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    SSD with password is not being recognized

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by Roy Gao, Jul 8, 2018.

  1. Roy Gao

    Roy Gao Notebook Enthusiast

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    I have a XPS 9350 with SSD password set. The laptop has a problem the the logo flashes and disappear so I have to blindly type the SSD password so I can use an external password.

    Then I want to remove the password. So I removed the SSD and tried to install it on a DELL G7. The G7 show some strange word like initializing something. I shut it down and move the SSD back to XPS 9350.

    Now the XPS LCD screen is back, but it is not recognizing the SSD so it won't boot. Please let me know if/how I can save the SSD. Thank you very much.
     
    Roy Gao, Jul 8, 2018
    #1
  2. dave-p

    dave-p Notebook Deity

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    re-install the drive and go into the BIOS setup and see the drive is present?

    What is the make and model of the SSD drive - some manufacturers have drive tools you can use to determine the health status if the drive try that if you can - you may have to use a USB boot option or have a different boot drive configured using a second sata port to view the SSD drive
     
    dave-p, Jul 8, 2018
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  3. Roy Gao

    Roy Gao Notebook Enthusiast

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    I cannot install as laptop won't recognize the SSD.

    SSD is Toshiba. I will try to make a bootable USB to try. But I suspect it won't work as BIOS cannot detect it at all.

    Thanks!
     
    Roy Gao, Jul 8, 2018
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  4. S1lentSymph0ny

    S1lentSymph0ny Newbie

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    As a last resort you can sometimes use the master password for the drive to initiate a secure erase which will remove the user password. This will require hdparm under linux. Parted Magic has a nice boot image that includes hdparm (not free though).

    NOTE: Secure Erase will wipe all the data on the drive.

    See here:
    https://serverfault.com/questions/712849/how-to-unlock-a-ssd-disk-with-hdparm
     
    S1lentSymph0ny, Jul 9, 2018
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  5. Roy Gao

    Roy Gao Notebook Enthusiast

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    Just tried to boot from USB and install windows 10, laptop still cannot find any HDD. I guess it was destroyed...
     
    Roy Gao, Jul 9, 2018
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  6. dave-p

    dave-p Notebook Deity

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    Toshiba does have a utility tool you can download and run tests on the drive, but yes it looks like the drive is toast
     
    dave-p, Jul 10, 2018
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  7. Roy Gao

    Roy Gao Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thanks guys, problem solved. I used 9560 and swapped the SSD, once it shows the SSD I shut it down, then put it back and it works now. Thanks a lot!
     
    Roy Gao, Jul 19, 2018
    #7