[Cobra99]

Hello all, I am hoping that someone can steer me in the right direction concerning this.

I am the local pc go to guy where I work and a friend gave me his ASUS laptop. When I turn it on this is what I get in a black and white screen

ASUS LAPTOP K501J

Press F12 if you want to boot from the network
Press ESC for BIOS POPUP
The MCH is operating with DDR2-667/CL5 in Dual channel mode

Cant detect TPM device !
Initializing USB controllers...Done
3072MB OK

Auto-Detecting AHCI Port 0..SATA Hard Disk
Auto-Detecting AHCI PORT 1..ATAPI CDROM
SATA PORT0 ST9320325AS 0002SDM1
S.M.A.R.T. Capable and status ok
SATA PORT1 MATSHITADVD-RAM UJ880AS 1.00
AUTO-DETECTING USB Mass Storage devices..
00 USB mass storage devices found and configured.

Hard Disk locked, enter master password:
(Press <ESC> to skip)

I press ESC then get this
Skipped..Hard Disk still locked!
WARNING: Continue booting with this drive being locked might cause system to hang with some OS.
Hit Enter to continue..

I hit ENTER Then get this

Check cable connection!
PXE-MOF: Exiting Intel PXE ROM.

Reboot and select proper boot device
or insert boot media in selected Boot device and press a key

So now I am at a stand still and have no idea what to do..Hopefully someone is able to help me

I do not know if this hard drive has been replaced prior to me having it. I do have restore disks to it however when I tried it, it lasted for about 4-5 minutes and I received a the word ERROR in red across the entire screen

I would also like to add that I just now was able to get into bios by pressing F2

This post has been edited by Cobra99: 15 February 2013 - 11:28 AM

[ElfBane]

The HDD has had a password set up on it, or at least it thinks it has. This situation almost always requires the HDD to be replaced. You can try this:

1. remove the HDD so you can determine manufacturer. Get all info, serial #, model #, part #.
2. go online the the manufacturers website and search for info re HDD passwords and their removal.
3. don't rely on just the manufacturer's website... there may, may mind you, be a third party solution out there, so keep searching the web.

Hope this helps.

BTW, it is possible that the electronic board that controls the HDD can be replaced, thus removing the 'enter password' requirement and allowing the HDD to boot. This option is quite expensive, however, perhaps in the thousands of dollars if a clean room is required.

But there is a cheaper option to recover data from that HDD:

1. boot up a portable OS from a flashdrive
2. see if Linux (or whatever) can "see" the HDD in question
3. recover critical data from the HDD in that manner.

Good luck

[Cobra99]

ElfBane, on 15 February 2013 - 12:04 PM, said:

The HDD has had a password set up on it, or at least it thinks it has. This situation almost always requires the HDD to be replaced. You can try this:

1. remove the HDD so you can determine manufacturer. Get all info, serial #, model #, part #.
2. go online the the manufacturers website and search for info re HDD passwords and their removal.
3. don't rely on just the manufacturer's website... there may, may mind you, be a third party solution out there, so keep searching the web.

Hope this helps.

BTW, it is possible that the electronic board that controls the HDD can be replaced, thus removing the 'enter password' requirement and allowing the HDD to boot. This option is quite expensive, however, perhaps in the thousands of dollars if a clean room is required.

But there is a cheaper option to recover data from that HDD:

1. boot up a portable OS from a flashdrive
2. see if Linux (or whatever) can "see" the HDD in question
3. recover critical data from the HDD in that manner.

Good luck

Not real interested in in saving anything that is on it. I appreciate the information hat you have provided. I just might have to removes the HDD as you suggested.

[Cobra99]

Is it possible to removed the HDD, connect it to a working pc by using an adapter that I have and reformatting the HDD? I have the restore disks

[ElfBane]

Cobra99, on 15 February 2013 - 12:14 PM, said:

Is it possible to removed the HDD, connect it to a working pc by using an adapter that I have and reformatting the HDD? I have the restore disks

I don't think that will work. When HDD passwords are set up, that coding is on the electronic board that controls the HDD. IOW, the HDD will be reformatted, but it will still need a password to boot. But you can give it a try!

[coastie65]

Hi. This may or may not be helpful: http://www.ehow.com/...rds-laptop.html

[Cobra99]

coastie65, on 15 February 2013 - 03:56 PM, said:

Hi. This may or may not be helpful: http://www.ehow.com/...rds-laptop.html

Well the major issue here is that I do not have ANY passwords

[coastie65]

Cobra99, on 15 February 2013 - 06:32 PM, said:

coastie65, on 15 February 2013 - 03:56 PM, said:

Hi. This may or may not be helpful: http://www.ehow.com/...rds-laptop.html

Well the major issue here is that I do not have ANY passwords

Doesn't matter. If you can enter the BiOS, then you should be able to correct it from there.

[Cobra99]

coastie65, on 16 February 2013 - 08:08 AM, said:

Cobra99, on 15 February 2013 - 06:32 PM, said:

coastie65, on 15 February 2013 - 03:56 PM, said:

Hi. This may or may not be helpful: http://www.ehow.com/...rds-laptop.html

Well the major issue here is that I do not have ANY passwords

Doesn't matter. If you can enter the BiOS, then you should be able to correct it from there.

Ok maybe I am missing something here but in regards to the link that you provided, step #5 states the following. Scroll down to the option for the HDD password, which will typically read "User Password," and press "Enter." Type in the laptop's existing HDD password and then tap "Enter."

I do not know the laptop's existing password.

This post has been edited by Cobra99: 16 February 2013 - 02:38 PM