From: Matthew Tebbens (matthew_at_tebbens.com)
Date: Wed Oct 07 1998 - 13:39:27 EDT
I was just able to set the harddrive password on a tp without the
harddrived installed ! :)
I assume the BIOS just checks the harddrive for a password first,
that way the password just sits on the harddrive firmware and follows the
harddrive from system to system.
On Wed, 7 Oct 1998 Rich_Chong_at_mail.share.org wrote:
>
> Okay, well actually, the system BIOS does need to be aware of that
> harddrive password capability, so there is some interaction, but the actual
> locking mechanism is embedded into the harddrive. Short of some secret
> backdoor or reset mechanism, replacing the harddrive electronics PCB is the
> only way to recover the data.
>
> Rich
>
>
>
>
> >I can't believe that all the data on the hard disk is encrypted when you
> set the hard disk password. It must therefore be in the clear and therefor
> readable on a different computer that ignores the password.
>
> The data isn't encrypted. The hard disk password is actually a function of
> the harddrive's firmware, Not the PC's BIOS. The hard drive won't give the
> data out until the password is properly passed to it.
>
> Rich
>
>
>
>
>
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