XPS 8920, passwords issue

I have two suggestions. If you have a working desktop pc (sounds like you had reset one), why not transplant the hdd from the 8920 to the desktop as secondary drive. You will boot from the primary drive, then you can access the 8920 hdd in Windows explorer and retrieve the data you need.  This is based on assumption the 8920 hdd was not encrypted, that it only had a lost Windows 10 password. To your working desktop, this hdd does not belong to any user account, thus all non encrypted data on it is accessible.

If you can not access 8920 bios by pressing F2 or any key as fast as you can, try reset CMOs jumper on motherboard(of course do this after power off and power drain and ground your hands). This may recover the press F2 to enter bios option. It worked for me when I got an older 8500.

8920 has password reset jumper for bios and OEM DVD will reinstall windows without issue.  Just make sure to set the bios to AHCI for sata operation.

Most all dell Desktop units have the password reset jumper for bios.  To locate the password jumper on the motherboard, look for the letters PWD, PSWD, or PSWDCLR.

https://dl.dell.com/topicspdf/xps-8920-desktop_service-manual_en-us.pdf

https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-us/product-support/product/xps-8920-desktop/docs

https://www.neweggbusiness.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9B-32-350-238

12 is jumper to remove

pswd

jumper

@pjcompws 

First, if this PC has an add-in video card, the monitor has to be connected to that add-in card, not to either of the two onboard Intel Graphics ports. The onboard Intel Graphics ports are in the area marked 1. An add-in video card is 2.

Second, plug a bootable Win 10 OS installation USB stick into PC with it completely powered off. Then power on and immediately start tapping (not holding) F12.  That should open the boot menu where you can select booting from USB.  Keep in mind that all files will be lost when you clean install Windows on this PC.

NOTE: If you still can't open the F12 boot menu, you may need to clear BIOS and install a fresh motherboard battery:

1. Power off, unplug
2. Press/hold power button for ~15 sec
3. Open case and remove motherboard battery (check Service Manual for details)
4. Press/hold power button for ~30 sec
5. Install fresh battery (CR2032 3-volt coin cell battery, ~$2)
6. Close up and connect mouse, monitor and keyboard
7. Reboot and start tapping F12...

@pjcompws 

Are these Windows login passwords are BIOS passwords? Clearing the BIOS jumper like @speedstep  showed would work. 

On older systems I have used I forget what the program is called. But you would boot to a CD and it's like a PE environment and there are ways to remove the passwords. 

Also there are other programs Some people claim they are not legal but you can still download them like a live environment and you can find was to remove the Windows Login password. 

Last time I tried one my system would not boot up to the Live USB I even purchased it but Dell locks it in there BIOS on some of these live utilities. That is what I was told by support that Dell did not support and they would not work.

If its bios password it has to be cleared or the data on the drive cant be recovered. 

Windows password is easy cuz you reinstall clean on a new hard drive and recover the data using a dock.  Cant get anything from the drive with BIOS password.

BIOS password Must be cleared before any data can be recovered.

https://www.amazon.com/ORICO-Duplicator-Function-Protocol-Supported/dp/B00JJEUL5W

Windows 10 user account password (whether Microsoft or local account) has nothing to do with BIOS password (Administrator or user).  BIOS password protects access and change to BIOS and that is it.  Windows 10 password is stored in OS.

OP's first priority is to crack 8920 Windows 10 password (or to retrieve data on hdd).  OP's last resort is to reset hdd and do a clean install of Windows 10 if password can not cracked.  OP has trouble accessing BIOS (PC boots straight into Windows) but has not reported any PC prompt for BIOS password.  There is so far no evidence that BIOS has password turned on.

@redxps630 

I know BIOS password is different. I never really understood why anyone would use a BIOS password. 

And a clean install is not always the best option. That is why I posted about programs to crack passwords. 

I just saw those CD's I have a few days ago. I will check I think I also have an ISO of them.

Internet working solutions to reset Windows 10 user account password require booting from Windows installation media rather than OS on HDD. There is the problem when OP can not access BIOS boot options.  If OP still can not boot from bootable USB because USB option is at lower boot priority than hdd, can try burn a Windows 10 installation DVD and insert into 8920 ODD.  This might work if DVD boot is at higher priority than hdd.  It would not work if HDD is the top boot device.  OP has not reported back whether F12 works at all.

If no key works at all to access bios, try reset CMOs jumper on motherboard may work.

https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000124377/how-to-perform-a-bios-or-cmos-reset-and-clear-the-nvram-on-dell-systems