Password required after log off

Several weeks ago (maybe after a WU) I found that I was required to sign in with a password after "logging off". At that point, I must restart the machine, and it boots right up to the desktop, no password requested.

This unit never has been setup to ask for a password.

I have multiple internal ssd/hd drives. I generally leave all but one unplugged. When I do plug them in, what you see in the attachment also started happening around the same time. But if I just close the dialog, the computer boots up normally.

Attachment 329867

Here's your screenshot:


Does this help?
Hard Disk Passwords Explained: Should You Set One to Secure Your Files?

Your practice of unplugging internal drives is... unusual.

dalchina said:

Your practice of unplugging internal drives is... unusual.

They're for redundant backups. I protect them by unplugging. Viruses, ransomware, etc.

Is there a way to get rid of that prompt?

dalchina, I'm fishing in the dark, could it be possible that secondary bootstrap[s] exist on one or more of [un][plugged] drives?

kitpzyxmsir said:

They're for redundant backups. I protect them by unplugging. Viruses, ransomware, etc.

Is there a way to get rid of that prompt?

Thank you for your reply. Have you considered the content of the link I posted?

dalchina said:

Thank you for your reply. Have you considered the content of the link I posted?

Yes. I'm familiar with Veracrypt (Truecrypt's descendant).

I am a firm adherent of strong passwords, generally miniumum 20+ characters, so even if I were inclined to password protect my HDD, it would be impractical, having to memorize something like that, or write it down somewhere, which kinda defeats the security purpose. Extremely risky in a multitude of ways, losing all data and the use of the HDD because you draw a blank on the password. Heaven help you if you don't back up your data.

I just wanna get rid of that boot up prompt. I don't know why it suddenly started. Perhaps it's another one of those annoying things Microsoft has decided to pester us with in 20H2.

Nothing to do with Veracrypt.

BIOS. Hard disk passwords. That's the content of the article that could be pertinent to your situation.

Look: I will give you some quotes:

Many computers give you the option to set a “hard disk password” along with operating system passwords and BIOS passwords. This is different from encryption — a hard disk password doesn’t actually encrypt your files.

Hard disk passwords are part of the ATA specification. If your computer supports hard disk passwords, you’ll likely find this option option in its BIOS screen. Look in the “Security” or “Password” section.

**** Have you looked to see if any such are set in your BiOS?