Remove built-in HDD password (Satellite Pro L300)

I already posted a topic but it didn't get any working answers, and I can't post in it to bump it any more.
Anyway, I know the password, and I can boot up into Windows, get into BIOS, etc..I just can't remove the password, not change it. There's no BIOS user password set, or a supervisor password set, just an HDD password. I want to remove it and just have the Windows XP passwords. This is really frustrating now. I just upgraded to the latest BIOS version about an hour ago, and still no luck
Any ideas?
These are the suggestions I tried:
"http://laptopforums.toshiba.com/t5/Satellite-Laptops-A-Series/HDD-password-is-frozem-BIOS-hard-disk-..."
"You should be able to remove the password by first entering the current password, then just hitting <enter> for both of the "new password" entries.
If that's not clearing the password, then something else is amiss. :-("
The thing is, there isn't a thing for current password, new password and confirm new password, there's just one thing that says built-in HDD password within the security bit of the BIOS setup, and no matter what you enter, the changes aren't reflected
Edit: Seems you can't change or remove the HDD password. How ridiculous.

If you didn't set a hard drive password and the system suddenly starts asking for one, that is one symptom of a drive failure. As far as I know, there is no way to reset, remove, or otherwise defeat a hard disk password once it is set so under those circumstances, I would treat the drive as failed and shop for a replacement. If the system is still under warranty, a Premier Authorized Service Provider would be the best option.

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Satellite Pro 6100 - "Built-in HDD Password" error at startup

Hi, my laptop (Satellite Pro 6100 P4-M 1.7 GHz/15TFT/256MB/40GB/DVD-CDRW/LAN/WiFi/BT/W2K or XP) has rather recently started prompting me with a message "Built-in HDD Password" at boot up. I've never set any passwords on the hard disk in the past, though in desperation of trying to get the laptop running, have tried all the possible passwords that I've ever had. Nothing's working, and I am stranded with a dead laptop on my hands. I would appreciate any help/advice that anyone can render.
Thanks.

Hi Khurram,
Sadly I think you will need to replace your hard drive. If your notebook is definitely asking for a hard drive password then there is no way of bypassing this and the only way that I know of recovering this situation is to send the hard drive to a specialist company who specialise in this kind of recovery (usually for forensic puposes, Police, armed forces, etc.). This can prove quite expensive.
The easiest (and cheapest) option would be for you to replace the hard drive and then restore your system and data (either from a backup if you have one, or else from the Toshiba recovery discs).
regards,

Satellite Pro 6100 shows a message 'Built-in HDD Password' every time I boot it up

Hello, my computer is showing a message "Built-in HDD Password" every time I boot it up. I've never set any passwords on the hard disk in the past, though in desperation of trying to get the laptop running, I have tried all the possible passwords but theres no answer, I would appreciate any help/advice. what do I have to do?

as I said before, I need the information that's in the Hard disk. I'm trying to acces the HDD via a usb2.0 IDE adapter, but the computer doesn't recognice the hardware, so I'm lookin for the driver, does any body know where can I get it?
bye

Turn off Built-In HDD password?

Right, when I first got my laptop (Toshiba Satellite Pro L300-12H), I set an HDD password, but now I've decided to get rid of it, and just use XP passwords (as there are now multiple accounts). The thing is, I can't! I can't disable the password, nor can I even change it to something like, "a". I thought it might not allow simple passwords, so I tried "house321" for example, pressed F10 to exit with saved changes - nothing!
What can I do? I can access the BIOS set-up, but nothing in there seems to help
I also tried entering my password followed by \ which I read while looking for solutions, and that didn't help
Any suggestions?

Sure LooieENG , why not? =D
http://laptopforums.toshiba.com/t5/Satellite-Laptops-A-Series/HDD-password-is-frozem-BIOS-hard-disk-...

Built-in HDD Password

Hi, my laptop (Satellite Pro M10-S405 ) has rather recently started prompting me with a message "Built-in HDD Password =" at boot up. I've never set any passwords on the hard disk in the past, I have important data in the HDD.
I would appreciate any help/advice that anyone can render.
Thanks.

Abu-Abdullah wrote:
Hi, my laptop (Satellite Pro M10-S405 ) has rather recently started prompting me with a message "Built-in HDD Password =" at boot up. I've never set any passwords on the hard disk in the past, I have important data in the HDD.
I would appreciate any help/advice that anyone can render.
Thanks.
If you have not set an HDD password, and you are now getting a prompt for one, it means that the hard drive has failed. Sorry.

Satellite Pro L300 - Black screen flashing cursor

Hi all,
I have a Toshiba Satellite Pro L300 laptop running Vista.
The client brought it in because when it boots it goes to Toshiba splash screen then goes to black screen with flashing cursor in left top corner. I have connected external monitor with same result. Swapped out RAM as well.
Have run Memtest (passed), Seagate HDD long test (passed), Ultimate boot CD, and Winternals with no success.
*F8 does not work* and nor does Factory recovery.
Can get into BIOS F2 and F12 no problem and the HDD is listed there.
I reinstalled Vista from CD and when rebooted it goes back to flashing cursor. I have attempted Startup repair from Vista CD and System restore. FixBoot from Command Prompt and FixMbr as well with the same result.
I have a feeling it may be a corrupted CMOS? It is like the OS installs properly, but the computer loses it's memory on reboot of where the OS is located?
Is the CMOS battery easily accessible and removable on this model?
Has anyone encountered these symptoms? Is it fixable cheaply?

Hello
If you have clients I presume you are some technician and hope you have some hardware parts in your store.
Have you tried to set BIOS to default settings and check it again?
If possible try to exchange HDD and test the functionality again.
Can you use notebook with Linux live CD (HDD not needed)?
To be honest I dont think problem is BIOS and, in my opinion, CMOS battery exchange is not necessary.
Test it please with new HDD and post some feedback.

Satellite Pro L300-1FN does not boot - hangs at BIOS splash screen

My Satellite pro L300-1FN is refusing to boot up. When switched on the laptop displays the toshiba/insyde H20 BIOS splash screen and the "Press F2 go to Setup Utility, F12 go to boot menu" message and flashes the hard disk access light but does not attempt to continue loading. I have left the bios at the splash screen but it does nothing for many hours on AC or runs the battery flat while on battery.
Is there a way of re-setting the BIOS on this unit? If it were a desktop unit I would remove the CMOS battery to force a BIOS reset but this is impossible on a laptop. The hard disk is fine as I have connected it to another system to remove valuable data.

*I managed to fix this issue* ,,, thanks to some other dudes on other forums
What i did was Format a Floppy disk as MS-DOS boot using a Windows XP PC and USB floppy drive, then downloaded the latest BIOS for my L300-1BW laptop model, copied *.fd bios image to the floppy disk and renamed it to BIOS.fd.
Connect FDD to the toshiba laptop with out AC connected. Held Power button for 12 seconds, connected AC adapter, then held Fn+F, powered on , and kept the Fn+F keys held down for about 10 seconds into the reading of the floppy drive just to be sure, then let go. The screen was black throughout the process. I left this for a few minutes, or until it had finished, the laptop rebooted itself, and voila, it now goes passed the TOSHIBA POST logo screen :)
I hope this helps others with Toshiba Laptops. should work for any Toshiba laptop.

8 questions from new owner of Satellite Pro L300

Hello all forum users!
I bought a new Toshiba laptop, the Satellite Pro L300, and have until 14 January to test it - if it looks like it isn't working properly I'll return it to the store where I purchased it.
Here's a list of questions I have:
1. Every time I turn on the laptop or it comes out of suspended or hibernation mode, and when I turn it off, the cd/dvd drive makes a loud mechanical clunky noise.
It sounds to me like the carriage that carries the laser and optics is running into a mechanical stop.
Is this normal?
2. There is one hot subpixel on the display (blue) and according to the Toshiba info in the box, this is normal and is not cause for return.
Should I be concerned about this?
3. When I run the memory test at system boot, it states that it will start windows automatically at test termination, and show me the results of the test.
It runs the test, starts Vista, but I don't see any results report.
Where do I find this report?
Is there a known problem with this test?
4. The Toshiba utility program to perform diagnostics from within Vista does not work. Every time I run the test (PCdiag.exe) I get a Vista error message saying a fault was found in KERNEL32.dll.
Where can I get a fix for this?
I've already installed the updated files on Toshiba's web site for the 'Value Added Pack', which is where this utility is located, but still get the error message.
5. I would like to access the bios settings at boot, but haven't found the way to do it yet.
F2 gives me a menu for memory test or normal system boot.
Esc doesn't get me into bios setup either.
There is a Toshiba bios utility I can run from Vista, and from what I see any bios firmware upgrades are also to be done through Vista.
Is there a way to access bios at boot?
6. I would like to run XP on this system and understood that this model (Pro L300 PSLB1E) was XP compatible, and that I should be able to download all drivers from Toshiba to run on XP.
Has anyone done this?
7. The laptop installed and configured Vista basic when I did the first power on, but the license sticker on the bottom of the laptop has a product key for 'Vista Business OEMAct'. I was sold this laptop as having Vista Business with the option to downgrade to XP Pro. The box didn't come with any cds or dvds, and no manuals explaining how to install Vista Business.
This is enough reason to return the laptop to the store where I bought it, which is a hassle I would prefer to avoid if I can install Vista Business.
Can anyone help me understand what is happening here?
8. Is there a way to contact technical support by email?
Thanks in advance to anybody that can answer any of the above questions!

> 1. Every time I turn on the laptop or it comes out of suspended or hibernation mode, and when I turn it off, the cd/dvd drive makes a loud mechanical clunky noise.
My CD/DVD drives make similar noise too from time to time. Not always but sometimes. I think this appears because the drives laser lens calibrates in the right position.
> 2. There is one hot subpixel on the display (blue) and according to the Toshiba info in the box, this is normal and is not cause for return.
Well, you need an certain amount of dead pixels to get a screen replacement
Please check this FAQ:
http://aps2.toshiba-tro.de/kb0/TSB5400ZD0002R01.htm
> 3. When I run the memory test at system boot, it states that it will start windows automatically at test termination, and show me the results of the test.
There is no problem. I believe you mean the memory test while POST (power on self test). If there would be a memory fault then your notebook would not boot up properly.
> 4. The Toshiba utility program to perform diagnostics from within Vista does not work. Every time I run the test (PCdiag.exe) I get a Vista error message saying a fault was found in KERNEL32.dll.
Hmm the Value Added Package contains the PC diagnostic tool for Vista. I would recommend removing the old VAP and reinstalling the new downloaded from the page.
> 5. I would like to access the bios settings at boot, but haven't found the way to do it yet. F2 gives me a menu for memory test or normal system boot. Esc doesn't get me into bios setup either. There is a Toshiba bios utility I can run from Vista, and from what I see any bios firmware upgrades are also to be done through Vista.
The notebook seems to use the Phoenix BIOS and therefore pressing the F2 button should enable the BIOS. Press the F2 immediately after notebook has been powered up.
> 6. I would like to run XP on this system and understood that this model (Pro L300 PSLB1E) was XP compatible, and that I should be able to download all drivers from Toshiba to run on XP.
Such XP drivers are placed on the Toshiba European page.
>7. The laptop installed and configured Vista basic when I did the first power on, but the license sticker on the bottom of the laptop has a product key for 'Vista Business OEMAct'. I was sold this laptop as having Vista Business with the option to downgrade to XP Pro. The box didn't come with any cds or dvds, and no manuals explaining how to install Vista Business.
Never hear that this notebook would be delivered with Vista business As far as I know this series has been preinstalled with Vista Home Premium
> 8. Is there a way to contact technical support by email?
If you have some problems with your notebook you can contact your ASP in your country.

Differences between User and built-in HDD password

I wolud like to set a HDD password on my Satellite.
But when I get inside BIOS to set HDD password, I see two HDD passwords,
one says USER HDD Pasword and the other says Built-in HDD Password.
Can you tel me the difference between them and/or what is each one.
Thanks in advance for your help,
Edward

Cezzy, welcome to the forum,
I am sorry, but regardless of the circumstances this subject is not allowed to be discussed here as stated in the forum rules
No posts shall include instructions or directions intended to subvert security measures, including passwords, locking mechanisms, fingerprint scans, etc, nor shall any posts provide descriptions to the location of, nor direct links to content related to these topics.
Thread locked.
Thanks for understanding
Andy ______________________________________
Please remember to come back and mark the post that you feel solved your question as the solution, it earns the member + points
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Satellite Pro L300-EZ1004X - TouchPad stopped working, BIOS update does not help

I have a Satellite Pro L300-EZ1004X laptop. Few days ago TouchPad stopped working. This is not a Fn + F9 issue.
In Device Manager it looks like hidden device and has (!) on it. Re-installing Synaptics drivers, updating them, removing the device in Safe Mode - nothing works. (TouchPad did not work in Safe Mode). One of the forums mentioned BIOS update. For some strange reason the latest BIOS for this specific laptop is from 2008 (ver. 1.5). Other L300 laptops have option to update BIOS to ver. 2.20 (2010) but not mine! I tried to load it (ver. 2.20)from Windows and from boot disk without success. I installed BIOS ver. 1.5. After reboot - keyboard stop working! And TouchPad ... still dead and still appears as hidden device. Using external mouse I restarted the laptop and get into the BIOS settings. In Advanced Settings disabled TouchPad completely. KEYBOARD START WORKING IN WINDOWS!!!
Any suggestions on how to make this TouchPad to work? Or how to get newer BIOS for this Laptop?
Thank you in advance!

Sounds like it has died, you can purchase a new one from a parts supplier and pay someone to install it or if you are any good with such things you can try to do it yourself. I suggest just sticking with the external mouse.
Welcome to the Toshiba user forums.
For those of you who do not know what a user forum is, it is a community of users who volunteer time to help other users. Anyone can participate. It's 100% voluntary.
Being super active is never a requirement

Satellite Pro L300 - using partition magic

Hi,
I have a Toshiba Satellite Pro L300 laptop and I would like to make an additional partition beside the already existing C: and the hidden partition. I have created the recovery discs and I want to use partition magic for the partitioning process (no new installation of windows xp). Can anyone tell me if using partition magic will have unwanted effect on possible recovery from the created disks?
Thank you in advance

Usually you can do this with Windows option in disc management but can you please tell me something at first?
Do you use Vista or WXP? I ask this because if you use preinstalled Vista the HDD must already have two partitions. Please check it out in Windows explorer.
Is hidden partition described as EISA (WinRE) partition?

Satellite Pro L300 -software-service says I need update for graphics driver

I downloaded the DesignByMe software from http://designbyme.lego.com/en-us/default.aspx
The installation run without problems, but when I want to start the program it restarts over and over again. The picture doesnt load fully, instead there are black spots. I cant click on anything nor close to programm .I thought maybe the installing process didnot finish properly so I downloaded the software again but the problem is still the same. Im using a new Satellite Pro L300 28w with Windows 7 and Mozilla Firefox 3.6
I contacted the lego support and they answered: "You most likely need to update your graphics driver. Please contact your computer manufacturers customer service or website for a free upgrade"
Is this likely and if so which upgrad edo I need?

Hi
I dont know if updating your display driver can solve this problem but if the manufacture of the software says that its worth a try!!! ;)
The update is pretty easy: Firstly download the latest version here:
http://eu.computers.toshiba-europe.com => Support & Downloads => Download Drivers
If you have downloaded the latest version, remove the old one firstly. Check the software list in control panel and follow the screen instructions. I assume you have to make one restart and after this you can install the downloaded version.
Good luck! :)

Satellite Pro L300: x3100 and Intel 965 chipset graphics driver update

Has anyone else installed the Intel 7.15.10.1666 driver, dated 26/02/2009 for the Mobile 965 chipset? Here's their web page for getting to the download:
http://www.intel.com/support/graphics/intelgm965/
For some reason unknown to me, Toshiba Satellite Pro L300 doesn't work with the Intel auto driver update (the download with the exe file). Therefore I followed their instructions for a manual install (the download with the zip file).
My laptop is working just fine with this new driver, and there is a definite improvement in the transitions between images when using the Windows presentation option (slideshow).
This new driver also installs 3 graphics programs from Intel:
Hotkeys for display management
System tray access
TV wizard
I used Windows Defender to remove these 3 from programs that automatically load at system startup to keep a fast boot time and not load unnecessary programs into memory. This hasn't caused me any problems.
Why hasn't Toshiba added this to the driver downloads page?

Hi
Thanks for this info mate...
> Why hasn't Toshiba added this to the driver downloads page?
Who knows maybe it has not been checked, approved and tested by Toshiba?
As far as I know every notebook manufacturers test and approve the drivers before they will be released on the driver pages
Maybe it has not been approved...
However, its good news that this driver is working properly.
I will check it too on my notebook.
Cheers

Satellite Pro L300 won't start

I have got a Satellite Pro L300 laptop and it will not do anything on startup (in other words on pressing the power button and not going past very first screen).
The keyboard works, but F2 ,F8 or F12 won't do anything, I can here the hard-drive powerup but its like no-one is at home. I don't know if its the motherboard or the on-board battery. The computer is about 7-8 yrs old
Can anyone help.

Yes, this it correct; the Ram modules should be checked. In my opinion you should use good, tested modules.
Some years ago my notebook did not boot up because one of the modules died.
This affected the notebook functionality and display stayed black even pressing the power button.
At the other hand you could try this simple workaround. Sometimes this helps too:
- remove battery, disconnect AC adaptor
- press and hold the power button 30 sec long
- connect both parts battery and ac adaptor and power up the unit.
Good luck

BSODs on Satellite Pro L300

Hi everyone,
I've been using my *Satellite Pro L300 28W* for 2 years now, and since the last summer it's no fun any more.
The notebook is suffering *BSoDs* one after one, making working impossible. According to BlueScreenView, it's mostly halmacpi.dll that's responsible, and the bug code is *0x124*, which is for hardware as far as I know.
I tried everything described on various forums, including virus and rootkit search, updating all drivers and BIOS, checked core temp with SpeedFan - everything seems to be OK, but still the BSoDs reappear. I have nothing overclocked, run Windows 7 32 bit with all the latest updates.
There are no BSoDs when booting in secure mode. If anyone has some ideas about this issue, I'll be happy to see them!

>By the way, what's that original toshiba recovery image you're speaking about?
The Toshiba image is the package which was preinstalled at the first day of purchase the image contains the Windows OS, Toshiba drivers, tools and 3rd party software like Win DVD, etc
The usage of the Toshiba Recovery disk (which you could create using Toshiba Recover disk creator software) would format the HDD and would set the notebook back to factory settings this means that you should backup you own data and files before running this process.
By the way: the BSOD seems to be triggered by halmacpi.dll. The halmacpi.dll is related to the usage of the Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) Library with Operating Systems and its part of the Windows OS and its hardware related (Hardware Abstraction Layer DLL).
This means that hardware problem might cause the BSOD
However, try recover disk and check if default settings would help you.

Remove built-in HDD password (Satellite Pro L300)

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