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Portege R700-1DD
Questions about HDD replacement and passwords
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This question is not answered. Helpful answers available: 2. Correct answers available: 1.


Permlink Replies: 3 - Pages: 1 - Last Post: 04-Aug-2011 14:55 Last Post By: Paolo30 Threads: [ Previous | Next ]
mrbz999

Posts: 8
Registered: 18/11/10
Portege R700-1DD: Questions about HDD replacement and passwords
Posted: 04-Aug-2011 08:39
 
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I have a R700-1DD with stock 320GB HDD. I want to upgrade this to 500GB. This upgrade should be quite straightforward, cloning the old to the new.

However, I was wondering about the HDD password / fingerprint.
My HDD it set to require a password/fingerprint on boot - I guess this is all related to the BIOS and the disk itself but I'm not sure exactly how.
I believe the HDD itself is locked - this is not a Windows or BIOS password.

If I change the HDD will I still be able to use the HDD boot password/fingerprint? Are there any HDD hardware requirements I need to consider before buying the new HDD? Like does it need to be a specific type of HDD to work with HDD password/fingerprint?

Thanks
Xardas

Posts: 3,144
Registered: 02/10/09
Re: Portege R700-1DD - Questions about HDD replacement
Posted: 04-Aug-2011 10:05   in response to: mrbz999 in response to: mrbz999
 
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Hi bullerd,

The HDD password is stored on HDD so if you exchange the HDD you have to set a new HDD password in BIOS. The password is not stored in BIOS. Furthermore the fingerprints are also stored on HDD or let’s say fingerprint software but the whole operating system must be installed after HDD exchange so it’s new problem.

So both passwords you mentioned are stored on HDD so it’s no problem to exchange the HDD. :)
mrbz999

Posts: 8
Registered: 18/11/10
Re: Portege R700-1DD - Questions about HDD replacement
Posted: 04-Aug-2011 14:09   in response to: Xardas in response to: Xardas
 
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Thanks
Ok so all the password and fingerprint data are on the HDD - but where? On the HDD controller or on the disk itself? Will it be copied across using Ghost?
Does the new HDD need to be of a specific type to support hardware encryption?
Paolo30

Posts: 3,185
Registered: 21/09/09
Re: Portege R700-1DD - Questions about HDD replacement
Posted: 04-Aug-2011 14:55   in response to: mrbz999 in response to: mrbz999
 
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Ok so all the password and fingerprint data are on the HDD - but where?
The fingerprints are stored in the fingerprint device and will not be deleted by the recovery process. After the recovery process the fingerprints are still there.

Here is a interesting document from Toshiba:
Useful information regarding file protection with the AuthenTec Fingerprint software
http://aps2.toshiba-tro.de/kb0/TSB9C02RC0001R01.htm

The HDD password (can be set in the BIOS settings) is stored in the HDD unit itself.
So even the HDD unit is removed from one computer and attached to another, the HDD password is required to access it.
The password is stored on a protected area and cannot be deleted by formatting the HDD or similar.

This is a summary about a HDD password
http://aps2.toshiba-tro.de/kb0/TSB6B01MC000CR01.htm
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