harddrive locked????? - Techwatch Support Forums: Digital & Satellite TV, FTA, Cable, Computers, Mobile Phones, Apple and General Tech Forums

stephen1978 · 02-07-08, 09:09 AM

does anyone no how to unlock a laptop hard drive ?????

i got this laptop on the cheap for the kids but when i turn it on it asks for a password even before the window xp logo comes up

i cant even get into the bois setup or anything else on the laptop is there anything i can do with it ???

plz plz plz help cheers

breezybadger · 02-07-08, 11:19 AM

How old is the laptop?

If it's fairly recent, sell it, the CMOS is so damned hard to reset it requires chip removal and reprogramming, I bought a sweet little Tosh Portege S100 a while back which had the same problem, but after about a month of trawling the web and poking the legs of different chips, I gave up!!!

If it's slightly older, you should be able to reset the CMOS chip, but the methods differ between laptop manufacturers, but often just pulling out the backup and main battery for 24 hours can do this...

It sounds like a Toshiba to me though, like my Portege wouldn't so much as let me access the BIOS, a pain in the bum if you want a cheap laptop!!!

smoggy · 02-07-08, 01:28 PM

Try holding down the left shift key during boot

stephen1978 · 02-07-08, 09:57 PM

ive try taking the battery out (30 min) plus the bios battery aswell (at the same time) but it's still asking for a password can anyone help me plz ???

the laptops details

asua X50RL SERIES

120GB HD

WINXP PRO

CPU- CELERON- M540

sajjid · 14-08-08, 09:39 PM

password is stoed on the harf drive it self so resetting the cmos or bios will not change anything.
removing password from hard drive is almost impossiable. i would just replcace the hard drive it much easier option.

uwfred · 07-10-08, 05:57 PM

i have the same problem is there any software that i can use to reformat the hd that should cure the problem if any 1 knows please help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Toxic · 11-10-08, 07:27 PM

why dont you load a linux boot cd up. I dont know the name of the one you wont to hand but I do have a copy of it. And you put it in the drive and turn the pc on then boot from CD then you can set it to show you the password.

G77 · 31-05-09, 10:32 PM

i have same problem

can you find out the name of this linux boot cd for me please.

the hard drive only cost me a fiver and its only 12 gig but i kinda need it, lol

Mickha · 01-06-09, 12:10 AM

Ty hiren's boot cd, just run a google search for it.

pontiend · 01-06-09, 08:36 AM

There may be a hidden windows restore partition on the hard drive.
Try hitting F9 or F12 at the splash screen.You may then get the option to reload windows.I think on Dell comps it is F10.

Edit It's F9 on asus comps.

02-07-08, 09:09 AM	#1 (permalink)
stephen1978 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 189 Thanks: 14 Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts	harddrive locked????? does anyone no how to unlock a laptop hard drive ????? i got this laptop on the cheap for the kids but when i turn it on it asks for a password even before the window xp logo comes up i cant even get into the bois setup or anything else on the laptop is there anything i can do with it ??? plz plz plz help cheers

02-07-08, 11:19 AM	#2 (permalink)
breezybadger Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 180 Thanks: 0 Thanked 17 Times in 16 Posts	Re: harddrive locked????? How old is the laptop? If it's fairly recent, sell it, the CMOS is so damned hard to reset it requires chip removal and reprogramming, I bought a sweet little Tosh Portege S100 a while back which had the same problem, but after about a month of trawling the web and poking the legs of different chips, I gave up!!! If it's slightly older, you should be able to reset the CMOS chip, but the methods differ between laptop manufacturers, but often just pulling out the backup and main battery for 24 hours can do this... It sounds like a Toshiba to me though, like my Portege wouldn't so much as let me access the BIOS, a pain in the bum if you want a cheap laptop!!!

02-07-08, 01:28 PM	#3 (permalink)
smoggy Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: North East England Posts: 2,757 Thanks: 238 Thanked 881 Times in 791 Posts	Re: harddrive locked????? Try holding down the left shift key during boot

02-07-08, 09:57 PM	#4 (permalink)
stephen1978 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 189 Thanks: 14 Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts	Re: harddrive locked????? ive try taking the battery out (30 min) plus the bios battery aswell (at the same time) but it's still asking for a password can anyone help me plz ??? the laptops details asua X50RL SERIES 120GB HD WINXP PRO CPU- CELERON- M540

14-08-08, 09:39 PM	#5 (permalink)
sajjid Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 39 Thanks: 0 Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts	Re: harddrive locked????? password is stoed on the harf drive it self so resetting the cmos or bios will not change anything. removing password from hard drive is almost impossiable. i would just replcace the hard drive it much easier option.

07-10-08, 05:57 PM	#6 (permalink)
uwfred Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Bristol Posts: 304 Thanks: 22 Thanked 18 Times in 17 Posts	Re: harddrive locked????? i have the same problem is there any software that i can use to reformat the hd that should cure the problem if any 1 knows please help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

11-10-08, 07:27 PM	#7 (permalink)
Toxic Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 183 Thanks: 4 Thanked 11 Times in 11 Posts	Re: harddrive locked????? why dont you load a linux boot cd up. I dont know the name of the one you wont to hand but I do have a copy of it. And you put it in the drive and turn the pc on then boot from CD then you can set it to show you the password.

31-05-09, 10:32 PM	#8 (permalink)
G77 Super Moderator Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 6,080 Thanks: 695 Thanked 1,248 Times in 1,042 Posts	Re: harddrive locked????? i have same problem can you find out the name of this linux boot cd for me please. the hard drive only cost me a fiver and its only 12 gig but i kinda need it, lol __________________ 1M Motorised Dish, 45W-36E, DM800HD. Quad LNB Mesh Mini Dish, 28.2E, DM500, TM500. Samsung Galaxy S GT-I9000 XXJVU & CF-Root.

01-06-09, 12:10 AM	#9 (permalink)
Mickha Super Moderator Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 4,799 Thanks: 42 Thanked 1,203 Times in 850 Posts	Re: harddrive locked????? Ty hiren's boot cd, just run a google search for it.

01-06-09, 08:36 AM	#10 (permalink)
pontiend Senile Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: south yorkshire Posts: 883 Thanks: 210 Thanked 197 Times in 161 Posts	Re: harddrive locked????? There may be a hidden windows restore partition on the hard drive. Try hitting F9 or F12 at the splash screen.You may then get the option to reload windows.I think on Dell comps it is F10. Edit It's F9 on asus comps. __________________ TM9100 super.TM-5402HD. TM-5400 CI+. TM1000 d+. triax 88 cm dish.stab hh90 motor.53e-30w. 90cm,fixed. Last edited by pontiend; 01-06-09 at 08:42 AM.

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