How do you remove a Hard Drive password from a ApireOne?

My nephew game me a Acer ApireOne netbook which he wants to to fix, problem is it has a hard drive lock, he nor I know what the password is?
Is there anyway to bypass the hard drive lock?
I would think he could use hirens boot cd to achieve this, prblem is, there is no CD drive built into the netbook.
Would I have to use hirens boot cd via a USB, that’s if this can be fixed?
thanx in advance
Answer #1
Hirens will not get you past a hard drive lock if done through BIOS; but yes, you would create a bootable USB (my favourite program for doing this is xboot, although it hasn’t been updated for the latest linux distributions – you can still do it but .. anyhow, not the question).
The service manual tells you how to reset the password:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/222585534/Aspire-One-Service-Manual
Answer #2
Hirens will not get you past a hard drive lock if done through BIOS; but yes, you would create a bootable USB (my favourite program for doing this is xboot, although it hasn't been updated for the latest linux distributions - you can still do it but .. anyhow, not the question).
The service manual tells you how to reset the password:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/222585534/Aspire-One-Service-Manual
The site you referred requests that you paid too download the manual Could I just take the drive out an wipe it from another computer, would that eliminate the hard drive lock?
I don’t deal with these netbooks, they are a pain in the ass!
Answer #3
ummm… I got there without paying. Let me grab the download and upload to a site for you.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/tczuw25t0kbgt1d/222585534-Aspire-One-Service-Manual.pdf?dl=0
As for the wiping out on another computer, the answer is generally no. The password is builtin to the drive firmware so a normal wipe won’t help.
Answer #4
ummm... I got there without paying. Let me grab the download and upload to a site for you.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/tczuw25t0kbgt1d/222585534-Aspire-One-Service-Manual.pdf?dl=0
As for the wiping out on another computer, the answer is generally no. The password is builtin to the drive firmware so a normal wipe won't help.
Thanx for the link for the manual
Don’t know why the site was telling me I had to pay too download it? Sooo…. what area of the manual should I be focused on?
Like I said, I don’t have the hard drive pass… so how would I reset it if I don’t have the pass originally?
I hate these hardware locked drives, I remember dealing with one awhie back, I just gave it back too the person I was trying to fix it for without no success.
only reason I am willing to do this is because it’s my nephews netbook.
Answer #5
Page 29:
you need to download hdd_pw.exe. Find a copy at:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/j3ilbbwg2hvt06o/hdd_pw.exe?dl=0
The virustotal report is 0/54
https://www.virustotal.com/en/file/0b7447ae160c5a848b9602a2bf2981f385c607fb4c696a53b599b38edc8422c3/analysis/1410050252/
Follow the instructions in the manual from there. There is also a BIOS pswd reset if needed: I haven’t scanned this so do the pre-safety check
https://www.dropbox.com/s/1ynl76pnp4ls8j2/BIOS_PW.EXE?dl=0
lord .. hold on while I up the files to another site for you. EDIT: fixed links