Resetting your hard drive password. Removing the ATA password from the drive (unlock ATA password HDD) How to remove the password from the disk

Removing the password on the laptop's hard drive and BIOS is a fairly common problem that users often encounter. There are several methods (utilities) that can help you remove your password. At this point in time, many utilities are popular in solving this problem. To correct this situation, you need to follow certain rules.

You will need

Instructions

If you set a password and forgot it, these programs will be useful to you:

BIOS_PW.EXE (18KB) to remove the computer BIOS password.

HDD_PW.EXE (18KB) to remove the password from the hard drive.

Read more about unlocking your password. First you need to find out the error code.

To do this, press “F2” during boot and enter the incorrect password three times.

Next, the system will display “System Disabled.

Launch the MS-DOS application.

Next, in the DOS window that opens, select the program name.

Enter the five-digit error code, separated by a space, that the laptop gives when the password is entered incorrectly.

Add the number 0 separated by a space.

Now press “Enter”. The program will provide you with several passwords. One of them should fit the BIOS.

After you enter passwords to the BIOS or HDD, do not forget to change them to new ones.

If you try to do the steps described above on a 64-bit platform, difficulties may arise.

The system will display that the utility or component cannot be launched because the program is not compatible with the 64-bit version. The solution is quite simple.

Download DOSBox from the developer’s website, install and run.

First mount drive C. You can do this with the following command: “mount c c:/”.

Then press “F2” again when loading and enter the wrong password three times.

Tip added on November 12, 2011 Tip 2: How to remove a password from a hard drive The password protection function of modern hard drives allows you to protect the contents of the drive without actually encrypting the data using an access restriction method. Using the free MHDD utility, designed to perform various operations with computer hard drives, can help solve the problem of password removal.

You will need

• -MHDD

Instructions

Familiarize yourself with the operating diagram of the hard drive password protection function: - access to the drive can be protected by a high or maximum password level; - a custom protection level can be set using the MHDD application; - the master password set by the hard drive manufacturer can only be changed; - using the master password allows you to unlock the hard drive only with a high level of protection (High); - with the maximum level of protection (Maximum), unlocking the hard drive is possible only when using a user password; - with the maximum level of protection (Maximum) and the absence of a user password, unlocking the hard drive can only be performed by destroying all information using the Security Erase Unit ATA command and confirming the procedure with a master password.

Determine the set protection level using the MHDD utility during the hard drive identification process (function key F2) b use the PWD command to set a user password. This action automatically uses the High protection level.

Use the UNLOCK command in the MHDD program and enter your user password in the appropriate field in the User Password section to perform the hard drive unlock operation.

Select the DISPWD command and enter your user password in the corresponding field of the User Password section to disable the password protection function of the hard drive, or use the master password (if it has not been changed) to perform the necessary operations.

Useful advice Known master passwords: - 32 spaces - for Fujitsu, Hitachi, Toshiba hard drives; - Seagate, padded with spaces up to 32 characters - for Seagate hard drives; - Maxtor INIT SECURITY TEST STEP, padded with spaces up to 32 characters - for Maxtor hard drives;- 32 characters t - for Samsung hard drives; - WDCWDCWDCWDCWDCWDCWDCWDCWDCWDCWD - for Western Digital hard drives. Sources

• Password system of modern drives

How to remove a password from a hard drive - printable version

Situations with laptops locked by BIOS and HDD passwords arise mainly for the following reasons: you installed it and can’t remember the password, or your relatives decided to play with the laptop, installed it and forgot. When replacing HDDs (hard drives), password requests are also possible. What should an ordinary user do in this situation?

There are accessible ways to solve this problem, which you can try to implement yourself, and more complex cases, in which you cannot do without the help of a specialist from service companies with special equipment; we will talk about these two options further.

For this we need:

• Find out the manufacturer and exact model of the laptop, they are on the label under the battery compartment or directly on the underside of its case (bottom). Record this data;
• Find out what prompts in the form of codes the laptop gives on the screen, if any, after several unsuccessful attempts to enter a password in the request window. Write down these codes.

The laptop model and codes are our initial data, then we begin to search for solutions available on laptop manufacturers’ websites and help forums, both paid and free: special utility programs, tables with response codes (ASUS), universal master passwords of laptop manufacturers . Each laptop manufacturer has its own specifics, and we will discuss them below.

The exception is Lenovo laptops (most models) and some Hewlett-Packard models, for which the manufacturer offers only one solution in case of such an incident - replacing the motherboard, but we will talk about this in the second option.

The specifics of obtaining master passwords from laptop manufacturers are as follows:

ASUS

The master password to unlock the laptop is looked at in the password table by date, which will appear after entering 3 incorrect passwords. The date format is, for example, 07-07-08.

SONY

SONY BIOS password generation utility calculates the master password using the last 7 digits of the laptop serial number, which must be entered into the utility field.

Samsung

After 3 attempts to print the password, the laptop shows a message System disabled, Where 12345678901A1234— service code consisting of sixteen letters and numbers. The program will show the master password for the entered service tag, which is printed after launching the utility. Fig.3. Download the utility.

Fujitsu-Siemens

There are 2 utilities available for obtaining master passwords, depending on what error message the laptop displays.

Dell

The utility is offered for Dell laptops in two series: 595B and D35B. After 3 incorrect password entries, the laptop displays System disabled, Where 12ABC1A— service code (seven letters and numbers). The program itself calculates the master password using the entered service tag after launching the utility.

Hewlett-Packard and Compaq

The utility is offered for some models of Hewlett-Packard and Compaq laptops.

After 3 attempts to enter the password, the laptop will display a message System disabled, Where ABC1234ABC— service code (10 arbitrary letters and numbers). The program will calculate the master password using the entered service tag, which must be printed after launching the utility.

InsydeH20 BIOS Notebook Acer, Hewlett-Packard

The utility is offered for some models of Hewlett-Packard and Acer laptops with BIOS InsydeH20. After 3 unsuccessful attempts to enter the password, the laptop will display a message System disabled, Where 12345678 — service code (arbitrary letters and numbers). The program will calculate the master password based on the entered service tag, which must be printed after launching the utility.

Phoenix BIOS Notebook

A utility is offered for laptops with Phoenix BIOS installed. After 3 attempts to enter the password, a message appears System disabled [*], Where * — service code (arbitrary letters and numbers). The program calculates the master password based on the entered service tag, which must be printed after launching the utility.

We turn to specialists for help

It is recommended to start by contacting technical support (Support) of the laptop manufacturer, go to their official website and write a letter. It will be a plus to have a receipt and guarantee; take a photo of these documents and attach it to the letter. Describe in detail the problems that have arisen, the laptop model and the codes that the laptop produces, send it and wait for a response. There are usually two answer options: they can send you a master password, which will immediately unlock your laptop, this is the best option, or they will suggest you contact a local branded service center.

If in response to the letter they suggested contacting a company service, then we call them and clarify the options for solving the problem: remote using a master password or need to take the laptop to them.

Conclusion.

Before setting a password in the laptop BIOS and HDD, read the above-described options for removing passwords in the event of a force majeure situation, so as not to find yourself without a working laptop and to understand the existing methods for solving this problem, their cost, specifically for your laptop model.

All important information for the user is stored on the hard drive. To protect your device from unauthorized access, it is recommended to set a password on it. This can be done using built-in Windows tools or special software.

You can set a password for the entire hard drive or its individual partitions. This is convenient if the user wants to protect only certain files or folders. To secure your entire computer, just use standard administration tools and set a password for your account. To protect an external or desktop hard drive, you will have to use special software.

Method 1: Disk Password Protection

The trial version of the program is available for free download from the official website. Allows you to set a password when logging into individual disks and HDD partitions. However, the locking codes may differ for different logical volumes. How to install protection on a physical disk of a computer:

After this, all files on your computer’s hard drive will be encrypted, and you can only access them after entering your password. The utility allows you to install protection on stationary disks, individual partitions and external USB devices.

Tip: To protect data on your internal drive, you don't need to put a password on it. If other people have access to the computer, then limit their access through administration or configure the hidden display of files and folders.

Method 2: TrueCrypt

The program is distributed free of charge and can be used without installation on a computer (in Portable mode). TrueCrypt Suitable for protecting individual sections of a hard drive or any other storage media. Additionally, it allows you to create encrypted container files.

TrueCrypt only supports MBR hard drives. If you are using a GPT HDD, you will not be able to set a password.

To install a security code on your hard drive via TrueCrypt, follow these steps:

1. Launch the program and in the menu "Volumes" click "Create New Volume".



2. The File Encryption Wizard will open. Select "Encrypt the system partition or entire system drive", if you want to set a password on the drive where Windows is installed. After that click "Next".



3. Specify the encryption type (plain or hidden). We recommend using the first option - "Standard TrueCrypt volume". After that click "Next".



4. Next, the program will ask you to choose whether to encrypt only the system partition or the entire disk. Select the option you want and click "Next". Use "Encrypt the whole drive" to put a security code on the entire hard drive.



5. Specify the number of operating systems installed on the disk. For single OS PCs, select "Single-boot" and press "Next".



6. Select the desired encryption algorithm from the drop-down list. We recommend using "AES" along with hashing "RIPMED-160". But you can specify any other one. Click "Next" to move to the next stage.



7. Create a password and confirm its entry in the field below. It is desirable that it consist of random combinations of numbers, Latin letters (uppercase, lowercase) and special characters. Length should not exceed 64 characters.



8. After this, the collection of data to create a crypto key will begin.



9. When the system receives enough information, a key will be generated. This completes the creation of a password for the hard drive.

Additionally, the software will prompt you to specify the location on your computer where the recovery disk image will be written (in case of loss of the security code or damage to TrueCrypt). This step is optional and can be done at any other time.

Method 3: BIOS

The method allows you to set a password on the HDD or computer. Not suitable for all motherboard models, and individual setup steps may vary depending on the specific PC build. Procedure:

After this, to access information on the HDD (when logging in and loading Windows), you will have to constantly enter the password specified in the BIOS. You can cancel it here. If there is no such parameter in the BIOS, then try using Methods 1 and 2.

The password can be placed on an external or stationary hard drive, or a removable USB storage device. This can be done through the BIOS or special software. After this, other users will not be able to access the files and folders stored on it.

In fact, a detailed description of the operation of the security system is well described in the ATA-5 standard and higher. Also, a more convenient presentation, in my opinion, is available in the Product Manual on any IBM disk.

I will try to explain the essence in a nutshell.
Master password- a unique code that is stored in the service area of ​​the drive, sometimes in encrypted form. On some hard drives it is present after leaving the assembly line and does not affect access to the hard drive. The master password is intended to delete the set user password (for example, if it has been forgotten).
Some manufacturers have their own Master password for a specific family of drives (model range). For other manufacturers, on the contrary, the Master password can cover quite a few models and lines. Any information about Master Passwords is not subject to public distribution and is the property of the manufacturer.
User password- this is a code of up to 32 characters in length, entered by the user using special utilities or using the corresponding function of the computer’s BIOS (present, mainly, only in NoteBook). The password is also stored in the service area of ​​the drive and is also sometimes encrypted.
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The security level can be High or Maximum.
1. At the High level, it is possible to unlock the drive using the Master Password, in this case all user data is saved.
2. At the High level, it is possible to unlock the drive using a User password, in this case all user data is also saved.
3. At the Maximum level, it is possible to unlock the drive using the Master Password, but in this case the user data is completely destroyed without the possibility of recovery.
4. At the Maximum level, it is possible to unlock the drive using a User password, while the user data is completely saved.
Accordingly, if the drive’s security mode is activated and neither the Master nor the User passwords are known, the drive cannot be unlocked. A locked drive must be detected correctly in the BIOS, however, it will generate an error for any read or write operation. And guessing a password using homemade brute force utilities is excluded - after five incorrect attempts, the drive goes into the Freeze state and can only be exited by turning the power off and on again. (http://www.hddr.ru/faq.htm)

A small caveat: If you set a user password in MHDD ver.4.0 (appears on Maxtor screws, possibly on others) for "FAST ERASE", then after this operation you should REMOVE the password WITHOUT REBOOTING, because It is possible that after a reboot the password cannot be removed using MHDD itself.

So, we have set the password.
MHDD -> read the documentation and remove using the unlock and dispwd commands. The data will be saved. (the password is removed by the _same_ version of the program that was installed)

Another option: After loading mhdd, turn off the power and try to remove the password, i.e.:
1. Download mhdd.
2. Remove the power supply from the screw.
3. Insert it back.
4. Type unlock and enter the password you set.

You can also try the ATAPWD program (http://rockbox.haxx.se/atapwd.zip):

1. ATAPWD: UNLOCK WITH USER/MASTER PASSWORD. The data will be saved.
2. ATAPWD: First we do ERASE PREPARE (Preparation for removing the user password by completely erasing the disk), then - ERASE UNIT. The data, of course, is destroyed.

Blank password.
Dmitry_Postrigan: A blank password in MHDD can be removed by entering the character with code 255 as a password (press ALT+type 255+release ALT). (- mhddsoftware forum).

We don’t know the password (forgotten/lost/etc):

SAMSUNG
MHDD: You can try entering 32 “B” characters (in capital letters and in Latin) when prompted for a password.
VTOOL: In disk editor mode, find the sector with the text "SECURE" in the negative sectors and clear it (except for the word Secure) and another sector - a copy of the 1st.

SEAGATE
Master password- "Seagate + 25 spaces."
The presence of a terminal (you need to make a cable) will greatly simplify the solution to the problem.
In the terminal:
CTRL-Z
T>GFFF3 (for Barracuda V)
T>/1
1>B200,200
There you will see your password. Then ATA using the F2 and F6 commands with a buffer containing what you saw....

Also for U5,Barracuda II,III,IV you only need to read B0,0.
For 7200.7 you need to enter GFFF2.

W.D.
Master password- "WDCWDCWDCWDCWDCWDCWDCWDCWDCWDCWD".
xB series:
"The password is at the end of the second sector on track -2 in clear text."
Hddl: 57 44 43 00 00 A0 8A - send, 00 01 01 00 0F E0 21 - send, clipboard - receive, view - at the end. 00 01 01 10 0F E0 21 - the same thing, but for the first head.

for WD307AA 272AA, 450AA and 205AA:
"The password is at the end of the third sector on track -1 in clear text."
Hddl: 00 00 00 00 E0 A0 8A - send, 00 01 02 00 0F E0 21 - send, clipboard - receive, view - at the end. 00 01 02 10 0F E0 21 - the same thing, but for the first head.

Fujitsu
fakel.exe: count the modules and look at No. 12 and No. 13.
PC3K: You can rewrite module 0D.

MAXTOR
Master passwords- "Maxtor INIT SECURITY TEST STEP" (for N40P), "Maxtor+26 spaces" (541D).

IBM
Can be used HDDL:. Read the documentation for this program.

PS. There are other effective programs (for example PC3000). If you were unable to remove your password using the above methods, then your path lies with the owner of these products. I also advise you to use search engines on this topic because... There is a lot of information on the net.