HDD with old HDD Password in Toshiba Laptop

Has anyone heard of using a HDD from one laptop, mine specifically is a Thinkpad, which at the time i was using it i had a hdd password, i have since deleted the password, but when popping the hdd into the toshiba laptop, it comes up asking what the hdd password is, i cannot get around this, there is no password on this hdd anymore, when i put the drive back into the thinkpad, it comes up fine, never asks for a password, when i put it into the toshiba, it asks for a hdd password??

 

This is a security feature of the IBM systems. You have to disable the ADMIN password in your notebook. Once an ADMIN password is enabled, it will automatically apply it to the HDD as well. Since it's working on the IBM, than that means this HDD is for this unit. Untill the password is disabled, you're not going to be able to put this drive into any other system.

Also, you won't be able to put any new drives into the IBM without the password being applied to the new drive as well. You need to swap both motherboard & HDD at the same time to elimiate the password protection. Replacing one or the other, will get the password re-applied to the new device.

Otherwise, there's no other way to get around the problem. This is probably one of the best security measures IBM came out with to prevent the unit from being stolen and used.

-Vb-

 

any idea how i can disable the hdd password in the IBM so i can use this hdd in the toshiba? the toshiba laptop is older, so it never had the option, and I've deleted the hdd password on this hdd in the ibm, but it shows that it is still active, just no password, this must be where the hang up is. I cannot see where i can disable it, and have searched ibm, google, etc. and no mention...don't tell me my only option is what you said below, replacing the hdd and motherboard...if that's the case, i'll be buying a new hdd for the toshiba instead of 're-using' this one that was in the IBM. Thanks alot for the words of wisdom!

 

Check the BIOS for an ADMINISTRATOR Password. See if you can turn this off.

Trying to locate this password removal in Google & IBM will be useless. This is one of the secrets IBM doesn't really like to let go. I had to do something similar 3 years ago (worked for an IBM authorized service center), and it was like pulling teeth to get the info from them. They provided basic info on password removal, but not the ADMINISTRATOR Password (HDD & System lock). They just kept telling us, there's no way around it, you need to replace the systemboard & HDD.

In the process, I did find a company that does the removal of the HDD & BIOS passwords, but it's gonna cost you. Here's the link, & it seems like they're in Canada.

http://www.nortek.on.ca/hdd_pw.html

Why don't you just go and buy a new HDD. It doesn't cost that much for a 30+GB HDD. For a 60GB HDD in Canada, it's under $200CDN = $150US approx. If you do buy it, just don't stick it into the IBM as the password may be added to the new drive as well.

-Vb-