Hi,

Someone gave me a HDD to try to unlock, I don't know why it was locked, but the password was forgotten.

I've been reading this forum post unlocking-ata-password-for-western-digital-t8374.html but I didn't see any post that would let MHDD 4.5 run a script with vendor specific commands. The HDD security is set to MAX. So...

Does anyone know the vendor specific commands for this model, and can hopefully help me with a script that would allow the password to be saved to a file?

Two Windows software solutions claim to be able to unlock the drive, A-FF HDD Unlock Wizard, and A-FF Repair Station. How do they do it? If they can do it, theoretically one could use MHDD 4.5 to do it, no?

Thanks!

Practically, no.

Why not exactly?

It's a long story, so "No" is the easy answer!!!

I understand, you can't even begin to describe the limitations in general terms. I think mainly A-FF and others need to keep their research to themselves so they can actually make money.

Two questions come to mind

Why did he give it to you ?
Why did you accept the drive if you don't know how to do the job?

Information on retrieving hard drive passwords is unavailable for the
same reason the passwords are there, Data security.

I can unlock it with the right KH and/or gear, but you need to pay AND sign an agreement where you assume all responsibilities about data and drive ownership. Nobody want to be sued or have big troubles from potentially stolen stuff. That's it.

1) He gave it to me because he ran out of ideas, and he isn't familiar with MHDD.
2) There's nothing to lose, we don't care about the drive except to free it up for storage. So, basically to see if could be done, for the challenge, and for the experience.
3) The data isn't secure if A-FF can unlock the drive over the internet. The data isn't secure if a product like PC-3000 can unlock it. Only strong encryption will protect data, if properly implemented.

This I can understand. Of course you don't want to get sued. What does KH stand for?

It is not very often that you come across a 3.5" with a password unless it was in a DVR or an external case where someone wanted to keep their data secure.

If you want to unlock it and use the drive (without the data) search this forum for maxtor master password

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