Hello,

I have a Dell Latitude C600 laptop I recently bought that was used.
When you startup the computer and the main Dell screen appears and
gives you the option enter setup or boot menu, somehow the previous
owner's name appears above the Dell logo. I would like to get rid of
the previous owner's name from this screen.

The BIOS version is A23, which was the last/lastest BIOS revision
release by Dell. So I can't upgrade to try and change that way. Also, I
have tried pulling the CMOS battery to reset the BIOS that way. But
that only reset the time.

Anyone have any ideas on how to get rid of the old owner's name from
the intial startup menu? Any tools or utilities i could use to get rid
of it? Or am I just screwed? I mean, they used some program to get it
on there, there has to be something to get it off I would think.

Any help would be great.


Thanks

I think it is a file that needs to be changed not the bios
<leecarnes******.com> wrote in message
news:1162826408.786112.286510@f16g2000cwb.googlegr oups.com...
> Hello,
>
> I have a Dell Latitude C600 laptop I recently bought that was used.
> When you startup the computer and the main Dell screen appears and
> gives you the option enter setup or boot menu, somehow the previous
> owner's name appears above the Dell logo. I would like to get rid of
> the previous owner's name from this screen.
>
> The BIOS version is A23, which was the last/lastest BIOS revision
> release by Dell. So I can't upgrade to try and change that way. Also, I
> have tried pulling the CMOS battery to reset the BIOS that way. But
> that only reset the time.
>
> Anyone have any ideas on how to get rid of the old owner's name from
> the intial startup menu? Any tools or utilities i could use to get rid
> of it? Or am I just screwed? I mean, they used some program to get it
> on there, there has to be something to get it off I would think.
>
> Any help would be great.
>
>
> Thanks
>

BigJim wrote:
> I think it is a file that needs to be changed not the bios
> <leecarnes******.com> wrote in message
> news:1162826408.786112.286510@f16g2000cwb.googlegr oups.com...
>
>>Hello,
>>
>>I have a Dell Latitude C600 laptop I recently bought that was used.
>>When you startup the computer and the main Dell screen appears and
>>gives you the option enter setup or boot menu, somehow the previous
>>owner's name appears above the Dell logo. I would like to get rid of
>>the previous owner's name from this screen.
>>
>>The BIOS version is A23, which was the last/lastest BIOS revision
>>release by Dell. So I can't upgrade to try and change that way. Also, I
>>have tried pulling the CMOS battery to reset the BIOS that way. But
>>that only reset the time.
>>
>>Anyone have any ideas on how to get rid of the old owner's name from
>>the intial startup menu? Any tools or utilities i could use to get rid
>>of it? Or am I just screwed? I mean, they used some program to get it
>>on there, there has to be something to get it off I would think.
>>
>>Any help would be great.
>>
>>
>>Thanks
>>
>
>
>

You can change the name in the Registry using Regedit. If you're not
comfortable using Regedit, it would be easiest to just re-install the OS.

--
"A great war leaves the country with three armies - an army of cripples,
an army of mourners, and an army of thieves."
- German proverb

"The true danger is when liberty is nibbled away, for expedients, and by
parts."
-- Edmund Burke, statesman and writer (1729-1797)

"Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are
conservative."
-John Stuart Mill, 1806-1873, British philosopher

Stubby wrote:
> BigJim wrote:
> > I think it is a file that needs to be changed not the bios
> > <leecarnes******.com> wrote in message
> > news:1162826408.786112.286510@f16g2000cwb.googlegr oups.com...
> >
> >>Hello,
> >>
> >>I have a Dell Latitude C600 laptop I recently bought that was used.
> >>When you startup the computer and the main Dell screen appears and
> >>gives you the option enter setup or boot menu, somehow the previous
> >>owner's name appears above the Dell logo. I would like to get rid of
> >>the previous owner's name from this screen.
> >>
> >>The BIOS version is A23, which was the last/lastest BIOS revision
> >>release by Dell. So I can't upgrade to try and change that way. Also, I
> >>have tried pulling the CMOS battery to reset the BIOS that way. But
> >>that only reset the time.
> >>
> >>Anyone have any ideas on how to get rid of the old owner's name from
> >>the intial startup menu? Any tools or utilities i could use to get rid
> >>of it? Or am I just screwed? I mean, they used some program to get it
> >>on there, there has to be something to get it off I would think.
> >>
> >>Any help would be great.
> >>
> >>
> >>Thanks
> >>
> >
> >
> >
>
> You can change the name in the Registry using Regedit. If you're not
> comfortable using Regedit, it would be easiest to just re-install the OS.
>
> --
> "A great war leaves the country with three armies - an army of cripples,
> an army of mourners, and an army of thieves."
> - German proverb
>
> "The true danger is when liberty is nibbled away, for expedients, and by
> parts."
> -- Edmund Burke, statesman and writer (1729-1797)
>
> "Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are
> conservative."
> -John Stuart Mill, 1806-1873, British philosopher

nope, i'm comfortable making changes in the reg. what is the location?
local_machine something i'm sure. now that you mentioned that, i wonder
if the name assigned to the PC is where the name on the startup screen
is pulling from. hmmmm.

<leecarnes******.com> wrote in message
news:1162834354.910747.248190@b28g2000cwb.googlegr oups.com
> Stubby wrote:
>> BigJim wrote:
>>> I think it is a file that needs to be changed not the bios
>>> <leecarnes******.com> wrote in message
>>> news:1162826408.786112.286510@f16g2000cwb.googlegr oups.com...
>>>
>>>> Hello,
>>>>
>>>> I have a Dell Latitude C600 laptop I recently bought that was used.
>>>> When you startup the computer and the main Dell screen appears and
>>>> gives you the option enter setup or boot menu, somehow the previous
>>>> owner's name appears above the Dell logo. I would like to get rid
>>>> of the previous owner's name from this screen.
>>>>
>>>> The BIOS version is A23, which was the last/lastest BIOS revision
>>>> release by Dell. So I can't upgrade to try and change that way.
>>>> Also, I have tried pulling the CMOS battery to reset the BIOS that
>>>> way. But that only reset the time.
>>>>
>>>> Anyone have any ideas on how to get rid of the old owner's name
>>>> from the intial startup menu? Any tools or utilities i could use
>>>> to get rid of it? Or am I just screwed? I mean, they used some
>>>> program to get it on there, there has to be something to get it
>>>> off I would think.
>>
>> You can change the name in the Registry using Regedit. If you're not
>> comfortable using Regedit, it would be easiest to just re-install
>> the OS.
>>
>> --
>> "A great war leaves the country with three armies - an army of
>> cripples, an army of mourners, and an army of thieves."
>> - German proverb
>>
>> "The true danger is when liberty is nibbled away, for expedients,
>> and by parts."
>> -- Edmund Burke, statesman and writer (1729-1797)
>>
>> "Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are
>> conservative."
>> -John Stuart Mill, 1806-1873, British philosopher
>
> nope, i'm comfortable making changes in the reg. what is the location?
> local_machine something i'm sure. now that you mentioned that, i
> wonder if the name assigned to the PC is where the name on the
> startup screen is pulling from. hmmmm.

I don't know why some are saying it is a file on the hard drive, when
the name is popping up before the BIOS even accesses any boot device?
Just my 2¢ worth.


--
Bill

I not 100% sure go to http://www.ryston.cz/petr/bios/award.html
and download the utility it runs under windows XP (anyway) it give you
a option to change the BIOS MESSAGE I haven't tried yet in that lapto
but migth work, I have a lapto like yours.


BillW50 wrote:
> <leecarnes******.com> wrote in message
> news:1162834354.910747.248190@b28g2000cwb.googlegr oups.com
> > Stubby wrote:
> >> BigJim wrote:
> >>> I think it is a file that needs to be changed not the bios
> >>> <leecarnes******.com> wrote in message
> >>> news:1162826408.786112.286510@f16g2000cwb.googlegr oups.com...
> >>>
> >>>> Hello,
> >>>>
> >>>> I have a Dell Latitude C600 laptop I recently bought that was used.
> >>>> When you startup the computer and the main Dell screen appears and
> >>>> gives you the option enter setup or boot menu, somehow the previous
> >>>> owner's name appears above the Dell logo. I would like to get rid
> >>>> of the previous owner's name from this screen.
> >>>>
> >>>> The BIOS version is A23, which was the last/lastest BIOS revision
> >>>> release by Dell. So I can't upgrade to try and change that way.
> >>>> Also, I have tried pulling the CMOS battery to reset the BIOS that
> >>>> way. But that only reset the time.
> >>>>
> >>>> Anyone have any ideas on how to get rid of the old owner's name
> >>>> from the intial startup menu? Any tools or utilities i could use
> >>>> to get rid of it? Or am I just screwed? I mean, they used some
> >>>> program to get it on there, there has to be something to get it
> >>>> off I would think.
> >>
> >> You can change the name in the Registry using Regedit. If you're not
> >> comfortable using Regedit, it would be easiest to just re-install
> >> the OS.
> >>
> >> --
> >> "A great war leaves the country with three armies - an army of
> >> cripples, an army of mourners, and an army of thieves."
> >> - German proverb
> >>
> >> "The true danger is when liberty is nibbled away, for expedients,
> >> and by parts."
> >> -- Edmund Burke, statesman and writer (1729-1797)
> >>
> >> "Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are
> >> conservative."
> >> -John Stuart Mill, 1806-1873, British philosopher
> >
> > nope, i'm comfortable making changes in the reg. what is the location?
> > local_machine something i'm sure. now that you mentioned that, i
> > wonder if the name assigned to the PC is where the name on the
> > startup screen is pulling from. hmmmm.
>
> I don't know why some are saying it is a file on the hard drive, when
> the name is popping up before the BIOS even accesses any boot device?
> Just my 2¢ worth.
>
>
> --
> Bill

O tried this one too
http://bios-logo-changer.mateusz-dworak.qarchive.org/ luck

Farolito wrote:
> I not 100% sure go to http://www.ryston.cz/petr/bios/award.html
> and download the utility it runs under windows XP (anyway) it give you
> a option to change the BIOS MESSAGE I haven't tried yet in that lapto
> but migth work, I have a lapto like yours.
>
>
> BillW50 wrote:
> > <leecarnes******.com> wrote in message
> > news:1162834354.910747.248190@b28g2000cwb.googlegr oups.com
> > > Stubby wrote:
> > >> BigJim wrote:
> > >>> I think it is a file that needs to be changed not the bios
> > >>> <leecarnes******.com> wrote in message
> > >>> news:1162826408.786112.286510@f16g2000cwb.googlegr oups.com...
> > >>>
> > >>>> Hello,
> > >>>>
> > >>>> I have a Dell Latitude C600 laptop I recently bought that was used.
> > >>>> When you startup the computer and the main Dell screen appears and
> > >>>> gives you the option enter setup or boot menu, somehow the previous
> > >>>> owner's name appears above the Dell logo. I would like to get rid
> > >>>> of the previous owner's name from this screen.
> > >>>>
> > >>>> The BIOS version is A23, which was the last/lastest BIOS revision
> > >>>> release by Dell. So I can't upgrade to try and change that way.
> > >>>> Also, I have tried pulling the CMOS battery to reset the BIOS that
> > >>>> way. But that only reset the time.
> > >>>>
> > >>>> Anyone have any ideas on how to get rid of the old owner's name
> > >>>> from the intial startup menu? Any tools or utilities i could use
> > >>>> to get rid of it? Or am I just screwed? I mean, they used some
> > >>>> program to get it on there, there has to be something to get it
> > >>>> off I would think.
> > >>
> > >> You can change the name in the Registry using Regedit. If you're not
> > >> comfortable using Regedit, it would be easiest to just re-install
> > >> the OS.
> > >>
> > >> --
> > >> "A great war leaves the country with three armies - an army of
> > >> cripples, an army of mourners, and an army of thieves."
> > >> - German proverb
> > >>
> > >> "The true danger is when liberty is nibbled away, for expedients,
> > >> and by parts."
> > >> -- Edmund Burke, statesman and writer (1729-1797)
> > >>
> > >> "Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are
> > >> conservative."
> > >> -John Stuart Mill, 1806-1873, British philosopher
> > >
> > > nope, i'm comfortable making changes in the reg. what is the location?
> > > local_machine something i'm sure. now that you mentioned that, i
> > > wonder if the name assigned to the PC is where the name on the
> > > startup screen is pulling from. hmmmm.
> >
> > I don't know why some are saying it is a file on the hard drive, when
> > the name is popping up before the BIOS even accesses any boot device?
> > Just my 2¢ worth.
> >
> >
> > --
> > Bill

The owner's name is actually probably an entry in the "asset tag" field.
To check this, bring up the F2 Setup screen. Near the botrtom of the
screen is a field labeled "Asset Tag" See if the name is there.

If it isn't there, I can't help you, but if it is then you need the
program "asset.com" from Dell. It's available as part of the Dell
Suspend-to-Disk utilities. Run from a command prompt. Though I haven't
tried it, I understand that this utility may not work in Win2K or XP.

Type in "asset -? for syntax. Remember that you are changing the "asset
tag". There is also an undocumented switch "-s" that you can use to
change the Dell Service Tag. You would need to do this if the system
board had to be replaced.

Phil Gilmer

leecarnes******.com wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I have a Dell Latitude C600 laptop I recently bought that was used.
> When you startup the computer and the main Dell screen appears and
> gives you the option enter setup or boot menu, somehow the previous
> owner's name appears above the Dell logo. I would like to get rid of
> the previous owner's name from this screen.
>
> The BIOS version is A23, which was the last/lastest BIOS revision
> release by Dell. So I can't upgrade to try and change that way. Also, I
> have tried pulling the CMOS battery to reset the BIOS that way. But
> that only reset the time.
>
> Anyone have any ideas on how to get rid of the old owner's name from
> the intial startup menu? Any tools or utilities i could use to get rid
> of it? Or am I just screwed? I mean, they used some program to get it
> on there, there has to be something to get it off I would think.
>
> Any help would be great.
>
>
> Thanks
>

Sorry for replying to my own post, but I had to refresh my memory. The
name of the download you want is D5788807.EXE. It creates a bootable
diskette.

I hasd forgotten that there is another field called the "Owner Tag". If
that is where the name is entered, then it will appear towards the top
of the Dell boot screen. To change that enter the command:

asset /o New Name

or

asset /o /d

to delete it.

Phil Gilmer

Phil Gilmer wrote:
> The owner's name is actually probably an entry in the "asset tag" field.
> To check this, bring up the F2 Setup screen. Near the botrtom of the
> screen is a field labeled "Asset Tag" See if the name is there.
>
> If it isn't there, I can't help you, but if it is then you need the
> program "asset.com" from Dell. It's available as part of the Dell
> Suspend-to-Disk utilities. Run from a command prompt. Though I haven't
> tried it, I understand that this utility may not work in Win2K or XP.
>
> Type in "asset -? for syntax. Remember that you are changing the "asset
> tag". There is also an undocumented switch "-s" that you can use to
> change the Dell Service Tag. You would need to do this if the system
> board had to be replaced.
>
> Phil Gilmer
>
> leecarnes******.com wrote:
>
>> Hello,
>>
>> I have a Dell Latitude C600 laptop I recently bought that was used.
>> When you startup the computer and the main Dell screen appears and
>> gives you the option enter setup or boot menu, somehow the previous
>> owner's name appears above the Dell logo. I would like to get rid of
>> the previous owner's name from this screen.
>>
>> The BIOS version is A23, which was the last/lastest BIOS revision
>> release by Dell. So I can't upgrade to try and change that way. Also, I
>> have tried pulling the CMOS battery to reset the BIOS that way. But
>> that only reset the time.
>>
>> Anyone have any ideas on how to get rid of the old owner's name from
>> the intial startup menu? Any tools or utilities i could use to get rid
>> of it? Or am I just screwed? I mean, they used some program to get it
>> on there, there has to be something to get it off I would think.
>>
>> Any help would be great.
>>
>>
>> Thanks
>>

Sweet! thanks for all the info. i really appreciate it!!!


Phil Gilmer wrote:
> Sorry for replying to my own post, but I had to refresh my memory. The
> name of the download you want is D5788807.EXE. It creates a bootable
> diskette.
>
> I hasd forgotten that there is another field called the "Owner Tag". If
> that is where the name is entered, then it will appear towards the top
> of the Dell boot screen. To change that enter the command:
>
> asset /o New Name
>
> or
>
> asset /o /d
>
> to delete it.
>
> Phil Gilmer
>
> Phil Gilmer wrote:
> > The owner's name is actually probably an entry in the "asset tag" field.
> > To check this, bring up the F2 Setup screen. Near the botrtom of the
> > screen is a field labeled "Asset Tag" See if the name is there.
> >
> > If it isn't there, I can't help you, but if it is then you need the
> > program "asset.com" from Dell. It's available as part of the Dell
> > Suspend-to-Disk utilities. Run from a command prompt. Though I haven't
> > tried it, I understand that this utility may not work in Win2K or XP.
> >
> > Type in "asset -? for syntax. Remember that you are changing the "asset
> > tag". There is also an undocumented switch "-s" that you can use to
> > change the Dell Service Tag. You would need to do this if the system
> > board had to be replaced.
> >
> > Phil Gilmer
> >
> > leecarnes******.com wrote:
> >
> >> Hello,
> >>
> >> I have a Dell Latitude C600 laptop I recently bought that was used.
> >> When you startup the computer and the main Dell screen appears and
> >> gives you the option enter setup or boot menu, somehow the previous
> >> owner's name appears above the Dell logo. I would like to get rid of
> >> the previous owner's name from this screen.
> >>
> >> The BIOS version is A23, which was the last/lastest BIOS revision
> >> release by Dell. So I can't upgrade to try and change that way. Also, I
> >> have tried pulling the CMOS battery to reset the BIOS that way. But
> >> that only reset the time.
> >>
> >> Anyone have any ideas on how to get rid of the old owner's name from
> >> the intial startup menu? Any tools or utilities i could use to get rid
> >> of it? Or am I just screwed? I mean, they used some program to get it
> >> on there, there has to be something to get it off I would think.
> >>
> >> Any help would be great.
> >>
> >>
> >> Thanks
> >>

This is stored in an area called the "DMI Information". You need a
program that lets you edit this data. If you search on the web, you
should find some. Sometimes this is vendor specific (e.g. you need the
DELL DMI editor), but some of this is also generic.


leecarnes******.com wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I have a Dell Latitude C600 laptop I recently bought that was used.
> When you startup the computer and the main Dell screen appears and
> gives you the option enter setup or boot menu, somehow the previous
> owner's name appears above the Dell logo. I would like to get rid of
> the previous owner's name from this screen.
>
> The BIOS version is A23, which was the last/lastest BIOS revision
> release by Dell. So I can't upgrade to try and change that way. Also, I
> have tried pulling the CMOS battery to reset the BIOS that way. But
> that only reset the time.
>
> Anyone have any ideas on how to get rid of the old owner's name from
> the intial startup menu? Any tools or utilities i could use to get rid
> of it? Or am I just screwed? I mean, they used some program to get it
> on there, there has to be something to get it off I would think.
>
> Any help would be great.
>
>
> Thanks
>

I GOT IT!

ok, thx for all the help. but sad to say, none of it worked. so i did
bunch more searching and found out that somehow, way down in the EEPROM
the info was stored. long story short, use this link to an .iso and it
works like a charm.

http://rapidshare.de/files/5361813/bootcd.iso.html

Barry Watzman wrote:
> This is stored in an area called the "DMI Information". You need a
> program that lets you edit this data. If you search on the web, you
> should find some. Sometimes this is vendor specific (e.g. you need the
> DELL DMI editor), but some of this is also generic.
>
>
> leecarnes******.com wrote:
> > Hello,
> >
> > I have a Dell Latitude C600 laptop I recently bought that was used.
> > When you startup the computer and the main Dell screen appears and
> > gives you the option enter setup or boot menu, somehow the previous
> > owner's name appears above the Dell logo. I would like to get rid of
> > the previous owner's name from this screen.
> >
> > The BIOS version is A23, which was the last/lastest BIOS revision
> > release by Dell. So I can't upgrade to try and change that way. Also, I
> > have tried pulling the CMOS battery to reset the BIOS that way. But
> > that only reset the time.
> >
> > Anyone have any ideas on how to get rid of the old owner's name from
> > the intial startup menu? Any tools or utilities i could use to get rid
> > of it? Or am I just screwed? I mean, they used some program to get it
> > on there, there has to be something to get it off I would think.
> >
> > Any help would be great.
> >
> >
> > Thanks
> >