ACE Lab PC-3000 Express - 8. Unlocking HDD with LED CC Error; Unlocking Methods: Controller Disconnection and Read Channel Shorting; Operating Principle of the Unlocking Procedure

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Seagate PC-3000 EXPRESS / UDMA / PORTABLE 
F3 architecture  ACE Lab
Technical support: ts@acelab.ru
Phone: +7 863 201 50 06
36 ts.acelaboratory.com
unauthorized access to user data. In particular, Seagate F3 HDD with enabled password protection block factory mode
commands making password resetting more complicated
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While developing the utility we have designed and implemented three methods for accessing the service information:
short connection of the read-write channel, isolation of the spindle motor connector, access to the security subsystem
via the terminal. Unlocking through the terminal is the simplest method that requires no additional manipulations and is
therefore suggested as the recommended approach (other methods will require bridging the read channel when
necessary or disconnecting the HDD controller board). When it is invoked, the utility reads a certain amount of service
information from HDD, analyzes it and then tries to use the obtained data to unlock the drive.
Fig. 6.14
Fig. 6.15
In all cases the utility opens a HDD and resets the password with standard ATA commands ("open drive", "reset
password") using the found password data automatically. If the utility fails to find the password information block, the
users are advised to save the registry module to a file for subsequent individual analysis to be performed manually.
6.7. Logical test
A drive gradually wears out while operating. As a result, BAD blocks may appear on its surface and an attempt to read
them may cause the drive to return various errors. Unfortunately, such powerful tool of drive recovery as Self Scan is
currently unavailable for Seagate F3 Architecture HDD. Therefore, for relocation of defective LBA the utility offers
just the logical test feature with subsequent hiding of revealed defects and slower access areas.
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The description does not cover the drives belonging to the FDE (Full Data Encryption) series, which represent a
topic worthy of a separate study.