Returning Used SSD with HD Password Lock

[emtee3511]

First -- I am not asking for advice on how to get around a Password Protected Hard Drive -- just wondering how the HD Password got set in the first place.

Purchased a used (3 months) Kingston SSDNow 128gb SSD for my new X100e -- I know, I know... not really a ThinkPad... but I like it --

I used my Apricorn/EZGigII to clone the X100e HD to the SSD. Everything went as expected (I have recently cloned several of my ThinkPad HD's to SSD) and I installed the SSD in my new X100e and put the original HD away for backup. The SSD ran perfectly for several hours until I decided to put machine away. On first reboot after original SSD install I got the dreaded Password Lock icons After contacting the ebay seller for his password (which didn't work) and spending the afternoon trying to reclone/trying install in different thinkpad and also a sony/trying various googled ideas, none of which worked, I am returning the SSD to the seller for refund. Just wanting thoughts here as to what happened -- the only password the seller said he used was a security password he creatred when he secure cleared the SSD contents -- he says he removed that password after he cleaned the SSD contents --

I never use passwords because I am afraid of making a mistake and locking myself out of my own thinkpad -- so any thief will happily be able to run off with my notebooks -- not so good -- but based on my elderly brain, I am more likely to confuse/forget my passwords than my home is to be broken into -- I do use passwords on my various accounts, but if I forget one of those I won't loose my thinkpad -- I also carry theft/breakage/loss insurance for all my computers on my homeowners policy, which thankfully I've never had to use (to date anyway...)

Bottom line, SSD goes back to seller tomorrow, my loss as well as seller's -- but any guess as to what happened to create a password on this used SSD -- password did not show on cloning or on first use -- only appeared after first reboot -- only password seller knows about is one he created when he secure-cleared the SSD, but that password did not unlock the SSD.

[RealBlackStuff]

Have a look at this post for some more info on SSDs: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=85738
Won't help with your problem though, but very informative nonetheless.

Check in your BIOS if security chip is activated and if any other password settings are "active".

[emtee3511]

Thankyou @RBS for the info -- There was nothing I could do with the Password Locked SSD, so although the seller is as frustrated as I am, he agreed to accept return for refund. I have spent the morning checking and re-checking each of my ThinkPads, making sure Security/Password info in the bios is disabled -- I try to stay away from bios because my lack of knowledge could cause a major problem to any one of my 'babies' But after having the Password Lock on my recent SSD purchase, and knowing the SSD's I have recently installed on my other TP's were purchased as either used or new-pull from someone else's machines, I wanted to make absolutely sure that passwords are disabled in bios on each of my TP's.

I only own maybe three TP's I purchased new -- my others were purchased on this forum and on ebay -- so any of my 'rerun' TP's could have previously had passwords set? Not exactly sure how all that works -- which is why I am dangerous to my own ThinkPads... The Password Locked SSD I had to return had been installed in my new X100e -- I'm the first owner of my X100e, and although I did not check prior to installing the SSD, I did check after putting the original HDD back in the machine, and the only password protection that was enabled (if I remember correctly) was PassPhrase enabled -- but all other password protection was disabled, to include the Power On, and HD Boot -- so I don't think there is anything I could have changed which would have gotten past the Password Locked SSD.

What I don't understand is how I was able to clone my X100e HHD to the SSD and even run the SSD until first reboot -- which is when the lock appeared -- would at least like to understand what/why that happened????

I have read over the thread you gave me several times, and it is mostly over my head -- I did find and use the SSD Tweak Utility, but I guessing any SSD I am using will probably not be optimized for fastest run because I'm in over my head. My main goal in purchasing SSD's for my TP's is to loose the moving parts and thus make my machines a little sturdier as I bounce them around place to place. I'm also guessing that even if I don't know how to update firmware/ add trim/ optimize/ etc., the SSD will still boot faster than my HDD's did and also possibly run a little faster -- but not sure of that --

Again, @RBS, thanks so much for the info you passed on to me -- I learn slowly... but I do learn

[RealBlackStuff]

HD passwords are a curious specimen.
If you would set a Supervisor password for just the laptop (and not for the HD), you could still operate the laptop normally.
But if you then remove the small CMOS backup battery, and put it back in after a few minutes, you will all of a sudden find that your laptop not only can no longer boot without this Supervisor password, but that the HD now also has a password, even though you never set one!
Frightening, isn't it?
That SSD had a password, and was not properly removed, be glad you get your mullah back.

[emtee3511]

"That SSD had a password, and was not properly removed, be glad you get your mullah back."

Yep -- I guess that's the bottom line -- thanks very much for your input -- it can get rather complicated, so now I don't feel so bad for being so confused