Encrrypted laptop - password lost

[g00ner]

I've inherited a Sony laptop, previously used by a Financial Advisor who's previous employers installed encryption to protect clients data etc..

FA has left the company and forgotten the password - can I do some kind of hard reset which will reset the laptop back to original spec so it can be used for family stuff?

Encryption is Synmatec PGP whole disk - there is nothing on there I need to save

 

[bowser]

If its just the hard drive that is encrypted then swap out the drive and re install windows and software. If its any more than that then you are probably fecked.
Try going into the bios and booting from a usb stick or cd drive and see what you can do from there. Try using a linux distro disk or create a linux live drive you should be able to see what bits of the drive you can look at or not.

 

[g00ner]

If its just the hard drive that is encrypted then swap out the drive and re install windows and software. If its any more than that then you are probably fecked.
Try going into the bios and booting from a usb stick or cd drive and see what you can do from there. Try using a linux distro disk or create a linux live drive you should be able to see what bits of the drive you can look at or not.

I've turned it on

 

[g00ner]

Tried hitting alt-f10 on start up, just goes straight to the encryption password page no matter what

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

If the password page is is the encryption software then it will just be the drive that us encrypted. You will have re install Windows to cure this. You will be able to use the same hard drive but you will have to destroy all the data on it. Other option as said is swap out the drive and install Windows again. If doing this you might as well put an SSD hard drive in and get a speed boost. There is no option to decrypt and reuse the existing windows instalation without the password.

 

[AberdeenAngus]

go into Google and search on "format hard drive Sony laptop"
Follow instructions
You will need to reinstall Windows etc from scratch. Do you have the cd?

 

[jonnie comet]

I've turned it on

....Best laugh today !!!....(Don't pity me, I'm a simple man)......Cheers.....

 

[g00ner]

I've tried following the instructions, restart and F10. Just keeps bringing up the Symantec Encryption password page - sneaky bar stewards prevent you accessing the recovery page.

....Best laugh today !!!....(Don't pity me, I'm a simple man)......Cheers.....

I think I now own an expensive doorstop

 

[bisbee]

Can you get the command prompt screen up?If you can, then there are tutorials on getting in via the backdoor so to speak

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

I've tried following the instructions, restart and F10. Just keeps bringing up the Symantec Encryption password page - sneaky bar stewards prevent you accessing the recovery page.
:

The recovery boot partition is probably encrypted along with the rest of the drive hence you need the password.

 

[bowser]

You are not going to be able to do anything with that hard drive, I dont wish to appear rude but by the replies I am guessing that your computer skills are a little limited.

Take the hard drive out, purchase a replacement and then reload operating system.

It would appear that you cant boot into a different operating system by using a usb stick or bootable cd.

If you have a mate with skills, you may be able to connect the hard drive to another computer and format it but to be honest a HD for a laptop is not that expensive you can pick up a 500gb 2.5 sata drive for about £30 new, Dabs are doing a seagate for £29.

Once you have put the drive in the lap top, beg, borrow download a copy of the relevent windows version that was on the computer, with the sony the serial number for the install should be on a shiny metal sticker on the underside of the laptop, use that to licence whatever you install.

the sony software is available from their support web site.

 

[g00ner]

Thanks Bowser and you are correct - I'm not au fault with PC terminology. In the end I fixed it by buying an IMac, it was an overdue expense with two lads taking exams and Mrs g00ner working from home occasionally.

Thanks for taking the time to assist