Methods, systems, and apparatuses for managing a hard drive security system

A system for use with an electronic device, the electronic device including a self-encrypting drive (SED), the SED including a nominal space and a pre-boot region, wherein the nominal space can be locked to prevent access to the nominal space, the system comprising:

• SED management software configured to be loaded in the pre-boot region of the SED, the SED management software comprising:
• a pre-boot operating system (OS);
• and
• at least one pre-boot functionality capable of operating when the nominal space is locked,
• wherein the SED management software further comprises an unlocking program configured (a) to execute within the pre-boot OS, and (b) upon successful authentication of the user, to unlock the nominal space, and
• wherein the SED management software is configured to temporarily grant write access to the pre-boot region, store the unlocking program in the pre-boot region, and revert the pre-boot region to read-only.