Computer Hope

Microsoft => Microsoft DOS => Topic started by: Terri Buster on October 26, 2004, 02:51:31 PM

Title: "Type Password" prompt at start up
Post by: Terri Buster on October 26, 2004, 02:51:31 PM

Big problem with hard drive.  It crashed, (I presume), and my son brought it to me to see if I could fix it.  I plugged it in and started it up and all I get is a black screen with this phrase: "Type your password, then press enter".  Son says he never saw that prompt before.   Windows always came up at start-up.  I am assuming this is a DOS prompt, but I can't get any of the keys on the keyboard to type anything.  The only key that works is "enter", which repeats the phrase  (total) three times and then it locks me out.  

Is this a total wash, or can I take it to a repair shop to be fixed, or is this something I might can fix somehow?  
I am a novice with the inards of a computer.  My skills run to web pages, etc.

Crash mentioned above was a digital camera (cheap one) that his wife tried to download the software from, and then computer just blanked out. Hasn't worked since.

Title: Re: "Type Password" prompt at start up
Post by: merlin_2 on October 26, 2004, 03:29:56 PM

is this hard drive from a laptop.....

Title: Re: "Type Password" prompt at start up
Post by: Terri Buster on October 26, 2004, 03:31:57 PM

No, it is from a PC.  An older one at that.  It has (had)Windows 95 on it.  

Title: Re: "Type Password" prompt at start up
Post by: Computer_Commando on October 26, 2004, 03:52:53 PM

Sounds like someone entered a BIOS password.
http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000235.htm

Clearing it is near impossible on a laptop.  BTW, a laptop is a PC, but a PC is not necessarily a laptop.

Title: Re: "Type Password" prompt at start up
Post by: merlin_2 on October 26, 2004, 03:53:35 PM

what make is this hardrive...maybe a diagnostics on may shred more light...like bad sector /block