I think he means a bios password. "Happiness makes up in height what it lacks in length" -- Robert Frost
On 8 February 2011 10:45, kibalama francis <[email protected]>wrote: > David thanks ......my case is a password set on the HDD by a user from the > bios. meanwhile let me try other options. > > On Tue, Feb 8, 2011 at 8:47 AM, David Gelvin <[email protected]>wrote: > >> On Tue, Feb 8, 2011 at 8:07 AM, kibalama francis < >> [email protected]> wrote: >> >> Oh thanks, some set it on the HDD from the bios and then forgot it. >>> >>> >> If it is an ATA password set on the drive itself it is difficult and >> possibly impossible to unlock. >> >> I encountered a laptop harddrive locked by an ATA password just last week. >> It's the first time I'd ever seen one- I didn't even know drives could be >> locked like that. >> >> The locked drive I encountered was a Hitachi and after about two days of >> persistent effort I was never able to unlock it. Modern Hitachi drives in >> particular cannot be unlocked if there is no Master password set and the >> User password is lost. >> >> I found these technical specs for the drive very helpful: >> >> http://www.hitachigst.com/tech/techlib.nsf/techdocs/67F5F5E8E5FE84E0862573FB0060E854/$file/TS5K320_OEM_Spec_r14.pdf >> Section 12.9 on page 58 details their implementation of the ATA security >> feature set. >> >> Basically there is a Master password, and a User password. There are two >> security levels a drive can be set in: High Level and Maximum Level. >> From the specs: >> High level: When the device lock function is enabled and the User Password >> is forgotten the device can be unlocked via a Master Password. >> >> Maximum level: When the device lock function is enabled and the User >> Password is forgotten then only the Master Password with a Security Erase >> Unit command can unlock the device. Then user data is erased. >> >> Unfortunately Hitachi drives don't come with a default Master password >> set, so losing the User password leaves the drive 100% bricked. Western >> Digital drives sometimes come with a default Master password of >> "WDCWDCWDC".. repeated for 32 characters. >> >> Useful links: >> >> MHDD- Very low level hard drive diagnostic tool that can help you read the >> 'Host Protected Area' where some drives store the User password: >> http://real-world-systems.com/docs/MHDD_en_manual.html >> >> HDDGuru Forums- >> By far the best forum for threads involving unlocking drives. Make sure >> you search the forums very thoroughly before you make any post asking for >> help. A simple post like 'Please unlock my drive' won't get any response. >> But if you say "I tried the technique listed in thread x and this happened, >> then I tried the technique in thread y and this happened, etc..." then >> people will be more willing to help out. >> http://forum.hddguru.com/ >> >> Good luck, but be aware the drive may be a total loss. >> >> David >> >> -- >> This message has been scanned for viruses and >> dangerous content by *MailScanner* <http://www.mailscanner.info/>, and is >> >> believed to be clean. >> _______________________________________________ >> The Uganda Linux User Group: http://linux.or.ug >> >> Send messages to this mailing list by addressing e-mails to: >> [email protected] >> Mailing list archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >> Mailing list settings: http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/lug >> To unsubscribe: http://kym.net/mailman/options/lug >> >> The Uganda LUG mailing list is generously hosted by INFOCOM: >> http://www.infocom.co.ug/ >> >> The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including >> attachments if any). The mailing list host is not responsible for them in >> any way. >> > > > > -- > Thanks so much and stay blessed. > kibalama francis > Technician DICTS Makerere University. > > Volunteer: > - Baveeko Basome > - URF Kampala Chapter > Contact; +256751361058 > Email: [email protected] > Email: [email protected] > Email: [email protected] > http://www.ugandaruralfund.org > http://baveekobasome.org/index.php > > "He paid my Ransom" > > > > -- > This message has been scanned for viruses and > dangerous content by *MailScanner* <http://www.mailscanner.info/>, and is > believed to be clean. > > _______________________________________________ > The Uganda Linux User Group: http://linux.or.ug > > Send messages to this mailing list by addressing e-mails to: > [email protected] > Mailing list archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > Mailing list settings: http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/lug > To unsubscribe: http://kym.net/mailman/options/lug > > The Uganda LUG mailing list is generously hosted by INFOCOM: > http://www.infocom.co.ug/ > > The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including > attachments if any). The mailing list host is not responsible for them in > any way. > -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.
_______________________________________________ The Uganda Linux User Group: http://linux.or.ug Send messages to this mailing list by addressing e-mails to: [email protected] Mailing list archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ Mailing list settings: http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/lug To unsubscribe: http://kym.net/mailman/options/lug The Uganda LUG mailing list is generously hosted by INFOCOM: http://www.infocom.co.ug/ The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including attachments if any). The mailing list host is not responsible for them in any way.
