Automatic Drivelock Enabled Withou my Consent

[erond]

I was changing some BIOS options until I set up a BIOS and power on password which i remember as "oasisofoas3s". I also enabled drivelock through the automatic drivelock option and I assumed my bios password would be the default. But, every time I boot I am met with a screen telling me enter drivelock user password(I never set a specific drivelock password, so I enter in my bios password), it keeps failing, what gives. Right now looking for anything I can do to save the drive before ultimately buying a new one.

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Hi @erond,

Welcome to the HP Support Community!

Thanks for reaching out!

We're thrilled to have the opportunity to assist you and provide a solution.

I understand DriveLock was enabled automatically in BIOS and you are now being prompted for a DriveLock user password that you never set, and entering your BIOS password does not work. Let’s go through what’s happening and what you can realistically do to protect your data.

Understand what DriveLock actually is (important)
HP DriveLock is a hardware-level ATA security feature stored on the drive itself.
Once enabled, the password is not the BIOS password unless it was explicitly set at the moment DriveLock was created.

Why your BIOS password is not working
Automatic DriveLock generates a separate internal DriveLock password.
Even though BIOS prompted you, it does not reuse the BIOS or power-on password unless you manually define it.

Why the system keeps rejecting the password
The drive is asking for a DriveLock User password, not BIOS or Admin passwords.
If the wrong password is entered repeatedly, the drive will remain locked indefinitely.

Check if a DriveLock Master Password exists
Restart and enter BIOS (Esc > F10).
Look under Security > DriveLock to see if a Master Password is listed or configurable.
If a Master Password was set or auto-generated, only that password can unlock the drive.

Try disabling DriveLock from BIOS (only works if unlocked)
DriveLock cannot be disabled unless the correct password is entered first.
If the drive is locked, BIOS will not allow removal of DriveLock.

Remove the drive and test in another system (data check)
Power off the laptop and remove the internal drive.
Install it in another PC or use a USB enclosure.
If DriveLock is active, the drive will still be locked — this confirms it is hardware-encrypted.

Important data-recovery reality (no sugarcoating)
HP DriveLock cannot be bypassed, reset, or brute-forced.
HP does not have a backdoor key.
Data recovery services cannot extract data from a DriveLock-secured drive without the password.

I hope this helps.

I'm glad I could help! 😊 If this resolved your issue, please mark it as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" Your feedback not only keeps us going but also helps others find the solution faster! 👍✨

Take care and have an amazing day ahead! 🚀

Best regards,

[erond]

So basically no way to even get the drive usable agin even if I don't care for data recovery?

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Hi @erond,

Welcome to the HP Support Community!

Thanks for reaching out!

We're thrilled to have the opportunity to assist you and provide a solution.

I understand you’re asking whether the drive can be made usable again even if you don’t care about recovering the data. Let’s go through this clearly and realistically.

Short answer
No, the drive cannot be reused if the DriveLock password is unknown. The lock is permanent at the hardware level.

What happens when DriveLock is enabled
DriveLock writes a security key directly to the drive’s controller.
This lock exists independently of the laptop, BIOS, or operating system.

Why formatting or reinstalling won’t work
The drive must be unlocked before it can be formatted.
Since the correct DriveLock password is not available, the drive cannot be accessed to erase or reuse it.

Why using another computer or USB enclosure doesn’t help
The DriveLock follows the drive, not the system.
Any computer you connect it to will still prompt for the DriveLock password.

Why BIOS reset or CMOS reset won’t help
Resetting BIOS settings only affects the motherboard.
DriveLock credentials are stored inside the drive itself and are untouched by resets.

Why HP cannot unlock it
HP does not store, generate, or recover DriveLock passwords.
There is no master key, override code, or service procedure to clear it.

Why data recovery services can’t help either
This is not software encryption; it’s hardware ATA security.
Without the correct password, even professional labs cannot reuse or erase the drive.

What you can do now:

Replace the drive
Install a new SSD or HDD and reinstall the operating system.
The system itself will work normally with a new drive.

Avoid this in the future
Do not enable Automatic DriveLock unless you explicitly set and record the DriveLock password.
If drive security is needed, full-disk encryption at the OS level is safer and reversible.

I know this is frustrating, but I want to be fully honest so you don’t waste time or money trying methods that won’t work. If you want, I can help you choose a compatible replacement drive or guide you through reinstalling the OS cleanly.

I hope this helps.

I'm glad I could help! 😊 If this resolved your issue, please mark it as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" Your feedback not only keeps us going but also helps others find the solution faster! 👍✨

Take care and have an amazing day ahead! 🚀

Best regards,