From: G6JPG@255soft.uk   
      
   On 2026/1/10 19:55:34, knuttle wrote:   
   > My brother in law die.  We have his computer but it is locked with a   
   > pass word.   
   >   
   > If we pull the hard drive, and place it in an external drive enclosure,   
   > can we unlock the drive so it can be used as a primary drive in another   
   > computer?   
      
   I've been following this thread, and can we all hold back a bit, until   
   knuttle (assuming we've not frigtened him off altogether) clarifies what   
   he wants to do?   
      
   If he just wants to re-use the drive (which "so it can be used as a   
   primary drive in another computer" suggests is possible), then I think   
   we all agree that's trivial (the answer would be "yes". Installation   
   media for whatever OS is desired would be required, along with drivers   
   for the hardware in the new computer, if not included in the   
   installation media).   
      
   If he wants to access _files_ on the drive, then it depends whether the   
   "pass word" means just a BIOS lock to get into the computer, or   
   something that invokes bitlocker (or similar) on the drive itself; if it   
   does, he's probably screwed; if it's just a BIOS lock, then moving the   
   drive to another computer _should_ make them accessible, at least user   
   files.   
      
   If he wants to get access to the old computer (e. g. to use it, or give   
   it away), there _are_ ways - especially if an older computer.   
      
      
   But we have been far too quick to come up with lots of excellent advice   
   - which IMO clouds the issue until we know which of the three above   
   options he actually wants to do!   
      
      
   --   
   J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()ALIS-Ch++(p)Ar++T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf   
      
   If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people   
   what they don't want to hear. - Preface to "Animal Farm"   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)