Service Forum

Dehumanizer · Nou Venit Joined: 08 Jun 2011 Posts: 6

Hello,

my old Thinkpad R51 broke (doesn't even start) and the HDD is locked by HDD password. Although I know the password, it does not work when I put the drive to a different Thinkpad.
My question is, would I be able to unlock the drive with the EraseOn/KeyOn software?

Thanks.

victor · S.F. Boss Joined: 07 Mar 2004 Posts: 2581 Location: Staff

Hello,

Was the passphrase option enabled in BIOS at the time HDP was enrolled?

Anyway, the answer is yes. If passphrase was not set, KeyON will work right away. If passphrase was set, we will have to generate the hash for the known passowrd and prepare a copy of KeyON for it. No problem.
_________________
Victor Voinea
ALLservice HQ, Romania.

Dehumanizer · Nou Venit Joined: 08 Jun 2011 Posts: 6

Yes, the BIOS password was set and I also know this password.
Which actually made me thinking if it wouldn't help if I set the same BIOS password on the other thinkpad and then inserted the locked HDD?
I know you would like to sell me the software, but if it would be this easy I really wouldn't have to buy it Wink

I'm just asking here because right now at this moment I'm not near the notebook and you replied very fast to the first message... Smile

victor · S.F. Boss Joined: 07 Mar 2004 Posts: 2581 Location: Staff

HDP was stored in drive, has no importance if you set whatever password in the other thinkpad or not. The TP will ask for the one recorded in the drive.

Really, I don't want or like to sell you anything..
_________________
Victor Voinea
ALLservice HQ, Romania.

Dehumanizer · Nou Venit Joined: 08 Jun 2011 Posts: 6

Ok, but what exactly is the mechanism of the password then, I know that it's stored on the HDD, that's why I was surprised it does not unlock with a different computer. I just want to understand how it works and why it's not possible to unlock the drive with a different thinkpad...?

victor · S.F. Boss Joined: 07 Mar 2004 Posts: 2581 Location: Staff

That is due to passphrase (TCPA lock) . The other laptop uses a different key.
_________________
Victor Voinea
ALLservice HQ, Romania.

Dehumanizer · Nou Venit Joined: 08 Jun 2011 Posts: 6

Ah, ok. Just one last question, if there wasn't a BIOS password set in the old notebook, would I be able to unlock the HDD in the other one?
And if I wanted to order the software, would you be able to give me some discount or prepare a version of the software for me which will only work with my password so that it will be just for this one use and sell it for lower price? Because the value of the data on the disk is lower than the price of your software for me, it's basically just that I will have to reinstall everything from the scratch (and there was a lot of stuff installed there) so it would be a pain but not worth the full price for me unfortunatelly...

victor · S.F. Boss Joined: 07 Mar 2004 Posts: 2581 Location: Staff

The quote will be just $35 for a fully functional KeyON.
We can also prepare one version of KeyON to work with your passphrased password if TCPA is turned on.

If you have any furher questions or requests forward to support-at-allservice.ro
_________________
Victor Voinea
ALLservice HQ, Romania.

Dehumanizer · Nou Venit Joined: 08 Jun 2011 Posts: 6

Great, that sounds acceptable, I'll contact the support.
Thanks for your help.

Dehumanizer · Nou Venit Joined: 08 Jun 2011 Posts: 6

I just want to report for anyone who might possibly face the same problem I did that I was able tu successfully unlock my drive with the KeyOn software from Allservice. They were very helpful and although there were some issues at first, I was able to successfully unlock the drive.
Thanks!