Using SalvationDATA Hitachi kit. By HddSoEasy on 2008
OK, here is the thing. My clients often bring me password-protected IBM/HITACHI HDDs for data recovery, so recently I went to purchase HDD DOCTOR FOR IBM/HITACHI from SalvationDATA. I wanna say that this tool is really cool, but, well, I also found that there is a flaw with it since it doesn’t integrate “Clear Password” function. Yes, as you guys know, clearing password function is very important, so I just don’t wanna give up on this one, I think there must be some way out there to implement this function with the current available features. So I began to dig. After I did the research for a while, I finally figured out the how-to and successfully cleared the password of HITACHI 5416 PATA/SATA. Now I’d like to share this secret with all of you guys.
Note: Since NVRAM of IBM/HITACHI HDD is unbelievably important for recovering data, we must backup it by using NVRAM OPERATIONS->READ NVRAM function after the hard drive is switched to safe mode.
The figure 1 below shows what happens when you perform a “Load From HDD” on an IBM/HITACHI HDD that is locked by a password(see figure 1):
1. Now you can click LOAD FROM FILE to load a resource file saved from an identical HDD of the same
series (you can refer to the user manual for the tutorial about “how to identify Hitachi HDD series”).
See figure 2
2. When the above loading is done, the SA positions information will show up as below.
See figure 3
3. Now SWITCH from SA-A TO SA-C (refer the SalvationDATA full version user manual for the detail of Switch to SA-C)
4. Define the activating SA to be the SA-C, as below:
See figure 4
5. Go to BACKUP FW tab and save the password module to your local hard drive as a backup. Usually there are two types of password modules for IBM/Hitachi drives: ICES and PSW. Here in this picture it’s ICES. Please pay attention to the path showing at the bottom of the interface, the password module saved from SA-C will be stored under that directory.
See figure 5
6. Back to HDD LOAD MANAGEMENT tab and define the activating SA to be the SA-A, as below:
See figure 6
7. Go to UPDATE FW tab and upload this ICES module to overwrite the corresponding module of SA-A, see Figure 8. Note: you must define the upload path to the directory storing the ICES module saved from SA-C first. See below.
See figure 7
After setting the upload path correctly, select the corresponding ICES or PSW modules from the SA-A module list, then click “Update” button.
8. Now the password module has been replaced by a reserved module which is saved from a factory backup, the password has been removed. But the drive has been switched to work in a factory mode, in which you can not access the data area of the drive. Therefore we have to switch the drive’s working mode back to normal mode. (Details refer to the full version of user manual from SalvationDATA)
9. Gentlemen, the password has been cleared.
Super-Duper website! I am loving it!! Will come back again – getting your feed too, Many thanks.
Can I link this post from my blog?
Moscow Master Company presents big range of building repair services, decoration, flooring – speed and quality guaranteed. We use construction hardware of highest quality from Western manufecturers. Craftmanship and professionalism of our specialists will leave any demanding client satisfied.
Data loss sucks big time.