Remove HDD Master Password

[pipolino]

Hi all,

read through the postings but didn't really find an answer..

Simple question:

- T40
- Master and User Pwd is set for HDD
- I know the Supervisor pwd, I know the HDD User pwd but I DON'T know the HDD MASTER pwd.

Is there any chance to remove the HDD Master PWD???

Phil

[GomJabbar]

Reading through the Hardware Maintenance Manual, it appears that unless you know the Master HD Password, nothing can be done.

[christopher_wolf]

Actually, not quite. There are some companies and individuals that can do it, but it is involved.

There is also software that can be used, in conjunction with another system that meets the minimum requirements (desktop PC running Windows 2000 or Windows XP with administrative access), to access the HDD locked with an HDD master password, which is an ATA specified feature if I recall correctly; there are some systems, however, that will only support HDD passwords that are 7 characters in length, although more characters can be entered when first setting up a HDD password on a Thinkpad.

However, at $145 per exclusive license, you are probably better off finding somebody to do it for you if you really want that data, or just getting another HDD if you have backups. Although there is less risk involved with this as opposed to, say, a BIOS unlock. I cannot recall a way for an operator, knowing just the Supervisor password and the HDD User password, to unlock an HDD master password. The User+Master password option, as outlined in the HMM, are independently paired passwords in the sense that the user password will be set after the admin password is set by the administrator, so there is no overlapping security over-ride of the System Supervisor password to it nor does it have"back door" ability in relation to the Master+User or User HDD Password combos.

[pipolino]

GomJabbar,
Christopher,

many thanks for your replies.
I have backed up the data, so I will surely not go for the 145 bucks option. At least, now I know what is doable and what is not.

Philipp