Unable to get by BIOS Password

Dell laptops use a master password, but BEWARE: Anything with a Haswell*/Broadwell-present processor has an option in the BIOS to block the master password reset. If it's enabled, you have to replace the motherboard!
*Some Haswell business systems had it added retroactively. Ivy Bridge and older is permanently cracked wide open.

PLEASE READ: If you see this and ask about a newer computer, I am usually apprehensive to touch these questions. For the M4400, I'm answering it because anything from the Core 2 (Solo/Duo/Extreme) and the 1st-4th gen Intel Core i (AMD from the same period) is almost always locked due to negligence from a fleet decom. The odds of an old machine like this being stolen are very low, and most people acquire these from places like eBay, recyclers, and GovDeals/GovPlanet. If this were newer, I would not have answered this.
I'm not going to sugarcoat it: YES, I WILL TAKE THE "BIOS LOCKED" DISCOUNT IF I KNOW THE UNIT IS NOT STOLEN AND "RESET" THE PASSWORD ON THESE LAPTOPS TO REMOVE THE PASSWORD WHEN IT IS MISSED, EVEN ON THE NEWER "NO TOUCH" LAPTOPS I WILL NOT DO HERE.

The reason I will do this (especially unadvertised password issues) is I can either:

• Remove it in 5 minutes and be done with it. Use my new laptop.
• Start a return, spend ~1-2 hours getting there (or paying for an Uber)
  • Having to wait for it to arrive to the seller
  • get a refund
  • Look again

For locked units, if I'm getting it cheap over this issue, I either make sure it's decommissioning age (or there's a reason, such as company closure/downsizing) and get the unit at a price low enough as CYA. When I am alone and can get it done, I'm already working on the BIOS Admin/HDP passwords (as needed). Once I know the BIOS is unlocked, I will erase ALL of the hard drives/SSDs to be sure I am starting over clean*.
*In some cases with older models, the hard drives are high hour/have an issue. In those cases, I will replace the drive with an SSD if the laptop is nice enough to warrant it or only takes SSDs. That said, I always account for it and assume the worst in my offer (especially on machines I know come with Seatrash/Seagate hard drives as the "common drive" of choice).
BEFORE ANYONE CALLS ME OUT: Let's say you were a mechanic (or know how to work on cars) and you saw someone sell a Lexus/BMW/Audi/Mercedes cheap due to a $50-100 problem the seller assumes is a thousand-dollar issue. Would you not take advantage of that and be able to drive around in an S550/S600, even an E class, if you didn't like the cost of fixing the Airmatic suspension? It's the same in IT; we all laugh at it and know it's an idiot deterrent (seriously, we cover for this in the AUP). If someone is offloading an easily unlocked Precision with the i7 and high-end graphics (Radeon Pro/RTX workstation), I'm taking a chance.

However, the big issue (and this is why I offer accordingly) is Computrace. It's a non-issue on old machines, but you may need ownership info if it's newer.

I'm not going to provide links, but there's a site that can generate it if you know where to start (Note: the ST MUST MATCH, uppercase, and lowercase). On Dell, you need to press F2 or F12 (select BIOS setup if you use F12 to get into the OTBM), then enter the master password to unlock the system. Once Admin (under "Security options") says "Not set," you are done but do check the other passwords to be sure.

NOTE: On the Core 2 series and older, you often need to either commit the change under "Admin" in "Security options" for it to clear, others may not need this. However, these usually require the extra step of pressing SHIFT+Enter, not just Enter. It depends on the generation and series.

This should wipe out all of the passwords (Admin/POP/HDP) but you often have to remove the HDP independently unless the master password nukes all 3, so double check in that case.

I ran into the issue where you need to clear it for good by removing it under Security on an NVS 160M 256MB (900p direct LED motherboard) E6400 I got from a charity since the seller did not check. I chose to crack it vs return it for the reasons mentioned above and to avoid the hassle (at some risk of not being able to return it, but I took it due to the specs).

ALSO, BEWARE OF COMPUTRACE! Contact Absolute SW, give them the ST of the laptop, and get it checked. If it is active, they need to disable that crap server side. You'll need a new drive and a new copy of Windows anyway, as the government destroys drives. Once Absolute Software severs the activation, the Computrace issue is resolved.

Here's how you tell: If rcpnet.exe in process=active, Absolute SW needs to terminate the tracking. If the machine has no presence of rpcnet.exe, it was done beforehand.

Bear in mind once it's enabled on the pre-PK 2.0 Dells, you cannot disable it; but it will no longer be active.

DON'T USE the copy of Windows where it was active if it wasn't removed before you got it! Consider the initial installation disposable and ONLY USE IT TO GET RID OF THE COMPUTRACE AGENT! This is the only way to avoid any Computrace issues.