Hello,

In order to leverage the internal AES encryption of this disk, I enabled the ATA user password of this disk (using an Asrock motherboard with their official modified BIOS). Everything is working perfectly.

But I read that there is a master password that can decrypt the disk without needing the user password. The BIOS supports changing the master password if and only if the disk is unlocked with the master password. So I want to change it to enhance the security.

According to the official spec, this disk "is shipped with master password set to 20h value (ASCII blanks)". I tried with every possible combination of 1-32 spaces but it's always incorrect.

I also contacted support and they told me that "a master password is not available for distribution" (does that mean that there is a default master password but they don't want to tell me?).

Does anybody know the ATA master password for the Samsung SSD 840 PRO?

Thank you.

There are two security levels in drives: High and Maximum. When security level is High you could get access to user data using User or Master password. But if the security level is Maximum you'll be able to get access to data using User password only. Or you could unlock your drive using Master password with all data erased (if you forgot your User pswd). So try to change the security level. Check if BIOS can do that.
If cant, try to find some software that can set passwords to drive (e.g. Victoria). And change the master password using it.

Hi ssdguy, were you able to get the master password to work?
I have a Samsung SSD for Datacenter locked with security level set to high and I want to security erase the drive to the factory settings, any idea how I can do without both the passwords?
Any suggestions would be appreciated......
Thx

If it's just for erasing, why don't you use Samsungs own tool?
http://www.samsung.com/global/business/ ... loads.html

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Rescue IT Datarecovery service Sweden
Rescue IT Dataräddning Göteborg AB
http://www.rescue-it.se