I have a SATA hard drive from a dead laptop from which I'd like to retrieve the data. However, the hard drive has a password applied. I was the one who originally set the password, so of course I know what it is.

I'm looking for some way to remove the password. I can't do it through the BIOS of the computer where the password was set, because, as I said, that computer is now dead.

I came across the MHDD utility on this site, and it looks like it might be helpful to me.
Could someone tell me if it's possible for me to use MHDD to access the hard drive in question if the hard drive was connected to the computer with a SATA-USB adapter cable?

Thanks for your insight.

Hi there !

First of all you will have to connect the drive directly by SATA/IDE to a desktop computer, for example.

Then the BIOS of your laptop most likely "hashed" the password that you set, meaning that the password that the BIOS set on the HDD will most likely NOT BE THE SAME that you have typed so you will not be able to unlock the drive that way (most likely).

What is the full model of the drive you want to unlock ?

Regards.

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Please read :

http://www.hddoracle.com/viewtopic.php?f=95&t=614

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Thanks for the quick reply.
The drive is from a Lenovo S10-2 laptop. It says on it:
Hitachi
5K500.B-250
HTS545025B9A300

Ok ...

Not good....

I think that your Lenovo will hash the passwords ...

Your drive is Hitachi native 2.5 so it might not be easy to unlock ....

At this point you may consider to send the drive to a specialized data recovery firm for unlocking, or you might want to get another Lenove like yours and try to place the drive there and insert your password again .... Or you can try something like ZU :

http://www.hddoracle.com/viewtopic.php?f=95&t=166

You will need to set BIOS to IDE compatible mode, plug the drive directly to motherboard and read here : - http://www.hddoracle.com/viewtopic.php?f=95&t=166#p1555

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So if the password is hashed, then the information in your link about keyboard scan codes is irrelevant, right?

Also, in your last link about ZU, it specifically lists my drive as one that is not supported.

I guess that leaves me with only two options - try to find a working Lenovo S10-2, or try to have mine fixed. I'm wary about the second option as I fear I may pay for the service only to find out that the laptop is beyond repair.

Thanks for your help. At least it stops me from barking up the wrong tree.

Yes, I guess you are right,
You might need to set up the same BIOS password first on the other Lenovo laptop, unless it's a specific HDD password. Sometimes laptop BIOS will have a SINGLE pasword to lock the drive and BIOS and access to the BIOS boot up, if that is the case you might have to set the password first, insert the drive, etc ...

Alternatives are to send the drive to a data recovery firm with tools to unlock it or buy something like MRT Pro (and pocket out $400 - $500 for 30 days use license) and unlock it yourself.

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In the thread on hddoracle.com with guidelines on using ZU <http://hddoracle.com/viewtopic.php?f=95&t=166#p1555>, there are some "scary" instructions that apply to my situation:



Can somebody explain this to a "newbie" who has never messed with a hard drive before? What is NVRAM? What does it mean to short specific points on the PCB? How does one "apply power to the controller while it is disconnected from the HDA"? Indeed, what is the controller and what is the HDA? Is there a labelled image that would show me "the 2 screws on the controller on the side opposite the interface"?

Thanks!