Hard Disk Password
It is not a very well known fact, but all hard disks have a very strong hardware password capability build in. This password is usually stored both in a chip on the HD controller (the printed circuit board on the hard disk) and on the hard disk itself in a special hidden sector.
Setting this password will make the hard disk completely unusable to anyone that doesn’t know it. And not only on your computer, but on any computer.
A lot of newer laptops will set the HD password together with the BIOS password, completely locking all the hardware.
The hard disk manufacturers are unable to unlock a password protected hard disk, as there aren’t any “secret” master passwords build into the firmware. Even swapping the controller of the password-protected hard disk with exactly the same controller from an unprotected HD will not remove the protection on most disks, as the password (together with most of the firmware) is also stored on the hard disk itself.
The only way of retrieving any files from a password protected hard disk without knowing the password is to send it to a data recovery company for unlocking, but not all data recovery companies could or would unlock a password protected HD.
In this time of rising identity theft, protecting your personal data by locking your hard disk with a password is indeed a good idea. The downside is that when the HD eventually malfunctions it will be harder or even impossible to retrieve any files from it. So, the first rule of using a computer applies here in full strength – “Your data is only as good as your latest backup”!
Since this password protect is build in HDs?
Never heard about that!
If that pw does really excist, why are there several crypt-tools like TrueCrypt?
g
Mario
i have an Acer laptop model 4220 window xp pentium 4
if i turn it on it will display ” start window normally, save mode, network mode and command mode. if i choose any of the options it will not work 4me. and it can not boot from cd Room if should press f2 it will demand 4 utility setup password. and i have forgoton the password
i remove the cmos battery 4 some time and it dos’nt work so what should i do ?
for the people who needs to get there notebook unlocked by hdd or bios. We support almost every brand. Please contact us at our e-mail address for more information.
My husband was on my dell laptop inspiron 1501 computer and he said the computer just shut off and when he turned it back on it asked for a HDD password! Now i cant access my info! how do i find my hdd password? plz help!!
this hdd password is on my laptop 18401284. can anybody tell me what this
i have a problem with my acer one, someone put a hdd password and i don’t know how to remove it, i reset the bios but nothing happend still the same thing.
how to set the pass word for hard drive in vista?
Discovering betas softwares, Windows Vista crash in my laptop, when I intent reinstall was so dificulty, press any bottom, DEL,ESC F2 and TAB, untill it run the installation, but when I rebbot, appeared a screen with mesage “ENTER PASSWORD”, before appeared “HD DISABLED”.
Since, I cannot acess the resouces of F2 page, wich I was using to enable hd read DVD in first place,
to read end install VISTA DVD and install it…
What can I do for disabled this password requirement that disable F2 buttom and administrative services?
I have a tropix laptop but it has an HDD password which I forgot. How can I unlock the computer? someone help out there. Thanks.
Samuel.
I set an HD password really by accident and I can’t figure out how to remove it. I do know the password I just dont like typing it in everytime I boot up and don’t need it. How the hell do I remove this thing?