How To disable HP sure start power on authentication with ubuntu

[Philip26]

I installed ubuntu on my laptop a couple of weeks ago and it is running fine. The only problem is that HP sure start keeps asking me for power on authentication while I have my ubuntu account secured. How can I turn off this extra power on authentication?

[IT_WinSec]

Hello @Philip26 

Welcome to the HP Support Community.

All you need to do is to enter BIOS and disable the POST password.

Restart your operating system (PC) and as soon as it gives a sign it is about to start, begin hitting the ESC button repeatedly (like tap-tap-tap). Or if the restart does not work, press and hold the power-on button for 5-6 seconds until the unit powers off, then start it normally.

HP Start up Menu will appear, Use the mouse to go to BIOS settings (or press F10 to load BIOS)

Go to the Security tab/settings and turn the password off

>> here is a video example how to start the Esc/BIOS options >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSN0qzXayUY

[Philip26]

Thank you for the fast reply.

I went to said security tab, but I could not find an option to turn off a password, I attached some photos to show what my options are.

[IT_WinSec]

Thank you for your reply and for the pictures.

Could you please post exact pictures of what you see and what you refer as a POST password ? Can you take pictures of what it prompts you for during start up ?

Based on what you posted above, You do not see option to change or disable BIOS password or power-on (POST) password because the BIOS believes such as not activated.

If BIOS password was active or power-on POST password was active, you would have seen an option called "Change BIOS password" or "Change POST Power-On password" instead of "Create..."  I have business class devices similar to yours and this is what my simulation showed.

Looking forward to addition pictures, info

[Philip26]

Yes, that's what I didn't understand, everything te seems to have anything to do with log in password looks disabled. This is what my computer asks me upon start up, right side up this time:

[IT_WinSec]

When you select "Password" (based on the latest picture above) and then hit [ENTER], it should prompt you for a password. Do you know it ? Does it work when you enter it ?

Can you go into the "Security" tab (on the bottom) and try to hit the "Reset the Security settings to Factory Defaults". This should return security settings to default.

If you go into the "Security" tab (on the bottom) and try to hit the option to actually create POST Power-On password, then actually set a blank password (nothing as a password, just emply confirmation), would that clear the start-up password ?

[Philip26]

Yes I know the password and can log in to my computer, but I don't like this log in screen.

I tried both ideas, changing password and resetting to factory default. But both options don't respond except for lighting up indicating that it registered that I clicked on the option. But there is no reaction or change whatsoever.

[IT_WinSec]

How did you enable the password initially ? Can you provide details about this

[Philip26]

It was enabled during installation of linux, but I didn't enable it on purpose...

[IT_WinSec]

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@Philip26 wrote:

It was enabled during installation of linux, but I didn't enable it on purpose...

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Well, let me be transparent - the screenshots you posted don't look promising (as described above, intially). I am trying to understand what may be wrong and how you ended up with this so that I can help you fulfil your wish (to remove it).

I use Linux distros (including Ubuntu) and I don't think its installation can control or setup Preboot authentication password like the one you showed above. It looks like enabled by HP BIOS or some HP software. Did you by any change set it up before Linux ?

In order to assist you or to direct you to the best solution I am trying to understand in details what you did and how you did it. I am trying to understand if you enabled this from a software (and how you did it exactly) OR if this is some bug (error) in the HP BIOS settings.

Could you elaborate ?