While frustrating, the HDD exclusive lock is actually a powerful security feature—it protects your data from thieves who might physically remove your drive. As long as you are the legitimate owner, Acer service will help you regain access. The keyword isn't a trap; it’s a lifeline.

: It prevents data access even if the drive is moved to another computer.

I paid for shipping (which felt unfair since the lock happened after their BIOS update). The repair took about 7 business days.