I have one old dell computer with SATA HDD; when it is switched on, it asks for a Password just after it shows some startup information about the HDD. I do not know which password it is ATA or CMOS. I took out the HDD and connected it as a secondary drive to another comouter and am able to to see all the files in the HDD. Does tat mean that it is not an ATA password ? If it is not ATA password, I believe that shorting the CMOS battery connectors will rest the password to factory default. Do someone please have a list of possible default passwords for old ddell computers ?

I really appreciate your help.

Perhaps try one of these: http://www.passwordsdatabase.com/vendor/dell

BTW, don't short the battery. Take it out and press the power button with all power sources removed, or jumper the CMOS reset pins on the MB, if there are any (which I doubt, it being a laptop).

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Sabo Computer Repairs & Data Recovery

Thanks larrysabo,

It is a desktop Dell computer; do you have the same list of passowrd for DELL DESKTOPS ?

I don't know if any of those is supposed to work on Dell Desktops or not. I had assumed so. I would suggest you read through some of the suggestions at the following link, to see what computer repair techs have suggested for resetting Dell passwords: http://goo.gl/CtB35a

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Sabo Computer Repairs & Data Recovery

you could record the startup procedure and upload the video and someone here will recognise exactly what password you are seeing. I have many Dell Desktops of varying ages from 8 years old to current and can probably test something if needed.