HP Ellitebook 840 Hard Drive encryption

[PBComputer]

I have had a HP Ellitebook 840 brought in as it won't boot into windows. Turns out the hard drive is encrypted. by HP Drive Encryption.

The fault is a damaged windows install and or boot section. When I boot into live CD's I can't access the drive Windows is on to repair it, and its locked I can only enter the password to unlock the drive after the boot from option has passed.

So the Windows drive is locked. Or course there is no backup (why would there be)

I have never had anything like this before. Does anyone have any advise on how to get around it.

Or is it a complete nuke and pave.

Seems it a common problem http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Deskto...able-HP-drive-encryption-on-boot/td-p/3432015

 

[FremontPC]

Win7 or 8.1?

 

[PBComputer]

Sorry forgot details its Windows 8.1,

 

[FremontPC]

Looks like Disktech 2012 might help you get the data off the drive, not absolutely sure that's the latest version, but have a look at the docs:

ftp://ftp.hp.com/ftp1/pub/caps-softpaq/TCE&Q