Service Forum

[rossv]

Hi,

My T61p has died and I wanted to use the hard disk in my PC for data recovery.

The hard disk is locked and I know the passwords.

Unfortunately my Thinkpad had "Use passphrase" enabled in the BIOS and so it used a hashed password to lock my hard disk.

I was wondering if the hash algorithm is known and if all Thinkpads use the same one, or if I am in big trouble..

Happy for any information on whether I can unlock my hard disk without destroying the data, especially when I know the text password, but not the hash.

[victor]

Hi,

The hash algorythm used in T61 to encrypt the HDP is different from SVP's and not known. Anyway, the TCPA algorythm is not used all the time for example if the passphrase was turned on without the drive mounted on. In that case the HDP is still encoded but not with the hash algo and I can help you with my KeyON program.

Or get any T61/R61/X61 you can find, insert the drive and disable the password(s).
_________________
Victor Voinea
ALLservice HQ, Romania.

[BillH]

rossv - You may be able to image the partition using a Ghost 2003 DOS floppy, then restore the partition to your PC. Ghost 2003 in DOS doesn't seem to pay attention to anything, except the zeros and ones.

[victor]

We talk here about ATA locked drives, BillH. One can't read/write sectors until the drive's unlocked, such drive only accepts IDENTIFY DEVICE and SECURITY sets of commands.
_________________
Victor Voinea
ALLservice HQ, Romania.

[rossv]

Hi,

BillH: Thanks for your reply, but as the drive is ATA locked it cannot be read from.

Victor: Thank you for your advice. I will try the drive in an R61 from my work. The drive was installed when I setup the main password, so if I cannot unlock it then I think I will need to buy your KeyON program..!

Thanks,

Ross..

[rossv]

Hi,

Update: I placed my drive into an R61 and I was able to unlock it.

This suggests that the hash algorithm for the HDP is fixed and does not change, even if using a TCPA.

Ross..

[victor]

I said that SVP and HDP have different algorythms.
And of course, from a T61 to another one it is fixed... that's why I suggested you to do that.
_________________
Victor Voinea
ALLservice HQ, Romania.

[rossv]

Of course .

I just wanted to confirm for you, that even if you apply a HDP password with TCPA enabled and passphrase, the Thinkpad T61/R61 does not seem to use TCPA or unique encryption for the HDP password.

Regards,

Ross..

[victor]

But it uses TCPA encryption

Ok, well done
_________________
Victor Voinea
ALLservice HQ, Romania.