Unable to unlock SDD

[paulalt]

Hello,

I own a laptop Asus K56CA. Shortly after I bought it, I swapped out 5400rpm drive for a Samsung SSD 840. I’ve set up passwords: BIOS Administrator and User; also Master and User HDD Password.
Now, the operating system on my laptop got corrupted few days ago and I need to migrate the Windows 8 from the original Hitachi 5400rpm drive to my Samsung SSD 840 (as I did it the first time).

To do this I need to remove SSD and put back the original Hitachi drive into the laptop. SSD must be unlocked, though.
When I’m in BIOS to unlock it I can't change anything except the User passwords (BIOS and HDD). When I try to remove the Master HDD password it says, “Password can’t be cleared in User Mode”, even though, it also is written that if I get into setup the user will have Administrator rights.

Please, if anyone can help me with a way I should approach this problem I’d really appreciate it.

PS. It’s my laptop and the Samsung SSD. I bought them on Amazon, so I’ve got that documented online, and in paper. I also have all the required passwords.

 

[Alec Mowat]

You may be able to reset your BIOS settings, that should clear the passwords. Should be a battery on jumper inside the laptop somewhere.

Windows update won't do anything if it's a BIOS lock. Moving the HD to another computer may help.

 

[paulalt]

You may be able to reset your BIOS settings, that should clear the passwords. Should be a battery on jumper inside the laptop somewhere.

Windows update won't do anything if it's a BIOS lock. Moving the HD to another computer may help.

Hello,

I was thinking of a way to access BIOS at the Administrator Level, so I can remove all passwords.
Removing User Password for BIOS doesn't get me there with the right to change anything, even though, I give Administrator Password when accessing BIOS.

Getting to the BIOS battery inside the laptop will be a problem.

 

[Alec Mowat]

There is no admin access. This is the basic level.

You need pull the battery from the laptop, pull the battery from the bios chip, hold the power for 30 seconds and hope is resets the locks.

There might be a jumper that allow you to override the passwords on the motherboard as well.