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rickyfung

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Erase Hard drive manufacturer's information

Is there a way to erase all the manufacturer's information like brand, model and serial number from the hard drive. Is there a software that can rewrite the ROM of the hard drive or something similiar?

Thanks!
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Dushan Silva
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You can do a law level format using BIOS.

BR Dushan
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No.  ROM = READ ONLY MEMORY.
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David_Fong

It's actually stored in EEPROM, not ROM and manufacturers' tools can overwrite it, for example www.salvationdata.com/view/product_detail.asp?pn=00007 allows you to rewrite the s/n, and model name on Maxtors.

But why do you want to rewrite the serial number?
Serial number is stored in factory area on platters. You would need expesive hardware/software to change the serial number. On some drives, changing the SN can result with a dead drive as some manufacturers include part of the head mapping within the serial number.. e.g. Quantum and Some Maxtor Dia MAx models.

Mike
Just curious: is there a practical reason why you would want to erase or reprogram that sort of info from a drive, or is it simply an interesting question? If there's a practical reason, someone may know an easier way to accomplish it than trying to reprogram the drive's firmware....
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Mike Montgomery
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Another reason is if if you refurbish drives, then you may want to change the serial number to one that you can easily identify if you get a warranty return.

Mike
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ASKER

Dear Mike,

You are right! By the way, I have found the hardware+software to do that.
Thanks anyway!

You are right Mike, there is no EEPROM. Anything volatile is written on the disk.
Sorry! no such hardware or software!
Anybody help??
I have already provided you with a link to software that overwrites the manufacturer data on Maxtor disks, without you telling us which manufacturer there's not much else we can do.
Dear David Fong,

Yes, I tried the link. For Maxtor it's fine. According to the web page, it can change drive serial number and reserved IDs possible, allows you to DIY your own drive. However they don't have one (firmware repairer) for other brands like Seagate, IBM or Fujitsu. I tried sending them email to their distributor in China, but I haven't got any reply.

May be I should ask Salvation directly.
A quote from Salvation Data's page about their Maxtor utility:

   ...allows you to reset hard disk S.M.A.R.T in case the S.M.A.R.T has been in a disordered situation or damaged or you want it to be;

Whoa! Bless the poor little hard drives!


Sorry, I just love little typing slips like that.