Reinstalling OS

I have a friends laptop that has the HDD Frozen password syndrome and I am to do a fresh install. Question is if I carry this out will the Frozen password disappear after the fresh install is loaded. I have also ordered a new HD in the event that the frozen password is still there on the HD in situ. And I am assuming with a new HD all should be fine, or will it. Microsoft says that the only fix for a frozen password is to reinstall. Thanks in advance.

 

If it's a Windows logon password then a reinstall will fix it. If it's a BIOS password then reinstalling won't make any difference. If you see the Windows splash screen before being asked for a password then it's the former and you are OK. However frozen passwords are usually associated with BIOS passwords and we don't usually help with that problem.

 

If it's a frozen BIOS password, replacing the hard drive won't help either since the BIOS password is required to even access the hard drive or any BIOS settings.

 

Thanks for your replies, I'm pretty sure its a Windows Logon Password as if I allow it to fully boot it will eventually arrive at the desktop backdrop screen with date and time showing, then if I press enter button it shows the password screen and after an incorrect insertion a 'Hint' is shown. So surely this would not happen if it was a Bios password. I purchased a password reset disc but then another problem arises as for the read to take place from the iso disk I have to set the boot in 'Legacy Bios' this will then set boot order to HD0 so when software has run it cannot function its main purpose as the HD becomes Locked, I can unlock/clear it as shown in the settings but as soon as it boots it becomes locked again. I have tried every way but which way these past 5 days but as previously said Microsoft says that a clean reinstall is the only way to go. So to sum up I can retrieve data on there by plugging the HD into my desktop and then do a clean install but not with Windows 8. In my opinion this is security gone too far whereby a simple forgotten logon password renders the laptop useless. No wonder Bill Gates is a rich man as another OS has to be purchased.

 

Incidentally I read an article whereby a guy had just purchased a new laptop and during the 2 hour period that he had ownership of it one of his kids had put in a password that was promptly forgotten whereby of course he was locked out, Just 2 hours usage and laptop kaput!!....

 

You need both to set the BIOS to Legacy and disable Secure Boot. Then you will be able to boot to your reinstall DVD, either by setting the optical drive as first in boot order or by overriding the BIOS boot order with a function key, usually but not always F8. Start tapping immediately you power on.

 

As a newby :-o , I am curious, why can't Toke be given instructions how to reset the BIOS?

 

Proving ownership of the computer is the key there.

 

There's an obvious problem in helping posters to circumvent password problems in that it's difficult to be sure that the poster is actually the owner of the computer in question or is doing so on behalf of the owner. I am not implying anything in relation to the OP as we treat all password questions with caution.

 

Thank you both.

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