Yep. I'd also agree the big card sounds like a hard drive controller.
Not sure where to find the images you are are saying about, but the
smaller board with the wires going to it may be a ROM switcher, they
were pretty common.
Sounds like the computer is running through it's startup-sequence then
executes some password program.
Either edit the S:Startup-Sequence to make it not run the password
prog, or send me a copy of the Startup-Sequence and I'll do it for
you.
Anthony.