My hardisk is locked with an ATA-password, MHDD says so as well.
If the application doesnt accept my password, how can I unlock the drive in a way that no password is required resulting in loss of all data, but disc would be usable again? Which are the exact commands for doing this?

Lovely software by the way, keep it going:-)

If you know "Master password" for you drive, you can unlock drive with master password (security level high) or clear drive with removing password (security level maximum)

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best regards, vi http://www.scspb.ru/pchdd/ http://pchdd.narod.ru

Thanx for the fast reply:-)

Maxtor support said there is no Master Password for that drive.
Originally this drive was an external hardrive which came with a security software to unlock/lock the drive. So that password I know which it is, but MHDD says it's not correct.
I can't use the "unlocking software" that came with the drive because the controller in the cabin is "down".

What you posted are the commands?

MHDD says the password is incorrect, so my alternative is to erase password + all data on the disk. To do exactly what I mentioned which is the right command?

Thanx on forehand:-)

Since the controller is down I took out the drive from the cabin, and put it into a local PC.

Certainly, manufacturers never give such password to end users. And i don't sure what "support" know anything about it

If you read ATA standart - you see what "Master password" _must_ be implemented...


Well, good security software must change "Master Password", if it made so - you can try ask security software manufacturer.

If it not answer - no luck


This is what can be made if you know "master password"...

Certainly there are methods of removal of the password with which professional repairmen can unlock drive without "master password", but this is our business (don't expect free help) and require knowledge...

ps Try find the same external enclosure (model must be the same), and try remove password with you known "user password" ( you can't unlock drive with you password directly in mhdd because usually such box change typed passwords )

_________________
best regards, vi http://www.scspb.ru/pchdd/ http://pchdd.narod.ru

Thank you for the long/proffesional reply:-)

I understand what you mean and I agree. But I heard it is no problem in deleting whatever password in a way that it completely erases the password + all data on the disk. So I loose all data, but disk is unlocked and can be formatted with Windows.

It is not possible to purchase a new cabin, i asked.

I talked with the manufacturer of the software, no useful reply.

They simply say: only way now is use MHDD or similar software and unlock with the same password I made. I did that MHDD doesnt accept it, so I also think that the controller changes/modifies the password.

Only alternative left is erasing lock password + data, which I heard non-proffesionals can do easily with for example MHDD + the right command.

Am I right?

I sent an email to the manufacturer, so those who replied must have been the ones who know? Well doesnt matter, I only want to be able to use the disk again even if I loose all data.

The manufacturer would give you masterpassword if I can prove I bought the disk, maybe? Well I'm sure you have more much more experience than me at this point.

Does it mean that the erasing password/data only works after the master password is typed.

Does the unlocking only include userpassword?
I mean for beeing able to access the disk (loose all data) again, I have to remove masterpassword as well as userpassword? Or only removing WHICH of these passwords is enough to unlock the drive in a way that Windows can access/comunicate with it again?

If I want to save all data on disk then I need proffessional/expensive help which isnt even guaranteed? I prefer erasing

I must really sa that your answers slowly makes me understand how this whole thing works, even though I havnt fixed it, I learnt a couple of things today as well .

Thank you again, I really appreciate every word from any proffessional!

A utility that tells me if it is userpassword or masterpassword that actually is locking the drive at this moment.

MHDD shows this? Or any other freeware?

Another application I tried instead of MHDD says the following about the drive: maximum security.

Is it possible that the drive is locked by userpassword and masterpassword at the same time?

1. drive can't be locked with master password, drive always locked with user password.

2. you can only change master password(for unlocked drive), or break drive locking with it

3. if security high you can just unlock drive with master password with saved data, if security maximum (your case) you can clear all data & password, but need KNOW master password for this.

If you have master password, you can run mhdd fast erase(or quick erase? see mhdd docs for detail, about erase asking about password )



If you can get answer from cabin manufacturer, ask what they made with you user password, before send it to the drive. All password has 32 bytes length, if you type 4 bytes as password (for example) software must add some bytes to the end of string (usually space or zero ) to make it 32 bytes long, if password not cripted mhdd can add wrong char to the tail of it...

_________________
best regards, vi http://www.scspb.ru/pchdd/ http://pchdd.narod.ru

Util what can show current password must use engineering backdoor, so i don't think you can see this in freeware...

_________________
best regards, vi http://www.scspb.ru/pchdd/ http://pchdd.narod.ru

This guys claim that their software can remove ATA password from Maxtor drive.
http://a-ff.com/products/rrs/drives/