I think there is a new feature on later notebooks, called "drive-lock".
It uses a password to lock the hdd, even if the hdd is swapped to another PC.
You might be able to get round it, if you connect it to an old Laptop or Desktop, where the bios doesn't support "drive-lock".
Or you could try "Ultimate Boot CD" from
http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/
This will allow you to make a boot CD.
You could then try the program called "ATA Password Tool 1.1", which is supposed to unlock any locked hdd.
And if that doesn't work you'll need to call up dell.
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