Is there any way to pxe boot from the lan when i cannot enable it from bios
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I have recently started a new job, and I am now looking to image the Dell Laptops we have LATITUDE | 2100 (30ish)
though they have a bios password and the school does not know it. So i am unable to allow the option of Network Booting from F12. I have spoke to Dell who have provided a few passwords but do not work either.Is there any way to pxe boot from the lan when in a situation like this?
thanks
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yes and no… (depending on the model of dell and how new it is).
If you have network booting already enabled (by default) on some dell models it typically is the last post / boot option for the laptop. You can test this by disconnecting the hard drive / optical drive / remove any USB devices and plug in a network cable and turn the laptop on.
If the laptop doesn’t see any standard bootable devices it will jump down it’s list of “working options”. If PXE is at the bottom of that list it will PXE boot and allow you to image / inventory the equipment.
This is by no means ideal as you have figured out (F12 and or F2 to enter the bios and change the boot order is best).
It’s the only solution I could think of other than getting the master bios password reset (Google it I suppose if Dell comes up empty). I think Hirens also had an option for this (if you can get a CD to boot).
Best of luck, let us know how it goes.
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yeah I can boot cd/usb’s.
I have tried Hirens 15.1 but with no luck
thanks for response -
If you can boot CD’s you could technically use romOMatic - [url]http://rom-o-matic.net/gpxe/gpxe-git/gpxe.git/contrib/rom-o-matic/[/url]
Not ideal again, but a possible solution.
What happens when you pull all bootable devices from the laptop and try to boot it?
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Looks like the Latitude 2100’s use the Broadcom 57XX Gigabit Integrated Controller. Confirm that you have this Nic in device manager, but this may be a work around - [url]http://etherboot.org/wiki/romburning/tg3[/url]
Confirm your NIC against the running list here - [url]http://rom-o-matic.net/gpxe/gpxe-0.9.6/src/bin/NIC[/url]
i’m pretty sure it’s there.
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Thanks for the info, I’m off for a few days but will write back next week
Cheers
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does F10 bring up a boot menu.
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[quote=“chad-bisd, post: 2878, member: 18”]does F10 bring up a boot menu.[/quote]
yes it does pxe boot is not in there though -
This post is deleted! -
okay, was sure i left a follow up comment.
anyways, for the bunch of laptops that I am unable to network boot, I have been booting them up with clonezilla and selecting Boot Via ipxe, works great.
thanks for comments
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Have you looked at removing the bios password so you can make the changes?
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yeah but i don’t know how, my boss doesn’t now password is, previous tech doesn’t know. we have tried all passwords we use. have contacted dell and the reseller they used to no joy. is there another way?
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yeh, should be a jumper or remove internal battery. I have the same machines, I’ll take a look for you on Wednesday / Friday.
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as far as I know the other tech has tried that, I will double check with one on wednesday when I get in,
let me know how you get on
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I’ve found a document on doing it. Will need to create a manual jumper with a paperclip. I don’t mind giving it a go. We have cover so if I blow it up, we will get it replaced
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Oh cool, can you email it.
Appreciate the help
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I have found some more information that I think would be even better. I’ll test it, then send it over Wednesday.
See, UK chum… this could be good… -
Cheers sounds good
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This will be your best friend
Dell Client Configuration Utility lets you create a stand-alone executable package that can configure BIOS, update BIOS, or capture BIOS settings inventory data. The executable package can be run as a stand-alone package or used with enterprise software deployment tools.
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[quote=“Kevin, post: 3936, member: 3”]This will be your best friend
Dell Client Configuration Utility lets you create a stand-alone executable package that can configure BIOS, update BIOS, or capture BIOS settings inventory data. The executable package can be run as a stand-alone package or used with enterprise software deployment tools.[/quote]
cheers, i’ll check that out tomorrow. My BIOS is already password protected though?
