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Pre-Boot Authentication Will Not Activate Due to SED Block SID Authentication Enabled

Summary: Pre-boot authentication may fail to activate when self-encrypting drive (SED) Block SID Authentication is enabled.

This article applies to This article does not apply to This article is not tied to any specific product. Not all product versions are identified in this article.
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Symptoms

Self-encrypting drive Block SID Authentication is a new BIOS feature for Dell X9 and later computers and requires additional configuration to activate pre-boot authentication.

Affected Products:

Dell Encryption Self-Encrypting Drive Manager

Affected Versions:

v10.3 and Later

Affected Platforms:

Dell X9 and Later

Block SID Authentication must be configured when troubleshooting Dell pre-boot authentication activation issues. If Block SID Authentication is not properly configured in the BIOS, then an error is indicated in DellAgent.log, located by default in C:\ProgramData\Dell\Dell Data Protection\.

Example error:

SED Block SID Authentication is enabled in BIOS, but the Admin BIOS password is not set. For example, an admin BIOS password is required for Block SID bypass using (0) application. Block SID can manually be disabled in the BIOS in case PBA activation fails.

Cause

Not applicable.

Resolution

By design, a BIOS Admin Password must be set in the computer BIOS for the pre-boot authentication to activate when SED Block SID Authentication is enabled. At activation, a prompt for the BIOS admin password is requested. If the input password matches the stored password in the BIOS, pre-boot authentication activation proceeds. If the SED Block SID Authentication feature is not needed, Disable it to proceed with pre-boot authentication activation. Select the appropriate process for more information.

To add an admin password in the BIOS system setup:

  1. Boot into the BIOS system setup.
Note: For more information about how to boot into the BIOS, reference How to Access UEFI (BIOS) System Setup from Microsoft Windows on your Dell Computer.
  1. Expand Security and then click Admin Password.

Admin Password

Note: The BIOS menu options may vary by computer. Reference your user guide for additional assistance.
  1. Enter and Confirm the new password, and then click OK.

Enter and confirm the new password

  1. Choose Apply and then click Exit.

Apply

To disable SED block SID authentication:

  1. Boot into the BIOS system setup.
Note: For more information about how to boot into the BIOS, reference How to Access UEFI (BIOS) System Setup from Microsoft Windows on your Dell Computer.
  1. Expand Security and then click HDD Security.

HDD Security

Note: The BIOS menu options may vary by computer. Reference your user guide for additional assistance.
  1. Clear SED Block SID Authentication and PPI Bypass for SED Block SID Command.

Unchecking HDD Security selections

  1. Choose Apply and then click Exit.

Apply

To contact support, reference Dell Data Security International Support Phone Numbers.
Go to TechDirect to generate a technical support request online.
For additional insights and resources, join the Dell Security Community Forum.

Affected Products

Dell Encryption
Article Properties
Article Number: 000126083
Article Type: Solution
Last Modified: 20 Dec 2022
Version:  11
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