DriveLock

[gman4dx266]

To anyone who can help or shed light on my situation,

I just bought a used laptop off ebay...not too old (Pentium IV, 512, 30 gig, etc)

The reason it was cheap is because it had a bios password hard drive lock. I have read for hours on end about hard drive passwords and how they're usually/almost always in the drives' firmware. Ive read up on utilities like MHDD, ATAPWD, as well as MASTID. I havent tried MHDD or ATAPWD yet, as ive read that they're pretty much useless/the wrong tool for the job at hand. I used MASTID to try and convert the bios hdd ID into a password, but the code provided does not work. All i really want to do is wipe the drive; basically low level format and start from scratch completely. Right now i just swapped drives in the computer to be able to use it until i find a solution to wipe the drive that is locked. I do not want to spend any money on this computer, as it is not worth it. I am willing to work with it pretty diligently, though.

Thanks to anyone who helps!

[pcimage]

What's the make and model of the HDD?

[rameez]

You need professional tools like pc3k pci to remove pwd on laptop drives also some hdd require probe as well as the tool .

[gman4dx266]

Its a 30 gig hatachi travelstar. Not sure of the exact model #, as im not at home right now.

Rameez, I was hoping you wouldnt say something like that lol. Thats not what i wanted to hear.

[pcimage]

Well gman,

Sorry to say, but if it's a 30Gb Hitachi (probably ATMR or ATCS) then you're outta luck.

These definitely require special probes and PC3000 to unlock, impossible without. Don't even waste your time trying, even a forced erase with AFF Repair station (at $59 or whatever it is) will NOT do it.

You in UK? If so, I'll do you a real good deal!

PM me for details.

Cheers

Sean

[hddguy]

What is the model number of your hard drive?

[Starling]

Can MHDD do Security Erase?

[pepe]

Hi,

yes, it can. The FastErase function works through Security Erase.

pepe

[Amarbir[CDR-Labs]]

Hi Guys,
Reading The ATA Standards Really Help DR Work Also And Also Provides Solid Understanding About Software/Hardware

[algi49]

gman4dx266, Please can you post or send a link to download "mastid.exe" I would like to try it - unable to find it anywhere on the internet

[einstein9]

To anyone who can help or shed light on my situation,

I just bought a used laptop off ebay...not too old (Pentium IV, 512, 30 gig, etc)

The reason it was cheap is because it had a bios password hard drive lock. I have read for hours on end about hard drive passwords and how they're usually/almost always in the drives' firmware. Ive read up on utilities like MHDD, ATAPWD, as well as MASTID. I havent tried MHDD or ATAPWD yet, as ive read that they're pretty much useless/the wrong tool for the job at hand. I used MASTID to try and convert the bios hdd ID into a password, but the code provided does not work. All i really want to do is wipe the drive; basically low level format and start from scratch completely. Right now i just swapped drives in the computer to be able to use it until i find a solution to wipe the drive that is locked. I do not want to spend any money on this computer, as it is not worth it. I am willing to work with it pretty diligently, though.

Thanks to anyone who helps!

Which laptop BRAND? & MODEL

[dick]

Hard drive would have turned to dust by now as this thread is more than 5 years old.

[einstein9]

Hard drive would have turned to dust by now as this thread is more than 5 years old.

heheh ur damn right, how come i did not pay attention to post date