How can I restore the usage of my password protected HDD?

Question

I am currently in the possession of a ACER Aspire 5215 and I have a big problem with the HDD. My younger brother who is the owner of this laptop told me that one day he tried to update the BIOS, and after he has done so, he couldn't access the hard disk anymore, because it had an unknown password.
To be more specific, he already had a HDD password put there by the sales clerk at a PC shop a few years back, when he bought it. The problem is that once he updated his BIOS, the password was not the same anymore, fact that I have checked myself.

The operating system is a InsydeH20 v3.0 and the HDD is a Hitachi HTS541680.

My questions are as follow:

1. Is there any chance there is a default HDD password that can be used?
2. Can the HDD password be broken? I have read some forms on this topic and tried some things suggested there. In my attempt to put the disk back in use I was able to connect it to my Desktop PC and the hard is seen as connected but that's the end of it. I tried to format it using programs like KillDisk and problems occur when formatting the first sectors of the HDD where I assume the pass is stored.

Answer 1

If you cannot get the HDD unlocked then you will need a HDD master password for your Acer Aspire. Acer support can give you this for $150 - $200 or I recommend http://unlockbiosrecovery.com/Unlock_Acer_HDD.php and for $40 they guarantee the Acer HDD master password which is unique to your computer and HDD will unlock the hard drive or your money back.

First boot the laptop and wait until asked for your hard drive password, enter any password like Acer, when it says password is not valid then continue and it will ask again for the password, enter Acer it will say invalid again so continue, then enter Acer for the 3rd time, the screen will say invalid and then show you a 8 digit hash code. Write down the 8 digit hash and double check to make sure you have it correct. Then visit www.unlockbiosrecovery.com and select Acer HDD from menu. Then place order on bottom of the page, after you pay for it a form will appear asking for your model and your hash code. Fill in the form and submit. Within a couple hours they will respond by email with you Acer HDD master password. Turn on your computer and enter the Acer HDD master password they send you and it will be unlocked. I have used these guys dozens of times and they always come through for me.

Answer 2

The password on a problematical disk is stored interior the chip of the HDD. On different fashions of HDD different sequences of removing of the password. a million. The particular application is mandatory. 2. The type is mandatory. I shall attempt that can assist you.

Answer 3

Sounds more like your hard drive is mest up. Formatting would not be stopped by any kind of password. Of course it may not be your hard drive causing the problem.