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List:       linux-thinkpad
Subject:    Re: [ltp] Hard disk password & linux
From:       Matthias Posseldt <matthi () gmx ! li>
Date:       2005-05-18 21:10:10
Message-ID: 200505182310.10169.matthi () gmx ! li
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On Wednesday 18 May 2005 12:32, Martin Eslon wrote:
> so if the psw is in the
> board that's on the back of the hdd it's quite easy to bypass the psw
> with screwdriver and a second hdd (or just a board).

The ATA password is not stored at the harddisk at all, but a checksum is 
stored. But part of the software used to operate a harddisk is on the 
plattern itself, so changing the platterns into a different harddisk 
case is not an option because the new case will still not ignore that a 
password was used on the old disk.

To summarize:
- the ATA password checksum is stored on the harddisk and their 
platterns
- the ATA password is not stored in the TP at all
- a protected disk will not work in a different computer
- even changing the platterns into a different harddisk case will not 
work

Regards,
Matthias

-- 
There is still the danger of EU software patents!

http://swpat.ffii.org/

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