HDD Password I never set requested on my Toshiba Satellite laptop - please help

[nycg10014]

Hi-

I recently turned on my Toshiba Satellite 1405-S151 laptop after
several weeks not using it and, after starting with the Toshiba logo &
icons, it came to a blank page with "HDD Password =" and a flashing
cursor.

I have never set an HDD Password on my computer. Tried typing in a few
passwords I've used for other things, but after three tries the
computer just shuts off.

I need to get the computer to work, or at least retrieve my data. Can
anyone help or offer ideas? Heard there was a class action lawsuit
against Toshiba for the same issue with Satellites, but that was the
6100 series. Anyone else had this problem with Toshibas in my laptop
series?

(If there's a Toshiba group I'm unaware of, please direct me there)

Big thanks,
J

 

[Odie Ferrous]

Hi-

I recently turned on my Toshiba Satellite 1405-S151 laptop after
several weeks not using it and, after starting with the Toshiba logo &
icons, it came to a blank page with "HDD Password =" and a flashing
cursor.

I have never set an HDD Password on my computer. Tried typing in a few
passwords I've used for other things, but after three tries the
computer just shuts off.

I need to get the computer to work, or at least retrieve my data. Can
anyone help or offer ideas? Heard there was a class action lawsuit
against Toshiba for the same issue with Satellites, but that was the
6100 series. Anyone else had this problem with Toshibas in my laptop
series?

(If there's a Toshiba group I'm unaware of, please direct me there)

Big thanks,
J

Strange you should mention this - I've had a couple of clients in recent
months who have experienced exactly the same issue.


Odie

 

[nycg10014]

Strange you should mention this - I've had a couple of clients in recent
months who have experienced exactly the same issue.

Odie
--
Retrodatawww.retrodata.co.uk
Globally Local Data Recovery Experts- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Maybe this is a widespread problem like the 6100 series? How did you
resolve it, and about how much did it cost? If they can post I'd like
to get in touch with them - they can email me - thanks!

 

[Stephen]

Hi-

I recently turned on my Toshiba Satellite 1405-S151 laptop after
several weeks not using it and, after starting with the Toshiba logo &
icons, it came to a blank page with "HDD Password =" and a flashing
cursor.

I have never set an HDD Password on my computer. Tried typing in a few
passwords I've used for other things, but after three tries the
computer just shuts off.

I need to get the computer to work, or at least retrieve my data. Can
anyone help or offer ideas? Heard there was a class action lawsuit
against Toshiba for the same issue with Satellites, but that was the
6100 series. Anyone else had this problem with Toshibas in my laptop
series?

(If there's a Toshiba group I'm unaware of, please direct me there)

Big thanks,
J

There is a user forum at
http://community.compuserve.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=messages&webtag=ws-laptop
And they'll tell you to bring it to a Toshiba Premiere Authorized
Service provider, you can find one at www.pcrepair.toshiba.com
Stephen
--

 

[Aidan Karley]

I recently turned on my Toshiba Satellite 1405-S151 laptop after
several weeks not using it and, after starting with the Toshiba logo &
icons, it came to a blank page with "HDD Password =" and a flashing
cursor.

[SNIP]

Strange you should mention this - I've had a couple of clients in recent
months who have experienced exactly the same issue.

I actually tripped across something about this recently. Well, it
certainly sounded similar. And by the magic of having dropped my notes
about it onto the network drive, instead of leaving them on the wife's
computer, I've got the relevant URL :
http://www.heise.de/ct/english/05/08/172/

It's an article from c't Magazine, translated into English as :
[INTRO]
Harald Bögeholz
At Your Disservice
How ATA security functions jeopardize your data
With most notebooks it is possible to secure the hard disk against
unauthorized access with the aid of a password. Without the latter the
disk, even when inserted into another computer, won't divulge its data. In
the meantime this security function has become a feature of all 3.5" ATA
hard disks and can hence be used - and abused - on desktop PCs!
[SCENARIO]
One morning the screen stays blank - disk boot failure, insert system disk
and press Enter. Could it be that the hard disk has given up the ghost
overnight? No unusual noises can be heard and the disk does register with
the BIOS. A DOS from a diskette boots suspiciously slowly and cannot
access the hard disk - things aren't looking too good. And so into the
Internet at the double with your second PC in search of diagnostic
software. In such cases Hitachi's Drive Fitness Test [LINK] is a blessing;
its diagnosis tells you: "Device is password protected and cannot be
tested." The hard disk is password protected. And who did that? And what
is more important still: What is the password and how do I remove it?

I'm not going to reprint more of the article here (read the
original in German if you've got enough ; I don't), but it does sound
relevant. The article goes into some detail about the various ways that
this significant security feature can (or should) be implemented, and how
most laptop manufacturers get it right, though many desktop BIOS
manufacturers have done it wrongly, or at least with a potentially
exploitable hole.
I read it twice trying to work out /a priori/ if my machines might
be vulnerable, then realised that the simplest thing to do would be to
download the testing tool that c't had written, retrieve the stick of
CD-RWs from the daughter's bedroom (this was the most hazardous part of
the operation) and then do the test. Desktop has a sensibly-secured BIOS
(by c't's standards) ; end of my reading, move on to next problem in life.

I'll let you decide if the article is describing your situation ; I don't
understand it fully and wouldn't want to confuse you with my
misunderstandings.