Unlocking Samsung SSD 256 Gb - 7PC256HAFU ATA Password

[ghaliloo]

Hi,
I bought a used Samsung SSD 256 GB - 830 series, and unfortunately I discovered that it is locked using an ATA BIOS password, so each time I restart the laptop, the BIOS displays a white screen asking me the SSD drive ATA password, I read a lot of threads on the net on how to remove this password by making a secure erase and I applied them, especially this topic http://www.overclockers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=649711, but unfortunately none of them works for me.
With HDDErase 3.3, it doesn't even detect the SSD, I tried with all options jmicron, UBM..., Non UB..., connected the SSD from an external USB case and loading USB drivers in order to make it detected by HDDERase in DOS mode, changed the USB port, making it internal, switching between ATA and SATA in the BIOS of my DELL Latitude D830, but no success, HDDErase 3.3 displays all the time:
P0 none
P1 none

HDDErase 4.0 freezes at the verbose screen and not even load.

With Parted Magic version 08/01/2013 (included in UBCD last release), if I connect the SSD in ATA mode or USB mode it is detected by Parted Magic and also by Disk Eraser tool, I can chose [Internal secure erase…..] (the last option from the list), it ask me if I know what I am going to do, then it tells me "that an advanced mode is present and therefore can be used, click [Yes] to perform it or [No] to proceed with current mode", I end with the same error in both cases and the process stops, the error message says that "An error has occurred ... try to disable SMART attributes...", I disable this attributes and retry but no success.

Static solid drive's infos:

P/N: MZ7PC256HAFU-0CE0
Model: MZ-7PC256
Made in Korea (not a Chinese clone)

Any help I will be very thankful because I really need it to work and my head will explode due to number of attempts I made without any success

[labtech]

Have you consulted the manufacturer for a solution? If yes, then what did they suggest? Upon implementing their suggestion, what was the outcome?

[ghaliloo]

Hi labtech,
Thanks for the reply, unfortunately, the manufacture answers me that if the SSD is protected by an ATA password you must remember it else you are not the initial owner and therefore you don't have the right to access data on it!!!
And as I said it is a used one not an new one.

Any help

[labtech]

Where did you buy it from? Can you produce some sort of receipt (paper or digital)? Maybe you can get the original owner to write a letter confirming it has been sold to you? Etc.

The point is, does the manufacturer have a solution or not that it is more or less proven to work? This is what you care most about finding out.

[ghaliloo]

Thanks again,
a person makes an offer in the web and I bought it from him, I don't have any paper proven that I am the owner except PayPal transaction, and because I didn't bought it from Samsung store directly, they won't give me solution, so now what I looking for is to unlock it using tools like HDDErase, Parted Magic...
Samsung's staff had to be forgotten, they are always like that, alot of questions and after they told you "sorry..."

[labtech]

This is pertaining to a 840 Series, but likely is applicable to 830 series as well.
From Samsung SSD white paper (http://www.samsung.com/global/business/ ... _Paper.pdf):
----------------------------
Enabling AES Encryption
AES encryption is always active on an 840 or 840 Pro Series SSD. In order to benefit from the encryption feature,
however, the user must enable an ATA password to limit access to the data. Failure to do so will render AES-encryption
ineffective – akin to having a safe but leaving the door wide open. To set an ATA password, simply access the BIOS,
navigate to the “Security” menu, enable “Password on boot” and set an “HDD Password.” Administrators also have the
option of setting a “Master Password,” which can allow a lost user password (“HDD Password) to be recovered. The “Master
Password” may also be used to unlock and/or erase the drive (depending on the settings), effectively destroying, and
thus protecting, the data but allowing the drive to be reused. The setup procedure may differ slightly depending on the
BIOS version installed on a particular machine. It is best to consult the user manual if there is any confusion.
----------------------------
So, what you would need is the master password, from either previous owner's manual or if there is a generic/standard one, which there should be per logic and purpose of "allowing the drive to be reused", from the manufacturer. The point is conveying to the manufacturer that you do not care for the data, but you just want a functional device.

Or

Check here too (http://www.samsung.com/us/pdf/memory-st ... I_Spec.pdf)
5.2.4 Lost Password
If the user password is lost and High level security is set, the drive does not allow the user to access any data.
However, the drive can be unlocked using the master password.
If the user password is lost and Maximum security level is set, it is impossible to access data.
However, the drive can be unlocked using the ERASE UNIT command with the master password. The drive will erase all user data and unlock the drive.

[BlackST]

It seems it was bought from Ebay or so, but the origin is "unknown" or it can perfectly be a part pulled out from a laptop or other PC (another unknown story....)

I could probably help but in this case, a transaction record is not enough for me, sorry.

If it wasn't clearly stated that the SSD was a pull AND it was locked (uh... I love when on ebay or so they sell drives "to be tested" and they do not refund.... - usually I read it : I try to make some money from all this c**p / junk I have around here) you have a small chance to fill a claim and send it back asking for a refund . Otherwise, you have to find someone who don't ask questions and have the necessay know how to solve the problem.

@labtech, if the master PW was changed too, and this is the scenario on many laptops/systems, it is impossible "at user level" to do anything.

[bubaleh]

if the master PW was changed too, and this is the scenario on many laptops/systems, it is impossible "at user level" to do anything.

Not exactly. Some of the present drives (hdd and ssd) support one feature that is known as "cryptographic erase". For this drives PW may be reseted by sending crypto erase command with special key. This key is usually called PSID and vendors print it on the drives label near the serial number. For example, Samsung 840 EVO series support this feature. Probably 830 support too.

ghaliloo, try to look for PSID on the drives label. If you will find it, then it is possible to unlock your drive.

Actually, i've never tried to unlock drives by crypto erase, so i dont know how to send this command to drive. Hope somebody here knows it. Would be interesting to hear.
If nobody knows, I can try to find out it..

[BlackST]

if the master PW was changed too, and this is the scenario on many laptops/systems, it is impossible "at user level" to do anything.

Not exactly. Some of the present drives (hdd and ssd) support one feature that is known as "cryptographic erase". For this drives PW may be reseted by sending crypto erase command with special key. This key is usually called PSID and vendors print it on the drives label near the serial number. For example, Samsung 840 EVO series support this feature. Probably 830 support too.

ghaliloo, try to look for PSID on the drives label. If you will find it, then it is possible to unlock your drive.

Actually, i've never tried to unlock drives by crypto erase, so i dont know how to send this command to drive. Hope somebody here knows it. Would be interesting to hear.
If nobody knows, I can try to find out it..

I didn't mention the crypto intentionally.

[tyrdonar]

if the master PW was changed too, and this is the scenario on many laptops/systems, it is impossible "at user level" to do anything.

Not exactly. Some of the present drives (hdd and ssd) support one feature that is known as "cryptographic erase". For this drives PW may be reseted by sending crypto erase command with special key. This key is usually called PSID and vendors print it on the drives label near the serial number. For example, Samsung 840 EVO series support this feature. Probably 830 support too.

ghaliloo, try to look for PSID on the drives label. If you will find it, then it is possible to unlock your drive.

Actually, i've never tried to unlock drives by crypto erase, so i dont know how to send this command to drive. Hope somebody here knows it. Would be interesting to hear.
If nobody knows, I can try to find out it..

I didn't mention the crypto intentionally.

I guess "at user level' is pretty vague considering the talent of some of the people here

[BlackST]

If we are talking about the OP, that's what I call "user level".

Unless things are not exactly as depicted / written....

[labtech]

@labtech, if the master PW was changed too, and this is the scenario on many laptops/systems, it is impossible "at user level" to do anything.

Well, I guess the OP got lots of homework to do to determine what is what...

Nevertheless, it is an interesting topic.

[fzabkar]

FWIW ...

Here is Seagate's white paper on the subject:
http://www.seagate.com/files/www-conten ... 1203us.pdf

SeaTools for Windows supports "Self-Encrypting Drive Instant Secure Erase":
http://www.seagate.com/staticfiles/supp ... .en-US.pdf

"Once this menu item is selected the user will need to enter the PSID (Physical Security IDentification number) password located on the drive label. This is a 32 number & capital letter sequence at the top of the label. Enter the PSID without spaces. It can also be read by 2D barcode reader."

[fzabkar]

http://www.samsung.com/global/business/ ... _Rev11.pdf

"The Samsung SSD 840 EVO introduces two important features for data security: hardware-based AES 256bit Full Disk Encryption (FDE) and PSID. Hardware-based AES Encryption helps safeguard data against attack by encrypting all information on the disk at the hardware level, which means there is no detrimental effect on performance. When you forget your SSD security password, PSID protects your data on the drive by executing a cryptographic erase which returns the drive to its factory status, preventing any unauthorized access to your data."

Sounds like user level to me ...

[fzabkar]

Samsung's SSD Magician software supports ATA Secure Erase. Perhaps it also supports "cryptographic erase" (isn't it essentially the same thing, albeit with a special password aka PSID?).

http://www.xander.com.hk/product/produc ... al_500.pdf

[bubaleh]

If i'm not mistaken, samsung ssd Magican tool can make secure erase only of the security unlocked drive. I think there is another extended version of this tool, that has crypto erase function, but probably it is distributed only for authorized service centers...

[ghaliloo]

Hello all,
Thanks for you replies.
The Samsung magician can perform secure erase and firmware update only if the SSD is unlocked, if it is locked it isn't even detected!!!
I downloaded Samsung Firmware updater specific to this model from this link http://www.samsung.com/us/support/owners/product/MZ-7PC256D#firmware (an ISO file) and created a bootable USB flash, I can boot to Samsung Firmware updater under DOS, but unfortunately, after it make devices scan, it doesn't detect the SSD
I tried also with hdparm ATA SECURITY options under linux terminal, and none off them worked

Is there any why to get the MCX controller flashed or to reset its firmware to factory default by short-circuiting it?

Thanks in advance

[max00r]

I have this problem too.
I bought 3 disk samsung 840 PRO. Locked with master password.
Is possibly to clear this disk at home, or only option is samsung service?
please help

[SebbaG]

PUSH!

After more than 2 years, does anyone know any method to reset the ssd to its initial state?
(All the above steps have been worked through without success)

thx in advance

[King-Arthur]

Hello, I'm new here but I hope somebody can give me some ideas how I can solve my problem.

I bought the same SSD HDD (Samsung MZ-7PC256), like the one from the first post. It is secured
with a ATA password. I just want to erase the drive and use it as normal. I dont care for the files
that are stored on the HDD right now.

I tried to unlock the drive with MHDD and a master password, but the password seems to be wrong (32 times "t").
Can someone help me to solve my problem?