Samsung 840 Pro Hardware Encryption Sager NP9150

Does anyone know if the Sager NP9150 supports the hardware based encryption feature found on the Samsung 840 Pro?

 

It should. By my reading, it seems that if you set up a Boot Password or HDD Password, it should automatically enable the hardware encryption features. Hell if I know how that works, but that's what I've read.

 

Thank you for your quick response. I read that enabling the HDD password should enable this feature as well, but had seen mixed reports on whether or not enabling a Boot Password would enable the Hardware Encryption. If anyone has done this on a Sager NP9150 and can confirm this does enable the Hardware Encryption or knows a way to verify it is encrypted after enabling a Boot password, I would be extremely grateful for their input. Thanks again for the quick response Hybrys.

 

The easiest way is to confirm that it is activated. You can do this by setting a boot password, then trying to use the drive in another computer, or in a USB to SATA adapter. You should be able to see the drive, but not be able to access it.

 

Hybrys - everytime I see your avatar, I have the urge to play Final Fantasy VIII...

HawkeyeFan - If you're referring to TPM by any chance, then yes. There is a TPM chip on the board.

If you like, you can see it here in the Schematic Diagrams, on page B-3.

 

As you should. But you'll never find such a mustached gentleman there.

 

Hey guys,

Thanks again for the prompt responses.

I believe the TPM is required for the hardware encryption, but when I enabled the boot password and then removed the Samsung 840 Pro and installed it in a SATA to USB device and the. Plugged it into my Desktop I was able to access the Data on it without issue. The interesting thing about it though was that when I put the 840 Pro back into the Sager NP9150, I disabled the boot password before logging into Windows again and it went through a ChkDsk and returned the security settings on the file to default and then logged me into a TEMP profile with none of my Data. After rebooting and re-enabling my Boot Password, I was able to log into my account without issue and my Data was there. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Once again I thank you for your responses.

 

That's really odd. As mentioned, with the TPM chip it should work, and since it recognized your password being removed, it speaks to it working...

Did you enable the boot password, boot into Windows 2-3 times, then test it? Or straight from BIOS to removing?

Have you tried it externally again after the Windows Temp profile bootup? This is a long-shot, but if neither of those work, could you enable the password, then reinstall Windows?

I know this is sidestepping the issue, but have you tried using the Windows 7/8 Pro solution of BitLocker?

 

Jumbo has a mustache but is certainly not a gentleman with its 10,000 needles.

@HawkeyeFan - You're welcome! I think the encryption on the drive is separate from the encryption on the TPM. If I recall correctly, the storage drive's encryption is stored on a chip soldered to the drive's logic board. That being said, I'm not exactly sure why you are still able to access the data using a USB adapter, although I've heard of this workaround before. Perhaps you can inquire with Samsung support if someone on NBR doesn't know the technicalities either.

 

The only drive currently to support the integration of the hardware and software encryption is the Crucial M500.

AnandTech | Hardware Accelerated BitLocker Encryption: Microsoft Windows 8 eDrive Investigated with Crucial M500