Locked Smartware

[hdrescue]

Hello guys,

If possible I need some help on this case.

WD7500KMVV USB 2.0 pcb with initio chip. The drive are protected by password. Pcb and heads were bad, I replace heads and use a compatible sata pcb. From the total 1 465 149 168 sectors I was able to copy the first 520 000 000 sectors and a couple os millions from the end.

Like I can see I was able to copy the sector containing the password. I put the image in 3.5 drive and use a board with initio chip. The drive is recognised but is shows "writing protected". The VCD partition don´t mount. Running R-Studio I can see the HFS+ partition but need to make a scan to see the smatware files. Not sure if is missing part of it, maybe that´s the reason.

Is possible to get the VCD partition from other drive and add that area to patient drive? Any other options?

Need your help guys

Thanks in advance

[Touchclarity]

You don't say if your target drive was the same capacity and the source - it will need to be.

Manually download WD Smartware and install it to your PC, this should allow you to detect and unlock the drive..... had a case similar to this a short while ago, it worked for me....

[hdrescue]

Thanks for your reply Touchclarity.

I´m using a 1.5Tb hard drive but I have limited the drive to the same lba as the patient drive.

I have downloaded the WD smartware and install it but the drive is not recognise by the app. I suppose this is happening because the VCD partition can´t mount...

[loki]

Just to confirm is the target drive a WD?

Loki

[hdrescue]

No.. is a Samsung. Is that a problem?

Thanks

[Touchclarity]

I have cracked these cases before using a range of different makes of target drive. Initially used a cropped down 500GB Western Digital target for a 320GB transfer,... This didn't work, replaced the target with a 320GB Samsung....and success!!...

My advice would be to use a 750GB target, and if it's WD ....then even better...

[loki]

No.. is a Samsung. Is that a problem?

Thanks

With My Books or Passports I would always go WD to WD I'd check this first.

Also you say "I was able to copy the sector containing the password. I put the image in 3.5 drive and use a board with initio chip. The drive is recognised but is shows "writing protected" "

This indicates that either the user has enabled the Smartware Password or there are other issues ie maybe self lock.
If the user has enabled the Smartware Password do you know it?

Loki

PS I see Touchclarity has also replied while I was typing

[hdrescue]

I have cracked these cases before using a range of different makes of target drive. Initially used a cropped down 500GB Western Digital target for a 320GB transfer,... This didn't work, replaced the target with a 320GB Samsung....and success!!...

My advice would be to use a 750GB target, and if it's WD ....then even better...

I did it before with drives from other brands and got no issues but I will try it. Let you know latter.

[hdrescue]

No.. is a Samsung. Is that a problem?

Thanks

With My Books or Passports I would always go WD to WD I'd check this first.

Also you say "I was able to copy the sector containing the password. I put the image in 3.5 drive and use a board with initio chip. The drive is recognised but is shows "writing protected" "

This indicates that either the user has enabled the Smartware Password or there are other issues ie maybe self lock.
If the user has enabled the Smartware Password do you know it?

Loki

PS I see Touchclarity has also replied while I was typing

Hi Loki

Yes the user was using password on Smartware but I have it.

[pcimage]

I've never had a problem using other makes and larger capacity of hdd for clones, as long as they are set to EXACTLY the same LBA.

Only problem I've had is with the Oxford encryption board, it wouldn't power up the Caviar Black drive so had to clone that to a Green.

If you have copied the last few million sectors ok and smartware doesn't even tried to mount then something has gone wrong and either the smartware partition is damage or the PEK sector is damaged/corrupt.

[hdrescue]

I tried to copy the image to a WD hard drive but the result was the same.. It seems the smart partition is damaged or not totally copied..

Any ideas what I can do next?

[hdrescue]

Is there any chance to get this vcd partition from other drive with initio chip and add it to this one? not sure if is the same in every drive..

[lcoughey]

Too bad you didn't just change heads and clone with DDI USB add-on.

[hdrescue]

yeah that was the best option but pcb was damaged too. I´m using a compatible SATA.

[DR-Kiev]

You did mistake with limiting size.
VCD parition have to be mounted if it located on right place (for this very important max LBA )

[hdrescue]

Hello DR-Kiev,

I´m sure that I have correctly limited the LBA to the same as patient drive.

I was thinking, not sure if this is the case but if the patient drive have different size per sector from the image drive can that have something to do?

[DR-Kiev]

First of all , you don't need that damn VCD partition on the drive . You can run Smartware sw from the local drive. It is much more important to put original master key sector on its place . Drive size doesn't matter, it is matter that position according to the size.
Moreover , for older Inic Fw versions , it doesn't accept none WD drives . It is works with SA .
And one more thing, if you got that need area on the back, it doesn't mean you have correct master-key.
Inic FW was buggy the way key can be messed itself (incorrect changeover from pc RAM)

[hdrescue]

The image drive I´m using is a 1Tb hard drive. In what sector should be the key if the drive is with original LBA?