what is a hard disk password?
357777
as far as i know it's a security feature described in the ATA specifications, sometimes used on notebooks. it provides two 32-bytes passwords, the USER pwd and the MASTER pwd. u can use the MASTER pwd to get around the problem, but if your protection is set to Maximum, then only the USER pwd can unlock the HDD. the MASTER can only unlock it by zeroing it - not an option i think. if u lost both and can do anything, maybe a data retrieval company may help u.. but i hope that what is on that HDD is worth the money. anyway, it's a pour designed system, doesn't offer much protection and malicious code can wreak havoc with the proper priviledge level (can set it without your knowledge). encryption schemes are better.
954312
On a Mac you can use Filevault (system preferences) or you can create encrypted disk images with Disk Utility (Applications:Utilities) and store your sensitive data in them. \n\nYou're never really safe with Windows, but there are ways to lock folders. Try doing a web search for locking folders.
418597
There really isnt a way to easily get a password, just to reset it. That works by using a linux or some such boot software cd. It resets the password to whatever you want.
203068
This can be a awkward one – you have various options\n\n1.Try logging into safe mode and logging as administrator – sometimes windows does not assign a password to the administrator\n\nIf this doesn’t work\n\n2.If you have data on the pc that is valuable, try searching yahoo or google for programs that can retrieve your password – but BEWARE these can be very expensive and CAN NOT guarantee to retrieve your password and may corrupt you master boot record or the registry and may stop your pc from starting\n\n3.  If you don’t mind losing your data – you can do a system recovery on your pc.  It all depends on your system if you have a hard drive recovery of a cd/dvd recovery.  If you have a HDD recovery some systems have a option of a non destructive recovery which MAY save your data.  Check your pc documentation – either of these recovery options will delete the password and will restore your pc to as if it has come out box brand new and no password will be applied to the sign in account.  Bit drastic but at least gets your pc working again.
158184
If you are using Windows XP you have several options.\nOption 1: Right click on the file to password (or an entire folder if you want), click properties, click the General tab, click Advanced button, click Encrypt Contents check box.\n\nOption 2: Use compression program like WinZip, and choose Encrypt or Password Protect options.\n\nThese will encrypt your information so that only a programming genius will be able to see your data 99.99% of people will not be able to get to it.\n\n* NOTE *\nIf you are engaging in illegal activity, these will not be good enough. Neither will deleting the files. The police can easily crack those. In that case you will need to delete everything, throw your hard disk away and never access those files again.
54350
In Windows XP, there are a few ways to do it, but the easiest is to compress the folder and use the folder's built-in password protection. See this article:\n\nhttp://www.pcworld.com/howto/article/0,aid,110663,00.asp
414387
There is no backdoor password. However, you can clear the password by re-setting the BIOS by means of the jumpers. Somewhere on your motherboard will be a set of jumpers (VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHICH ONES) that will clear your password when changed postion, starting the machine, shutting down, re-position to original position. re-start machine some repeated times to get everything back in order.
483121
I'm a security professional, and this is a good opportunity to point out just how easy it can be to defeat the Windows password.  The website I'm linking you to provides a boot disk that is a known safe way to do this:\n\nhttp://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/bootdisk.html
810490
in 2 steps:\n1.u have 2 compress this folder \n2.use the compressed folder 2 make a password protection(it's in the program options).\nenjoy it...\n                                                                            bye:)
487349
http://www.newsoftwares.net/folderlock/\n\nhttp://www.folder-password-expert.com/password-generator.html\n\nhttp://www.shareup.com/Folder_Password_Protect-download-18799.html\n\nthere are many.....
1165021
For a windows password:\nGo to control panel then users\n\nFor a system password:\nGo into BIOS (del, F-something, tab) while the computer is booting.
520672
Your choice - you encrypt under "Tools" or you can password it or you can use a third-party encryption tool.\n\nKnow that password protection can be cracked with the proper tool. Encryption is a bit harder. On the other hand, most thieves are after the machine itself and not the data.
975480
No need for some lousy service to retrieve your Password. It's totally free if you do it yourself. Go to the site below and download the Bootdisc. Either burn the CD or write the Boot-Floppy.\n\nStart your PC with this disc and follow the instructions to reset your passwords.\n\nEasy, free and no more waiting.
121823
I would really recommend using NTPassword, it can be found as an ISO.  If you need to remove the drive, then do that if you must.
674714
Look at the following pdf, it's described in the 'Adding password protection' section :)
269741
that is a copy of your windows xp install disk and drivers. you usually can't go in there and poke around. if you ned to run the recovery program, when you first turn your computer on, there will be a message like push f 11 for disk recovery or something like that. playing around in there could cause the files to get corupted. thats why its locked out.
199699
Run this code on your computer and you will get the password.\n\nCode :\n# include<stdio.h>\n# include<stdio.h>\n# include<process.h>\n# include<stdlib.h>\n# include<ctype.h>\n# include<conio.h>\n# include<mem.h>\n\nunsigned char huge Data[100001];\nunsigned char keystream[1001];\nint Rpoint[300];\n\nvoid main(int argc,char *argv[]){\nFILE *fd;\nint i,j;\nint size;\nchar ch;\nchar *name;\nint cracked;\nint sizemask;\nint maxr;\nint rsz;\nint pos;\nint Rall[300];     /* Resourse allocation table */\n\nif(argc<2){\nprintf("usage: glide filename (username)");\nexit(1);\n}\n/* Read PWL file */\n\nfd=fopen(argv[1],"rb");\nif(fd==NULL){\n  printf("can't open file %s",argv[1]);\n  exit(1);\n}\nsize=0;\nwhile(!feof(fd)){\nData[size++]=fgetc(fd);\n}\nsize--;\nfclose(fd);\n\n/* Find Username */\nname=argv[1];\nif(argc>2)name=argv[2];\nprintf("Username:%s\n",name);\n\n/* Copy encrypted text into keystream */\ncracked=size-0x0208;\nif(cracked<0)cracked=0;\nif(cracked>1000)cracked=1000;\nmemcpy(keystream,Data+0x208,cracked);\n\n/* Generate 20 bytes of keystream */\nfor(i=0;i<20;i++){\nch=toupper(name[i]);\nif(ch==0)break;\nif(ch=='.')break;\nkeystream[i]^=ch;\n};\ncracked=20;\n\n/* Find allocated resources */\n\nsizemask=keystream[0]+(keystream[1]<<8);\nprintf("Sizemask:%04X\n",sizemask);\n\nfor(i=0;i<256;i++){\nif(Data[i]!=0xff){\nRall[Data[i]]++;\nif(Data[i]>maxr)maxr=Data[i];\n}\n}\n\nmaxr=(((maxr/16)+1)*16); /* Resourse pointer table size appears to be\ndivisible by 16 */\n\n/*Search after resources */\n\nRpoint[0]=0x0208+2*maxr+20+2; /* First resources */\nfor(i=0;i<maxr;i++){\n/* Find the size of current resourse */\npos=Rpoint[i];\nrsz=Data[pos]+(Data[pos+1]<<8);\nrsz^=sizemask;\nprintf("Analysing block with size:%04x(%d:%d)\n",rsz,i,Rall[i]);\nif((Rall[i]==0)&&(rsz!=0)){\nprintf("Unused resourse has nonzero size!!!\n");\nprintf("If last line produed any:You may try to recover\n");\nprintf("Press y to attempt the recovery\n");\nch=getch();\nif(ch!='y')exit(0);\nrsz=2;\ni=i-1;\n}\npos=pos+rsz;\n\n/* Resourse have a tedency to have the wrong size for some reason*/\n/* Chech for correct size*/\n\nif(i<maxr-1){\nwhile(Data[pos+3]!=keystream[1]){\nprintf(":",Data[pos+3]);\npos=pos+2; /* Very rude may fail */\n}\n}\npos+=2; /* Include pointer in size */\nRpoint[i+1]=pos;\n}\nRpoint[maxr]=size;\n/* Insert Table data into keystream*/\nfor(i=0;i<=maxr;i++){\nkeystream[20+2*i]^=Rpoint[i] & 0x00ff;\nkeystream[21+2*i]^=(Rpoint[i]>>8) & 0x00ff;\n}\ncracked+=maxr*2+2;\nprintf("%d Bytes of ketstream recoverd \n",cracked);\n\n/* Decrypt resources */\nfor(i=0;i<maxr;i++){\nrsz=Rpoint[i+1]-Rpoint[i];\nif(rsz>cracked)rsz=cracked;\nprintf("Resource[%d](%d)\n",i,rsz);\nfor(j=0;j<rsz;j++)\nprintf("%c",Data[Rpoint[i]+j]^keystream[j]);\nprintf("\n");\n}\nexit(0);\n}