Password known, but can't unlock HP laptop's TravelStar HDD.

My nx9420 has been sent in for repair. In the mean time, I'm trying to access my data on my DriveLock protected SATA drive.

I know the password, but when I tried to unlock the drive with mhdd, it returned "failed".

I have come to understand that some laptop manufacturers use scan codes or even encrypted passwords instead of sending the password as raw ASCII to the ATA drive. (What morons!)

Does anyone know how I can convert my ASCII password to the HP/COMPAQ format?

My password contains shifted characters. (e.g., it has characters like % and $ in it.) Since scan codes use make/break pairs, I don't understand how this would be coded. I don't know if the break codes are included, either. I don't even know for sure that HP uses scan codes.

The model number of the laptop and hard drive are:

HP/Compaq NX9420
Hitachi Travelstar HTS541010G9SA00 (a 5K100 I believe)

Thanks so much for your help!

-Chiem

Have you tried connecting the HDD up to a pretty recent PC?

Any new BIOS should pick up the fact that the HDD is P/W protected and prompt you for it. Once successfully entered, you can then go into the BIOS and disable the P/W.

Sean

HP laptops do not lock drives with the same password you enter (the password is modified first then sent). That is why unlocking fails...

maysoft wrote:HP laptops do not lock drives with the same password you enter (the password is modified first then sent). That is why unlocking fails...

Yes, I understand this. I'm trying to find out if anyone knows HOW the password is modified, so I can calculate the "true" password from my password.

Changing the password isn't smart -- it isn't any more secure than using the customer's password straight out, and it can become a liability later, as in this case. Whoever decided to do it this way should be hung by their toenails!

Did you try PC3000-PCI?

No way you can calculate it.
That'd make no sense for laptop manufacturer.
You will have to wait until you laptop comes from repair or you can try A-FF tool for $50.

a freind at hp forums helped me once to calculate my password from some id in the bios , but i dont remember any thing about it , but believe me its easy at all , if you dont have the pc , you cant get the id to unlock it with help from people at the hp forums

Unfortunately this is usless.
HP only provide a kind of "factory" pass for their products.
But you can't unlock your hdd with it.

you do need PC3000 to unlock this drive,

AFF repair station can unlock some drives, but most IBM drives need contact points on PCB to be shorted with a special probe to unlock.

pcimage wrote:you do need PC3000 to unlock this drive,

AFF repair station can unlock some drives, but most IBM drives need contact points on PCB to be shorted with a special probe to unlock.

Go for buy pc3000 for single drive :?: