Authentication Hard Disk Password

Question

My 7 year old Dell has given me a white screen saying the Hard-Disk is protected by a passwork authentication system. I rang Dell today, summary as follows:

Extremely rude phone operator took my details. Said if I wanted the password I would be required to pay 120 pounds (more than the laptop is worth.

Then he passed me to his manager who said Dell don't put passwords on the Hard-Disk.

Can anyone help? Feels ridiculous charging 120 pounds for a password I'm entitled to?

ejn63 · Answer

If you didn't set the password, then it's a good indication the drive has failed.

speedstep · Answer

This error is not drive failure.

When you turn it on it says "this computer system, XXXXXXXX-XXXX, is protected by a password authentication system"......you cannot access the data without the correct password.

The Default troubleshooting area with the phrase password authentication system read a couple of lines it said password is "password" I try it.

Next screen that comes up is almost the same as the first one only it says this Harddisk 126874524173..is protected by bla bla bla as before.

Try "admin" so try that.

Those are the defaults for that password authentication system. "password" is for the system and "admin" is for the disk.

not sure if its case sensative so Admin and Password may be the defaults.

You need to call Dell (I'm assuming this IS a Dell PC) 

They will ask you for some proof that the PC is yours (fair question, since you are 
sort of "breaking into it).

Then there is a Service Tag Related Password.

You MUST call or chat with Dell support at http://support.dell.com/support.  They'll 
verify that you're legit and then give you a long password to type.  That's it.  
Very simple to fix, but their ain't no getting around this unless you go thru Dell.

Locked Topics – Laptops General

Authentication Hard Disk Password

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