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Hard disk password security system

  • US 5,375,243 A
  • Filed: 03/07/1994
  • Issued: 12/20/1994
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/07/1991
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A hard disk drive having LOCKED and UNLOCKED states for use in a computer system, the hard disk drive comprising:

  • means on the hard disk drive for storing user data and a password value for operating of the hard disk drive;

    means on the hard disk drive for receiving a plurality of commands including at least one password value from the computer system;

    means on the hard disk drive for locking access to the hard disk drive to all but selected ones of said received plurality of commands while in a LOCKED state, one of said selected commands being an UNLOCK command and another of said selected commands being a WIPE DATA command;

    means on the hard disk drive for comparing a password value received from the computer system with a stored password value upon receipt of said UNLOCK command and unlocking the hard disk drive if the compared password values are equal;

    means for coupling to a microprocessor and for providing a WIPE DATA command to the hard disk drive from the microprocessor; and

    means on the hard disk drive while in a LOCKED state for overwriting all user data on said hard disk drive and then reset said hard disk drive to its UNLOCKED state upon receipt of said WIPE DATA command.

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