Format laptop through pc?

[lee07]

I currently have a hi-grade phoenix, on start up a password input appears with no available options, i cannot access anything, is there a way to format the drive without removal, perhaps router connection and use the pc to access the hdd?

thanks

[Jasp]

As in a bios password or a windows login screen password?

But the answer to your actual question would be a no i would imagine.

[peterb]

You could remove the ha5rd drive and format it externally - but if the password is a BIOS function it wouldn't help.

However if you can open the laptop and get to the battery that maintains the CMOS settings (the BIOS Parameters) and disconnect it to clear the CMOS settings) that will clear the password too.

There is possibly one gotcha - the ATA specification allows for password protection of the hard drive, so if the BIOS supports that and the hard drive has been password protected, there is no simple way to circumvent that - but it is pretty unlikely that that is the case.

[GoNz0]

most laptops do not clear the password by removing the bios password.

[joel_spencer]

If the hard drive is passworded is a massive hassle to remove it as even if you take it out of the offending machine it's a big deal. Sometimes if you ring the company they can give you a master reset password, problem with that is hi-grade are one of those companies that are rebranded and the seller usually won't provide support.

[peterb]

most laptops do not clear the password by removing the bios password.

Depends on what password the OP is talking about, and the implementation of the security measures involved. At a basic level some bios implementations have a password regime that prevents modification of the CMOS parameters and also halt the boot process.

[lee07]

Thanks for the help and the pm peterb, I removed the mobo battery and all is good Although i have now found that the hdd is dead.

[peterb]

Thanks for the help and the pm peterb, I removed the mobo battery and all is good Although i have now found that the hdd is dead.

Ah - so some progress then! - so a new HDD and all should be well - unless there was data on the old HDD that youneeded. It might be worth putting the old drive into a USB caddy just to confirm it really has died.

[lee07]

Nope nothing on there, removed a hdd from an old laptop and all is good. Thanks