OT: Argh, lost two notebook drives !!!!!

When it rains it pours!

I want to upgrade a laptop hard drive from 80GB 7200rpm to 100GB
7200rpm. I had an extra 100GB 7200rpm drive around, and I think it
got thrown out by someone I hired to clean my apartment. She made
assumptions such that I would want my cat litter box door thrown away,
and I thinik she made an assumption that the small brown package
containing the 100GB hard disk was empty (the drive would be between
the foam packaging) so I think she threw it away because I thoroughly
chedked my apartment and it's not here.

(I will do some deeeep cleaning this weekend to be sure -- might as
well clean when searching for something)

Because I couldn't find the 100GB 7200rpm drive I decided to continue
to use the 80GB 7200 -- no big deal, except for the fact that when I
did a reboot my hard drive password doesn't work! I know what I
entered for it and it's not working, so I assume that the num lock was
on or off when I entered the hard drive, but I tried all combinations
and they don't work.

So, is it true that I can't even reformat the drive -- that as long as
I don't know the hard drive password the drive is unusable?

I think that's how ti should work -- the hard drive password should
not allow access or reformat of the drive.

Unfortunately, that doesn't help me much.

So, I lost my 100GB 7200rpm hard drive through a good and thorough
cleaner, and I can't use my 80GB 7200rmp drive so I either go with my
80GB 5400rpm drive or get another new hard drive.

I am inclined going with the lower end 5400rpm drive. The computer
won't be used for much more than office apps. I usually don't bumble
along this bad but I guess this has to happen once in a while to keep
me humble.

First, if 80GB is too small, the likely so is 100GB. You should go to
at least 120GB.

IDE drives have an INTERNAL "secure erase drive" command. You give this
one command to the drive, and the the drive, ON IT'S OWN (with no
further intervention from the computer) wipes the contents of the
platters in a VERY secure manner.

Now what does this have to do with your situation? Well, the point of a
hard drive password is to INSURE that the DATA on a drive is not
accessed. The philosophy was to lose the use of the drive entirely
before allowing access to the data. But the "Secure Erase Drive"
command also insures (albeit in a very different way ... by destroying
the data) that the data is not accessed. Consequently, on SOME drives,
the "secure erase drive" command either clears the drive password
directly (after the data is GONE), or it has an option switch that, if
set, clears the password. Of course I presume that you realize that
once you issue this command, you can forget about the previous data
contents of the drive (the ENTIRE drive).

The secure erase drive command has actually been around for quite some
time (almost a decade), and is present on most drives (most but not all;
it's up to the drive manufacturer to implement it), but for some reason
it was all but unknown to the public until within the past year or so.
There are not many programs that actually use it, but there are a few.
Do a search for HDDerase; also, DBAN (Boot and Nuke) has not used this
command in past versions but reportedly was going to use it (or at least
offer it) in a new version which may or may not be out yet. Even with
the command, clearing of the drive password is not supported on all
drives. The documentation for DBAN has some discussion of this. But
the point to keep in mind is that if there is data on the drive that you
need, this isn't going to help you. But if all that you care about is
reclaiming the hardware, then, depending on the drive itself, it MAY do
the trick.


Journey wrote:
> When it rains it pours!
>
> I want to upgrade a laptop hard drive from 80GB 7200rpm to 100GB
> 7200rpm. I had an extra 100GB 7200rpm drive around, and I think it
> got thrown out by someone I hired to clean my apartment. She made
> assumptions such that I would want my cat litter box door thrown away,
> and I thinik she made an assumption that the small brown package
> containing the 100GB hard disk was empty (the drive would be between
> the foam packaging) so I think she threw it away because I thoroughly
> chedked my apartment and it's not here.
>
> (I will do some deeeep cleaning this weekend to be sure -- might as
> well clean when searching for something)
>
> Because I couldn't find the 100GB 7200rpm drive I decided to continue
> to use the 80GB 7200 -- no big deal, except for the fact that when I
> did a reboot my hard drive password doesn't work! I know what I
> entered for it and it's not working, so I assume that the num lock was
> on or off when I entered the hard drive, but I tried all combinations
> and they don't work.
>
> So, is it true that I can't even reformat the drive -- that as long as
> I don't know the hard drive password the drive is unusable?
>
> I think that's how ti should work -- the hard drive password should
> not allow access or reformat of the drive.
>
> Unfortunately, that doesn't help me much.
>
> So, I lost my 100GB 7200rpm hard drive through a good and thorough
> cleaner, and I can't use my 80GB 7200rmp drive so I either go with my
> 80GB 5400rpm drive or get another new hard drive.
>
> I am inclined going with the lower end 5400rpm drive. The computer
> won't be used for much more than office apps. I usually don't bumble
> along this bad but I guess this has to happen once in a while to keep
> me humble.

On Sat, 15 Sep 2007 11:08:49 -0400, Barry Watzman
<> wrote:

>But if all that you care about is
>reclaiming the hardware, then, depending on the drive itself, it MAY do
>the trick.

Hi Barry,

Thank you very much for this info. I don't need any information on
the drive. In fact, this problem occurred at exactly the point in
which I was installing an OS to do a fresh reinstall.

(Murphey's Law in reverse)

I'll check out the programs you mention. I know the password I
intended to use, but maybe num lock or caps lock had been turned on or
my hands were in a different position on the keyboard.

On Sat, 15 Sep 2007 02:00:03 -0500, Journey <> wrote:

>So, I lost my 100GB 7200rpm hard drive through a good and thorough
>cleaner, and I can't use my 80GB 7200rmp drive so I either go with my
>80GB 5400rpm drive or get another new hard drive.

Amazing what a night's sleep will do for my memory. I remembered that
I had used a password but had repeated one of the digits 3 times. I
tried that and it worked. So, I have a 80GB 7200rpm drive again now.

I have a feeling I'll be able to find where the cleaner put my other
drive. It is possible that she threw it out though.

Hi!

> When it rains it pours!

Uh-oh.

> I thinik she made an assumption that the small brown package
> containing the 100GB hard disk was empty (the drive would be
> between the foam packaging) so I think she threw it away because
> I thoroughly chedked my apartment and it's not here.

I think it's time for a new cleaner, time to hurry to the trash collection
area, or time to suggest that a replacement drive be provided by the person
who threw the first one away. I'd be pretty mad about losing a 100GB hard
drive!

> So, is it true that I can't even reformat the drive -- that as long as
> I don't know the hard drive password the drive is unusable?

Do you know the model # or manufacturer? If you do, downloading the drive
manual might tell you a lot. It should be possible to reset the drive to a
fresh state if the password isn't known. That's one of the big selling
points behind the idea of full drive hardware-based encryption...simply
reset the drive and it's like nothing was ever written to it.

> I am inclined going with the lower end 5400rpm drive. The computer
> won't be used for much more than office apps. I usually don't bumble
> along this bad but I guess this has to happen once in a while to keep
> me humble.

I'm not sure I'd call a 5400 RPM drive "low end". In a desktop,
certainly...but in the laptop world there is the 4200 RPM drive and that is
certainly "low end".

William

On Sat, 15 Sep 2007 02:00:03 -0500, Journey <> wrote:

On 09/10/2007 Journey wrote

"Before I started reading this newsgroup I had very limited knowledge
about doing many things in the PC world. I didn't know about the
freeware virus program AVG, CCleaner, how to install a hard drive, and
I am sure I would have missed the fact that Core 2 Duo is different
than Core Duo. I also wouldn't have known which Core 2 Duo processor
to get that has 4MB cache.

I actually feel like I somewhat know what I am doing now."

You knew that was going to bite you in the butt didn't you!

Never seen it listed as things to do with computer hardware/software
as it has been assumed that everyone knew the basic rules.

1. When you first get new software/hardware unpack then throw away all
packing material and box.
2. If it has a serial #/installation # write it on a post it note and
stick on the side of a monitor then throw away the original # with the
packing material.
3. All hardware/software requires a breaking in period. So never
install either when it arrives just set it on a desk, table top, or
put it in a drawer or closet for a least 1 week. Like fine wine it
must age.
4. If there are install instructions or a manual these must be
destroyed as quickly as possible. NEVER, NEVER read this info as it is
only meant to confuse the user.

There are further things you need to know but lets start off slowly.

Art

>When it rains it pours!
>
>I want to upgrade a laptop hard drive from 80GB 7200rpm to 100GB
>7200rpm. I had an extra 100GB 7200rpm drive around, and I think it
>got thrown out by someone I hired to clean my apartment. She made
>assumptions such that I would want my cat litter box door thrown away,
>and I thinik she made an assumption that the small brown package
>containing the 100GB hard disk was empty (the drive would be between
>the foam packaging) so I think she threw it away because I thoroughly
>chedked my apartment and it's not here.
>
>(I will do some deeeep cleaning this weekend to be sure -- might as
>well clean when searching for something)
>
>Because I couldn't find the 100GB 7200rpm drive I decided to continue
>to use the 80GB 7200 -- no big deal, except for the fact that when I
>did a reboot my hard drive password doesn't work! I know what I
>entered for it and it's not working, so I assume that the num lock was
>on or off when I entered the hard drive, but I tried all combinations
>and they don't work.
>
>So, is it true that I can't even reformat the drive -- that as long as
>I don't know the hard drive password the drive is unusable?
>
>I think that's how ti should work -- the hard drive password should
>not allow access or reformat of the drive.
>
>Unfortunately, that doesn't help me much.
>
>So, I lost my 100GB 7200rpm hard drive through a good and thorough
>cleaner, and I can't use my 80GB 7200rmp drive so I either go with my
>80GB 5400rpm drive or get another new hard drive.
>
>I am inclined going with the lower end 5400rpm drive. The computer
>won't be used for much more than office apps. I usually don't bumble
>along this bad but I guess this has to happen once in a while to keep
>me humble.

On Sun, 16 Sep 2007 17:32:19 +1000, Star@*.* wrote:

>You knew that was going to bite you in the butt didn't you!
>
>Never seen it listed as things to do with computer hardware/software
>as it has been assumed that everyone knew the basic rules.
>
>1. When you first get new software/hardware unpack then throw away all
>packing material and box.
>2. If it has a serial #/installation # write it on a post it note and
>stick on the side of a monitor then throw away the original # with the
>packing material.
>3. All hardware/software requires a breaking in period. So never
>install either when it arrives just set it on a desk, table top, or
>put it in a drawer or closet for a least 1 week. Like fine wine it
>must age.
>4. If there are install instructions or a manual these must be
>destroyed as quickly as possible. NEVER, NEVER read this info as it is
>only meant to confuse the user.
>
>There are further things you need to know but lets start off slowly.
>
>Art

I'm all ears Art!

You forgot an important one:

5. If it doesn't work, kick it as hard as you can. If it's a
notebook, slap it upside the head.

:-)

On Sun, 16 Sep 2007 06:36:57 GMT, "William R. Walsh"
< m> wrote:

>> When it rains it pours!
>
>Uh-oh.
>
>> I thinik she made an assumption that the small brown package
>> containing the 100GB hard disk was empty (the drive would be
>> between the foam packaging) so I think she threw it away because
>> I thoroughly chedked my apartment and it's not here.
>
>I think it's time for a new cleaner, time to hurry to the trash collection
>area, or time to suggest that a replacement drive be provided by the person
>who threw the first one away. I'd be pretty mad about losing a 100GB hard
>drive!
>
>> So, is it true that I can't even reformat the drive -- that as long as
>> I don't know the hard drive password the drive is unusable?
>
>Do you know the model # or manufacturer? If you do, downloading the drive
>manual might tell you a lot. It should be possible to reset the drive to a
>fresh state if the password isn't known. That's one of the big selling
>points behind the idea of full drive hardware-based encryption...simply
>reset the drive and it's like nothing was ever written to it.

I finally remembered the password. It was my usual password with a
slight variation.

Yes, time for a new cleaner. She threw the door to my cat litter box
away, not that I would have used it but it makes me wonder ...

I did secure all of my gadgets and laptops

Well, I have two 14-week kittens here today which is making things
very interesting!

I had named one of them mellow because (at first) he was very laid
back but I have to change the name now because he's a real terror.

I like to name my tabbies something starting with a "M" (tabbies have
a "M" on their forehead), and he's a brownish / black tabby, so I
think I'll name him Mocha.

Star@*.* wrote:
> On Sat, 15 Sep 2007 02:00:03 -0500, Journey <> wrote:
>
> On 09/10/2007 Journey wrote
>
> "Before I started reading this newsgroup I had very limited knowledge
> about doing many things in the PC world. I didn't know about the
> freeware virus program AVG, CCleaner, how to install a hard drive, and
> I am sure I would have missed the fact that Core 2 Duo is different
> than Core Duo. I also wouldn't have known which Core 2 Duo processor
> to get that has 4MB cache.
>
> I actually feel like I somewhat know what I am doing now."
>
> You knew that was going to bite you in the butt didn't you!
>
> Never seen it listed as things to do with computer hardware/software
> as it has been assumed that everyone knew the basic rules.
>
> 1. When you first get new software/hardware unpack then throw away all
> packing material and box.
> 2. If it has a serial #/installation # write it on a post it note and
> stick on the side of a monitor then throw away the original # with the
> packing material.
> 3. All hardware/software requires a breaking in period. So never
> install either when it arrives just set it on a desk, table top, or
> put it in a drawer or closet for a least 1 week. Like fine wine it
> must age.
> 4. If there are install instructions or a manual these must be
> destroyed as quickly as possible. NEVER, NEVER read this info as it is
> only meant to confuse the user.

C'mon, now I know you're funning us - a traditional rule in the computer
biz has long been "if all else fails, read the instructions". This dates
back to the original AT with the tiny hard drive (or perhaps even earlier).

Points #1-#3 are solid advice, however.