Hey folks, I'm in the business of repairing and selling laptops and desktops. Recently, I picked up a batch of laptops from an e-waste facility, but they all show that they're out of compliance and have a device freeze problem. I have admin access, and I've checked the BIOS, where the anti-theft feature is disabled but grayed out. Can anyone help me out with how to resolve this? The help desk number I called was totally unhelpful. Thanks for any tips!
3 Answers
It sounds like these devices might be registered with a company’s autopilot system. You'll need to find out which company owns them and ask them to remove the devices from their tenant. That should help you get around the freeze issue.
Just a thought—if you're reimaging the laptop but it still locks after connecting to the internet, consider pulling the CMOS battery. Some people find that helps reset things. Just beware that it might not work depending on the setup.
I did manage to get it reimaged, but yeah, as soon as it goes online, it locks up again.
Have you checked out some threads on Dell's community forums? There's a lot of info about the device freeze messages there, although they might not be super specific to your situation. Make sure to check if your BIOS options are fully unlocked, too, as that could give you more control.
I already went through some threads, but they weren't very helpful. Thankfully, my BIOS is unlocked.
I'll try calling again on Monday. Last time they seemed unsure about the problem.