HDD GURU FORUMS

The problem drive is a Seagate ST1000LM038 in external case "UltraTouch Backup Plus drive".

Without the USB-adapter the drive looks like no physical problems. I can read all sys files, modules and user data sectors but the drive is locked over the USB-adapter.
If I don´t use the USB-adapter I see one 6MB partiton with software and the full rest are only "00". I order an identical drive and make new encryption on the doner drive and put data on it.
If you unlocked the doner drive you can see all data and a hex editor show you hex data in the user data area. If the drive is locked or you don´t use the USB-adapter you see one 6MB partition with software and the rest are onyl "00".

This drive have problem with the unlock function (see the picture) I can not unlocked the drive.
Seagate must use for this drive a hardware encryption. "https://www.seagate.com/de/de/support/external-hard-drives/portable-hard-drives/backup-plus-ultra-touch/".

Anyone an idea?

Thanks

Experiment with the new drive.

Compare the contents of the SA and USB flash memory before and after locking.

How many sectors does the USB mass storage device report to the OS? Is it less than the native capacity of the HDD? If yes, then there must be some reserved space at the end of the UA which is being used by the bridge firmware.

I check sector counts with unlocked over USB-adapter and on SATA direct (locked),
only one is the different (pls see attachment).

I can SA only check on SATA direct (locked) because SA reading is only possible in "Tech Mode" (Patch) and what do you mean with "USB flash memory"?

Sorry, I meant the 8-pin serial flash memory ("ROM") on the USB-SATA bridge PCB.

It looks like the bridge firmware is reporting one less sector, so perhaps there is something in that last sector.

I can read the ROM with my "RUS V5000" on the USB-SATA bridge PCB only if the USB kabel is not connected.

Where is the password stored, if anywhere?

it must be on the hard drive because I try the patient USB-SATA bridge on the new drive and I can unlock the new drive with patient USB-SATA bridge