.Need guidance in replacing the screen Inverter, post in a Comment.(Just a basic guide using a Vostro 1014/1015 Notebook PC. Not yours, but good for basic guidance. This is replacing the LCD screen,http://www.insidemylaptop.com/replace-lcd-screen-dell-vostro-1015-1014-laptop/ )[ Primer:An LCD screen cannot produce light by itself,http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/NA_Optical/Systems/BehindTheScenes/Optics101/( Click on the small window with the monitor in it )It needs an additional light source. A Backlight is the additional light source.A Backlight can be a CCFL, (or more than one), or a series of LED's used as lights.The Dell Vostro a860 Notebook PC uses one CCFL, for a Backlight, OR there are Vostro a860's that use LED lights.(If you replace the LCD screen, make sure FIRST of what type of Backlighting it uses)A CCFL is a Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp. Similar to Fluorescent lighting used in homes, and businesses, but on a MUCH smaller scale.[Average thickness of a CCFL is 2mm. That is a little larger than 1/16th of an Inch.Average length is almost as long, as the LCD screen is in height ]A screen Inverter is used to convert the power from the laptop, for the Backlight, and LCD screen.Most of the time the fault is the screen Inverter. The Vostro a860 Notebook PC's, that uses LED's as a Backlight, MAY also use a screen Inverter.Primer over.For your problem it could be the screen Inverter, but I lean more towards the LCD screen itself, is the problem.How to test a screen Inverter? Requires a very sensitive multimeter.Read; Expensive,http://www.fonerbooks.com/test.htmFor a layman who does not have access to a sensitive multimeter, the method is to just replace the screen Inverter, and see if it is the problem. 'Parts changing', I know, but if you do not have the proper equipment to test with?Screen Inverter replaced, and problem still persists, replace the LCD screen,http://www.laptopscreen.com/English/model/Dell/VOSTRO~A860/For additional questions please post in a Comment.Regards,joecoolvette

Yes, go into the bios and change the setting and give it a try.

Why not? Do you have the wireless turned on? Did you put the correct password in?

Maybe you don't have your wireless turned on. Look on both sides and in front for the Wireless Switch and turn it on. Also once the wireless switch is turned on there are keystrokes that can toggle the wireless on or off. Normally you would Press and Hold the FN function key located at the lower left of the keyboard, then hit the correct F1 thru F12 key that toggles the wireless. The correct F1 thru F12 key to hit will have the wireless signal icon )))) on it. Or it might have the icon of a tower with the wireless signal icon )))). Normally the screen will display Wireless On or Wireless Off when you toggle the wireless. If you put the wrong password in, it will never connect. it will keep trying to connect but never will.

Authentication

That means you probably don't have the password or the Authentication Type set correctly. For Windows XP below: Click Start/Control Panel/Network Connections then Right Click on the Wireless Network Connection and select Properties. When the Properties window open click the Wireless Networks tab. Click on the SSID for your wireless network that you connect to and the Properties window will open. You can change the Authentication Type to match the type set in your wireless router and you can also change your password or Network Key to make sure you have it in correctly. For Windows Vista below: Click Start/Control Panel/Network and Sharing Center then look to the left of the open window and click Manage Wireless Networks. Find the SSID of the network that you connect to and double click it. When the window opens click the Security tab to change the Security Type (which is the Authentication), The Encryption Type and the Network Security Key (which is the password). For Windows 7 below: Click Start/Control Panel/Network and Internet/Network and Sharing Center then look to the left and select Manage Wireless Networks. Find the SSID of the network that you connect to and double click it. When the window opens click the Security tab to change the Security Type (which is the Authentication), The Encryption Type and the Network Security Key (which is the password).