Computer Hard Drive Question

[Brettster]

I bourgt a cheap 2.5" IDE drive off eBay for my carputer project, but its Locked, I did know this before buying it and the seller doesnt know the password. is there a way to unlock it or have I got me a lemon? :duh:

[RYX]

I know the IBM ones have to be binned if the p/w is lost.

Think you've got a duffer mate

[ColinBarber]

Try booting into DOS from a floppy and do a FDISK /MBR.

If that doesn't fix it the password may well be sorted within the BIOS of the drive like some of the IBM drives.

What type of drive is it?

[Brettster]

its an hitachi one

I think they are part of IBM now so it's looking like I have a Duffer :(

[NaaN]

i had a similar problem had to throw a otherwise perfect 40gb away!!

:(

There is a place that performs password retrieval but they are in the US and charge excessive amounts !!

[ColinBarber]

its an hitachi one

I think they are part of IBM now so it's looking like I have a Duffer :(

It's the other way round. IBM sold their disc division to Hitachi.

[Brettster]

still out of luck ?

[ColinBarber]

Did you try fdisk? Do a fdisk /status to see if the drive is seen by the OS.

[Div]

From http://rockbox.haxx.se/lock.html;...

1. Grab atapwd (http://rockbox.haxx.se/atapwd.zip)

2. Create a bootable DOS floppy disk, and put atapwd.exe on it

3. [...] plug it into a laptop (or a standard PC, using a 3.5" => 2.5" IDE adapter)

4. Boot from the floppy and run atapwd.exe

5. Select the locked harddrive and press enter for the menu

6. [...] For Toshiba and Hitachi disks, if the above doesn't work: Choose "unlock with master password", then "disable with master password". The password is all spaces.

Your disk is now unlocked. Shut down the computer and remove the disk.

Also wade through http://www.experts-exchange.com/Storage/Q_...Q_20525321.html and see if you can gleen anything from there.

Good Luck!

Div.

[NaaN]

ok so ur telling me i wasted a 40gb disk for nothing :( :( :(

I think im going to save that proggie for later use !!!

[Brettster]

Thanks Div :)

if it works i'll let u all know :)