Topic: Cannot Lock Western Digital 120gb Wd1200 (Read 249 times)

erexx · « **on:** December 10, 2002, 08:50:00 AM »

I have been able to swap locked drives between xboxs easily
with Superfro's eepromer4... very cool utility.

However I ran into a problem with a new drive.
I get the "cant lock hard drive" error using Eepromer4 on the Xbox
and "Drive Not Ready" in DOS while trying to lock a new hard drive.

The Hard Drive is a:
Western Digital WD1200 120gig 8mb cashe Special Edition.
120 gig 8meg special edition.
WD1200JB "WDC WD1200JB-75CRA0"

In DOS, when using atapwd.exe, there is a Minus sign under the "S"
Meaning that the drive does not supprt the entire ATA command set.
Attempting to lock the drive in DOS anyway met with failure
(Drive not ready)...of coarse.

I am using a Soyo 6BA 440BX motherboard.

I find this hard to believe this can happen with a New ata100 spec drive.

I also have an xbox with a 60 GB Maxtor Hard Drive.
Maxtor 6L060J3
It is locking and unlocking without problems using Eepromer4 and DOS.
This drive reports a Plus sign under the S using Atapwd under DOS.
(Which makes sense)

Anyone with any ideas on how to get the Western Digital WD1200 to lock,
(New Firmware, Hard Drive Utility... etc....)
Please Help!

Thanks,

Tsharkou · « **Reply #1 on:** December 10, 2002, 08:15:00 AM »

I am having the same darn problem with all of my WD1200 HHDs. I have yet to try with Eepromer but NO success with DOS. I have locked smaller drive though! Hey, I was wondering if it is at all possible for you to send me the Eepromer? If so, I am at [email protected] Thx a mil!

erexx · « **Reply #2 on:** December 10, 2002, 02:20:00 PM »

I just got off the phone with WD customer support.
I simply told them that I was installing the drive into a secure computer system
And I was having problems locking the drive.
I told them the DOS utility I was using atapwd.exe reported that the drive
was not lockable.
The tech said that was not correct.

I could probably get a different answer each time I call but the
Tech spoke to knew exactly what I was talking about and
Agreed that it should be an available feature.

They are waiting for me to run their diagnostic software to confirm that the hardware is good
and told me that if it was good then I could RMA the drive for one that does support the locking feature.

I will follow up a little later when I get "another" answer from WD.

Uplate24 · « **Reply #3 on:** December 10, 2002, 10:15:00 PM »

Hi guys, I'm having the same problem with the same drive! I tried EEPromer but it won't launch on Xbox...it gets stuck in Exox.

Any ideas?

papawu · « **Reply #4 on:** December 11, 2002, 06:16:00 AM »

I am running the exact drive and I didn't have a problem locking my drive with eepromer4. How are you all running eepromer 4? I'm running right off the hd itself. I'm not sure if that would cause the problem.

Uplate24 · « **Reply #5 on:** December 11, 2002, 04:04:00 PM »

EEpromer4.5 wounld not load on my xbox. I remembered to rename to default.xbe first. Tried CDRW and boot from HD. I'm not sure what's wrong. I tried locking the HD with another system using UnlockX and still no go...says "Not lockable!". We need to find a solution for this because a lot of people are bitching about this. This drive does support ATA comands, so why doesn't it lock? I called WD and they told me they're not fimiliar with ATAPWD (which is a standard program), so that was no help.

Xed · « **Reply #6 on:** December 11, 2002, 04:25:00 PM »

Retail version of 120JB will be able to lock but if you have OEM version(ie. from DELL), you can't it.

erexx · « **Reply #7 on:** December 11, 2002, 06:31:00 PM »

Thanks for the "reports"
Please include complete model number, manufacture date
and firmware version if possible.

All I can say is I have no problem using DOS and the command prompt
to lock and unlock hard drives.
I have had no problems with the 60Gig Maxtor drives I have used in the past.

The Maxtor has no problems locking and unlocking between xbox using eepromer
running from the hard drive and from a DVD.
The Western Digital is the only drive I have had this problem with so far.

When I ran atapwd.exe on the WD1200JB for the first time
I saw a -Minus- sign under the "S" which means that it is not lockable.

I am very suprised by this.

This drive *looks* like it is not lockable with hdlock or eepromer.
I know not everything that is for sure.

I speak with WD tomarrow.

Uplate24 · « **Reply #8 on:** December 11, 2002, 06:12:00 PM »

So what are you guys saying? Is there hope for this to lock or should I return it?
Model number: WD1200JB-75CRAO
Date: 10/24/02
DOM: HSEANA2CH

No indication of Dell. I locked an IBM Deckstar 120GB with no problems.

I am very suprised by all this too!

Uplate24 · « **Reply #9 on:** December 12, 2002, 10:40:00 AM »

I found this on Western Digital's Website -- http://www.wdc.com/l...y/gloss0901.pdf

ATA Security The ATA Security Mode feature set allows the user to
create a device lock password that prevents unauthorized hard disk access
even if the drive is removed from the host computer. The correct password
must be supplied to the hard drive in order to access user data. Both the
User and Master Password features are supported, along with the High
and Maximum security modes.

AT Bus Attachment (ATA-4) The interface defined by IBM for the
original ATA disk controller. Western Digital designs the WD Caviar
family of drives to be fully ATA-4 compatible.

Circuitbender · « **Reply #10 on:** December 12, 2002, 12:55:00 PM »

I bought a WD SE 120gig last friday and had the same problem. - under s, eeprommer can't lock drive. If you get it to lock let us know! I don't care about live but would like to option to disable my chip. although I can just drop the old HD back in. I bought it at CompUSA in retail box so it shouldnt be an OEM drive, I'm at work or I'd grab you the numbers. It should be Lockable but I do remember buying a 40gig WD that "wasn't compatible" with via kt133 chipsets so anything is possible. I swore never to buy WD after that

I should listen to myself more. good luck!

EDIT - here are my numbers:
WD1200-75CRAO
25 AUG 2002
HSFHNA2AH

Uplate24 · « **Reply #11 on:** December 13, 2002, 02:30:00 PM »

Anyone hear anything yet? I'm still waiting for a reply from WD. It's status has changed to escalated.

ips · « **Reply #12 on:** December 15, 2002, 09:12:00 AM »

The WDC WD1200AB in my box locked fine under EEPromer v0.45. Just tried it last night.
Its a 120gb 5400 rpm Retail HD.

majik655 · « **Reply #13 on:** December 15, 2002, 09:52:00 AM »

then that is probably what it is.

We are currently talking about the new edition 8 MG cache ones.. 7200RPM

Not the 5400 2mb cache if there are ones.

I also am having this problem through dos.
smaller drives of all sorts no problems!

I have yet to try the xbox program..

can anyone confirm they have the retail (which mine is from best buy) 120 WD 8mg cache LOCKED ? and how and with what program?

viperman3 · « **Reply #14 on:** December 15, 2002, 04:51:00 PM »

I have the special edition 120GB 8meg cache 7200rpm drive and had no problems locking it. mine was an OEM version (just came in a anti-static bag, but has all relevent Western Digital stickers/serial numbers ... got mine about 1-2 months ago)

Author Topic: Cannot Lock Western Digital 120gb Wd1200 (Read 249 times)