Hi all,

A friend gave me a HDD (ST3250312CS) which is locked by ATA password. I looked around and it seems I can unlock it with the RS232 interface. Am I right?

Doing the interface isn't a problem, but the soft I found to use it: SeDiv, doesn't list Pipeline HD family. Is there something I can do to use SeDiv?

I also found Victoria, but the interface is in Russian, so it's unusable for me :/

Are there other soft I could use?

Thanks for your help

For all the hassles you will get trying to get this 250GB unlocked with free utility, it is better to buy new disk.

Sur it's much easier, I don't really need this HD. I just wanted to do that for fun, as a chanllenge.

Then you must proceed on your own.

Otherwise, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE AND NOT ADVISABLE AS IT MAY GIVE SERIOUS PROBLEMS (NOT LIMITED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT) TO OPENLY GIVE INFO THAT MAY BE EVENTUALLY USED FOR UNLAWFUL PURPOSE , for example (but not limited to...) arbitrary access to someone else data or recycle of stolen equipment/drives.

Sure it is not this case but also sure you'll understand this point of view.

Of course it's not this case (just having fun playing with the HD), and of course I understand this point of view. For the moment I don't have required skills to send RS232 commands to the HD myself, it's why I was looking for a soft that could help me. But ok if it's not politically correct to help me, I'll just give up.

Thanks anyway for the replies.

PS: capital letters are not easy to read, bold + underline sounds enough

Note : "simple" RS232 command won't help in any case.

The capital letters + bold + u.l. was intentionally used as many people seem either not to read or... they are shortsighted It was intended "in general"

It's why I need to find documentation and read about all that to see what I can do to read /write the vendor track.

There is no documentation

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You don't have to backup all of your files, just the ones you want to keep.

ok, so no way to learn, and you cannot share your knoledge for the reason above mentioned, that I understand. Too sad I cannot play with it :/

Maybe I can try SeDiv using a random family? Does this have any chance to work? Are there many differences between all the families?

" Are there many differences between all the families?"

Yes

"Does this have any chance to work?"

It depends If you try to write data on the wrong place you have a screwed drive in return.

Hint : if you really want the drive , go to the nearest pro (they will probably ask a proof of ownership or to sign a declaration of resposnibility) and I'm sure they can unlock+erase the drive for few, on simply unlock for some more.

I don't care to burn / destroy the drive. If I can get a backup drive, why not, but if it dies, it dies. And I don't want to ask anyone to do it, as I said, my goal is to have fun trying.

I'll build the RS232 interface and see what I can do with it.