[Skratche]

On startup, my Dell OptiPlex GX 280 is prompting for a system password that I never set in CMOS. After 3 unsuccessful attempts, I get this message:

Alert! Previous attempts at booting this system have failed at checkpoint [Ithr]. For help in resolving this problem, please note this checkpoint and contact Dell Technical Support.

This happens after I hit the power button & after the Dell & Intel logos are displayed.

No beeps whatsoever.

Kindly advise on what I should do to bypass the password.

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Contact Dell, make sure you have your service tag number handy as they will need it. It should be on the comp. case towards the bottom. Their tech support is really good in my opinion, they have online IM style support.
-Pete.

[p-zero]

Contact Dell, make sure you have your service tag number handy as they will need it. It should be on the comp. case towards the bottom. Their tech support is really good in my opinion, they have online IM style support.
-Pete.

[Spike]

Hey there Skratche, welcome to Geeks To Go Forums.

I am not sure if this is allowed but if not please notify me and I will edit it out.

edited out advice due to T.O.S. WE WILL NOT HELP YOU GET AROUND PASSWORDS...ESPECIALLY CMOS PASSWORDS

Cool, let me know if this was what you were looking for.

[warriorscot]

edited out advice due to T.O.S. WE WILL NOT HELP YOU GET AROUND PASSWORDS...ESPECIALLY CMOS PASSWORDS but since its a dell i would talk to there tech support and double check make sure its not going to void any warranties you have left.

[dsenette]

also just as a note...it's impossible (in my experience) for a CMOS password to be set without human intervention...they DO NOT get set by corruption or anything of that nature...which leads me to believe that you're trying to get into a computer that isn't yours or at least that you do not have controll over....so since people have responded to this thread BEFORE a mod getting here...you' got lucky and got answers (which i will edit out so they cannot be used for future reference by nare-do-wells)...any time your computer tells you to call tech support...call tech support....and don't try to bypass passwords on the system.