Is encryption tied to the motherboard?

[holesovice]

My laptop died.

I took out the HD but could not access the old HD with the password, I was sure the password was correct but it did not work.

I had the motherboard replaced and now the laptop works but I still cannot access the HD.
I am sure the password is 100% correct.

So. Is the encryption tied to the motherboard? Or have I overlooked something?

[powerwagon75]

Was this a dual boot with Windows 10?

If so, was it using TPM and BitLocker, or some such security program?

Can you provide make/model of the laptop, and any details about what was exactly installed on it?

[holesovice]

Hi

Thank you.
Windows... 7? maybe 10? It is dual boot but I have not logged into windows for a year or so and cannot remember.

Laptop is Acer Aspire Nitro V

once the laptop died I took out the hard drive to see if I good access it. There was no way I could get in.
But now I have the laptop back, I cannot use my password and it seems that I cannot remember my bios password....

fun fun fun.

[powerwagon75]

So are you saying you ran the hard drive encrypted withe old motherboard?

Since your motherboard was just replaced, it should not have a BIOS password set on it..unless you explicitly told the repair person to put one in for you.

Try booting a live session USB and see if the hard drive is visible (likely not accessible if encrypted, though.)

(still thinking this sounds a little like a TPM issue)

[holesovice]

it should not have a BIOS password set on it

Ah. of course! I missed That!
Bios is being weird. It gives a 8 digit login that it does not recognise.

It can boot into Linux on a USB

I use the USB to navigate to /home on the HD and get Access-Your-Private-Data but that is locked.
So am back to the start....

[powerwagon75]

So, what exactly do you see at start up? Do you get the grub menu screen (dual OS..do you see Windows as an option?) Or are you being prompted for a password before even seeing grub?

Since your hard drive is encrypted, and you have seen the "Access-Your-Private-Data", you could try as was suggested here from a Live USB session:

https://askubuntu.com/a/704111

I don't do encryption, so afraid I'm nearing the end of assistance.

Do you remember your password to decrypt your /home/user folder? You'll need it, if you try the askubuntu suggestion above.

[holesovice]

If I do not F2 into Bios I get an standard grub and then Mint login screen. But password does not work.
I cannot get into Bios. Login will not work.
So I cannot get into windows.

When the laptop died. I took out the HD and I have been all over the linked thread. And got nowhere.
So I put the laptop in for repair.

It came back with a new motherboard and now the password still does not work for Mint.

Thank you for your help and suggestions so far.
All good. I will have to try post elsewhere.
I can usually work things out but encrypted HDs are not my thing.

There "has" to be a key. Something I have not thought of.

Password is good. But it tells me I need the 19 digit key which I do not have.