System and method for secure O.S. boot from password-protected HDD

摘要

If a user forgets the power-on password of his computer, he can depress the "enter" key or "access" key once to cause the BIOS to locate the power-on password in memory and attempt to unlock the HDD using the power-on password to boot a secure O.S. The HDD password either can be the same as the power-on password or the HDD can recognize the power-on password for the limited purpose of allowing access to the secure O.S. In any case, the secure O.S. is booted for password reset.