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    Installing encrytion enabled Hard Drive(Hitachi Travelstar 7K200) in a Toshiba Satellite U205-S5044

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by thetopboss, Jan 31, 2008.

  1. thetopboss

    thetopboss Newbie

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    Hi all,

    I have a 1 year old Toshiba Satellite U205-S5044. I am concerned about security & trying to change the existing Toshiba SATA drive to a Hitachi Travelstar 7k200 (Encryption enabled version).

    I ordered a 7k200 drive & first tried it as a second drive in a Lenovo Thinkpad T61p machine in which I have the same model hard drive working . I used the BIOS in Thinkpad T61p machine to set a HDD password which works fine on the Thinkpad T61p. I then replaced this drive to the Toshiba machine .

    The Toshiba does ask now for a HDD password but refuses to recognise the password that I set (keeps saying invalid password). I have upgraded the BIOS on the Toshiba to the latest version ( ACPI Flash BIOS ver 3.70 )

    Has anyone had experience with installing the encryption enabled Hitachi drives in Toshiba computers in general & U205-S5044 in particular ? What else can I try ?
     
    thetopboss, Jan 31, 2008
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  2. Ayle

    Ayle Trailblazer

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    Unset the password on the thinkpad set a new one AFTER installing the drive in the toshiba. The encryption is not activated by a password: it work only if your laptop has a tpm chip which a unique set of keys that will be used for the encryption or if the os provide the function. Otherwise you'll have to use a software based solution.
     
    Ayle, Jan 31, 2008
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  3. thetopboss

    thetopboss Newbie

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    Thanks Ayle ... Two clarifications ?

    1) Are you saying that the encrypted drive cannot be installed in the Toshiba unless it has TPM support inbuilt?

    2) What can I do if the Toshiba BIOS ( ACPI Flash BIOS ver 3.70 ) has no feature to set a hard drive password .
     
    thetopboss, Jan 31, 2008
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  4. Ayle

    Ayle Trailblazer

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    1) It can, it will just behave like the regular 7k200. You'll have to rely on a software based encryption like Bitlocker if you use vista or truecrypt...

    2)If you can't set a hd password you'll have to rely on the OS.
     
    Ayle, Jan 31, 2008
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  5. TabulaMentis

    TabulaMentis Newbie

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    I believe the TPM is built into the Hitachi encrypted hard drive, so it should not matter if the Toshiba computer has TPM or not.

    You may need special software to communicate with the Hitachi hard drive to control the built-in TPM password feature.
     
    TabulaMentis, May 5, 2008
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