SysKey - Create USB Key to Lock or Unlock Windows

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  1. Posts : 71,975
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #20

    Amnesia180 said:
    Brilliant, thank you. Does the USB key always have to read as the same drive number? How would I ensure this?
    Nope. It doesn't matter about the USB key. It only matters that the StartKey.Key file is in the root directory of it.
    Last edited by Brink; 16 Jan 2013 at 14:25. Reason: added quote
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  2. Posts : 4
    Windows 7
       #21

    recovery using saved syskey


    I'll start with saying I am not a technical genius. I set my lap top up for a SAM lock. Put the syskey on my usb with letter A and have been happily using it for almost a year. My usb has shorted out and is now corrupt (that alone was a new education in what technology can do). I made a spare copy of the syskey (as a saved file) onto another computer and have now loaded it onto a brand new usb key (same model as the old one), but the computer won't accept it. The syskey is in the root directory. Using my other computer I assigned it drive letter A. How do I now get my locked laptop to accept the new usb key to unlock my computer?
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  3. Posts : 71,975
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #22

    Hello James, and welcome to Seven Forums.

    Was the USB formatted as FAT32, and the SysKey copied to the root of the USB flash drive?

    While the other computer may think the new USB is A:, the original computer most likely assigned it a different drive letter since the other USB was assigned to A.

    See if assigning A: to the new USB in a command prompt at boot on your original computer may work.
    In the command prompt, type the commands below, and press Enter after each one. When successfully finished, restart the computer to see if it works.
    • diskpart
    • list volume (make note of the volume number for the USB flash drive)
    • select volume # (substitute # for the actual volume number of the USB flash drive)
    • assign letter=A
    Hope this helps, :)
    Shawn
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  4. Posts : 4
    Windows 7
       #23

    Dumb questions - how do I get the command prompt? I know after logging in I press Wdw+r. How do I do it on the boot up?
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  5. Posts : 71,975
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #24

    The two links above can help show you a few ways to do so. :)
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  6. Posts : 4
    Windows 7
       #25

    the above 2 links require I have the install disks?
    I purchased the computer set up about 2 years ago and don't have the disks.
    I have been able to get to the HP BIOS using the Esc key - but cannot get either shift F10 or F8 to give me a command line prompt.
    Launching in repair causes it to try to run it's own diagnostics - which when complete put me back at the screen which asks for the boot disk with the SysKey.
    I can get into the HP BIOS - but it is an HP GUI not a command prompt.
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  7. Posts : 71,975
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #26

    In that case, you could download an official Windows 7 ISO at the link below,....
    ...and create a bootable Windows 7 installation DVD/USB with the ISO file. :)
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  8. Posts : 4
    Windows 7
       #27

    UPDATE: did manage to get it to start in safe mode with a command prompt (as shown in the first link) by beating on the F8 key during boot up (but has to be a boot from off not a restart on my machine). New problem, after it runs the script to load the drivers it does not leave me at a command line - it pops up the Startup key Disk box and asks for my start up key to be inserted .... which is back to my initial problem I think??
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  9. Posts : 3
    Windows 7 Pro 64 Bit
       #28

    Great information, I see one potential problem with "spare keys". I obsessivly change drive letters a lot, and have found that whenever you assign a drive letter, (A), the computer forgets the previous "A" drive assignment.

    I think that when you assign the Spare Key as "A" it would no longer see the first one as "A" unless it was identical size and signiture.

    I suggest that anyone doing this should confirm that each USB stick is seen as "A" beforehand.
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  10. eso
    Posts : 3
    windows 7 x64
       #29

    Brink thanks a lot for this Great tutorial .
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