When attempting to restore a broken or corrupt OS from a recovery USB drive or SD card, you may receive the error “The security module on this device is not working.”
This issue generally arises during the process of attaching a recovery USB drive or SD card to restore the operating system following a message that the Chrome OS is missing or damaged.
The condition signals a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) malfunction in the read-only firmware, typically observed on Chromebooks.
This problem indicates a malfunction in the device’s security module, particularly the embedded controller (EC) chip or security unit. The EC plays a critical role in managing several system functions, such as temperature control, power and battery charging, and handling external peripherals.
A failure in this module hinders the device’s ability to successfully restore its operating system.
The error could come from EC chip malfunctions, virus attacks, software flaws, hardware component issues, or on older Acer or Asus Chromebook models, hardware faults may be the reason. This infers that the difficulty may be tightly related to hardware capabilities critical to the device’s operation.
To address this mistake and other similar difficulties, it’s encouraged that Chromebook users contact Google support professionals or use the Chromebook help forum, particularly in a work or school context where officials might need to assist.
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What are the Methods of Solving this Problem?
There are several methods to solve ‘The security module on this device is not working’, but before this you have remember for Chromebooks running Chrome OS versions M61 and later, fixes have been published to patch TPM firmware vulnerabilities.
These upgrades entail a hardware reset of the TPM chip, which erases all data saved by the TPM, including disk encryption keys. Hence, it’s necessary to back up important data before initiating such changes. Here are the methods to solve this problem:
Method 1: Reset EC
A multitasking operating system and many modules that manage battery charging, power sequencing, temperature control, keyboard management, and validated boot are all part of the EC software.
Your device’s hardware or operating system may have problems if the EC has a malfunction or one of its modules fails. One way to help address and maybe resolve these problems is to reset the EC.
- Press and hold the power button for about four seconds to shut down the device.
- Hold down the refresh key and press the power button to turn it on.
- When the device powers on, release the refresh button.
Method 2: Do a Cold Reboot
The process of turning on a device from its powered-off state and setting up the operating system and hardware is called “cold booting.” This method ensures that the device boots up fresh, removes temporary files, and fixes software issues.
- Unplug the power cord and turn off the Chromebook.
- Remove any external drives or docking stations that are attached.
- Remove the battery from the laptop.
- Press and hold the power button for about 15 seconds to drain any last bit of power from the capacitors.
- Put the battery back in and turn on the power source; keep any external disks and gadgets disconnected.
- Check to determine if the problem persists after turning on the laptop. If so, repeat the steps a few times to see if the issue has been resolved.
Method 3: Reset the Chromebook to Its Original Factory Configuration
During a factory reset, all of the data on the Chromebook’s hard drive is erased, but the data needed for operation is retained. Prior to performing the reset, make sure you have backed up your files to Google Drive or an external hard drive.
- Sign out of the Chromebook and at the same time, hold down Ctrl + Alt + Shift + R.
- Click the Reset button in the dialog box that appears.
- After the device restarts, select the Power wash option from the newly displayed dialog box.
- Click the Proceed button to confirm.
Method 4: Utilize a USB Recovery Drive
Starting up from a USB device is an excellent approach for accessing or reinstalling the operating system. If you run across the problem “The security module on this device is not working,” you can construct a recovery drive to address the issue.
- Get the Chrome Recovery Utility from the Chrome Web Store and install it.
- Open the app, select your Chromebook, and then click Continue.
- Insert a USB flash drive, pick it from the drop-down menu, then click Continue.
- Click the “Create now” button. Note that the USB will have all of its data wiped.
- When the notification “Recovery media is ready” appears after creation, remove the recovery disk.
- Holding down the Esc and Refresh buttons while pushing the power button will put you in recovery mode.
- Select the option to perform a local media reinstallation of Chrome OS and give it some time to finish.
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