HDD Password removal (not hacking)

[serenitatis]

I have a spare TP 600X with supervisor and hdd passwords. I don't care about supervisor pass cause it's spare laptop for some other parts for my other TP 600. But I want to remove HDD pass because working IDE HDD is rare. I don't care about disk content. Just need clear password and use for my needs. Is that any chance to do this? Maybe some low level utils?

[MikalE]

We don't talk about that here. Had you read the forum rules you would know that.

[Bondi]

I was under the impression that removing an HDD password along with a secure erase is an official and legal procedure. Nothing is hacked, data is protected.
I've posted my experience here once https://www.forum.thinkpads.com/viewtop ... ia#p835304
Please correct me if I'm wrong.

[MikalE]

5. Passwords: Discussion on how to defeat the **password or Security Chip on thinkpads specifically or lenovo/IBM branded computers in general will NOT be allowed. The structure of the security system and how to best secure a thinkpad, etc. is allowed as long as it does not touch on bypassing such security systems. The judgement of the Admin or Moderator in this regard is absolute. There is no appeal except to the Admin or Moderator involved should your post be deleted or moved out of sight.
** EXCEPTION to this rule: Power-On passwords can be cleared as explained below by Lenovo:
http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/detail. ... migr-59377
https://support.lenovo.com/en/documents/ht036206
thus discussion of power-on passwords IS acceptable and not covered by this rule.

[Bondi]

I'm not planning to argue. Just leave this up to the moderators.
Still I don't think that following manufacturer's procedure of removing a password is "defeating"

[RealBlackStuff]

The Forum limitation on Password discussion is only limited to computer BIOS passwords, and does NOT apply to HDD/SSD and/or Windows passwords.
So anyone with the OP's required info/experience, feel free to buzz in.

[MikalE]

That should be added to the rules.

[fultontech]

If I recall correctly, the HDD password is stored in the BIOS of the TP600X. Even if you take the drive out and wipe it in another machine, the password may still be required in the original system. Many modern HDD/SDD have encryption password passthrough so you can't put the drive in another machine to read it, but in the older systems it was rare (and expensive) to find a storage device with imbedded security.
If you have access to an old desktop and 2.5 HHD drive adapter, you might be able to wipe the drive and see if the password is gone upon replacing the drive in the TP, but I'd be surprised if that worked.

[serenitatis]

If I recall correctly, the HDD password is stored in the BIOS of the TP600X.

Nope, it's ATA password. And after few hours I have clear that password. My HDD is IBM DARA 21200 and I removed password lock with "BEF89IJUF__SEHCRA" (need fill spaces for 32 char length) master password. I use Victoria (Windows version on live-CD, PIO mode), but seems MHDD is also may solve that problem. That operation is cause erase all info on HDD, but I don't care about it. Now I have a more spare IDE HDD