Unlocking WD5000AVDS Hard Drive from PVR BOX HD Decoder: Removing ATA Password Permanently

Hello !
I have a WD5000AVDS drive
From the PVR BOX HD decoder.
And the matter looks like this ... The decoder is my property, I got it from my brother-in-law who broke the contract and paid for it.
Not so long ago and the decoder was left, so I decided to take out the disk and connect to the computer ... And here the stairs start because the ATA has a hard disk that I do not know .... and you must enter them before the systems boot. I tried to run the drive in the decoder to unlock it then without disconnecting the power I connected it to the computer and it worked.
I even formatted it however, after disconnecting the power supply and connecting directly to the computer, the password returns. Anyone have any idea how to take them off?

https://www.elektroda.pl/rtvforum/topic1911047-360.html#14822840
This method does not work?

I can not check because I only have SATA inputs on the motherboard. I have a disk adapter, but unfortunately I can not use it.

You do not need an adapter. You need a computer (preferably a desktop one) with the ability to switch in the BIOS of the SATA controller mode from AHCI to IDE / Compatibility. Checked by me on the Asus P5Q.

I have an office computer of some Simens Fujitsu and I do not have an option in bios I have only something like:

Well, how is it? And "SATA0 Compatible Mode" is what?

If I'm not mistaken this option sata compatible mode give enabled.

Ok, and maybe you already have Zu.exe applications from win 98 so that I can record and boot with it right away

And in the program only the zu.exe command - is it all?

Only.
But it may not work. I have the same drive, mine did not unlock correctly.
On one computer in turn, the process went as though it was correct, but the disk is not fully unlocked.
The system loses it after some time when it is used as a regular disk.
It comes with any USB port, which he probably did not do before.

I used to read somewhere that these disks from newer series have cut down firmware and so far there is no success using them as ordinary hdd np system.

Ok
But I will try after all and I can ask for a package with the program ?


And as for the SATA0 Compatible Mode option
There is only an Auto or Disabled option

Hello
You can easily unblock the drive with the MHDD program, you do not need to know the password.
Download the description and there is how to remove the blockade
greetings

For posterity - currently the easiest method of extracting passwords from THIS - I emphasize especially the word THIS - the drive is the WD Marvel + MHDD program. I got a batch of such disks (about 11 pieces, all WD5000AVDS by NC + / N / Multimedia). Below is the instruction for Win10.

We fly successively:

o We switch the Win10 operation mode to the test mode with the following commands:
and we turn off the computer;
o Connect the disk to the computer (you do not need to change the controller operating mode in BIOS / UEFI) and start the computer;
o Download WD Marvel (version 4.3.0 for me) - unpack .RAR and run the program. If we understand Russian, then we go further, but I assume that most do not understand Russian, so we click "English" - the third button from the right, at the bottom, and then "Run"
o We will see the GUI of the program. We switch the program operation mode from IDE / Compatible to SATA / AHCI (unless your BIOS / UEFI works in a different mode!) - marked 1 in the image below.
o In the list marked with number 2 in the picture, we search for our disk by trial and error method - we identify the disk with the button marked with number 3. We are looking for a disk that will return the value "WDC WD5000AVDS (...)" in the "Model" field.
o We open the tab marked with the number 4 - Other. We look for the "Clear password" option on the list and then select "Method 1 - Old Drives". We are waiting for the disk to be unlocked correctly.

ALTERNATIVELY:

From the "Heads" tab, select the "Edit Config Files" option and wait for the window to appear. We copy the string named "Master password" and using MHDD we remove the password from the disk. In my (all) disks, this string was:
.

Have fun storing items on your "new" disk.

Your post helped me a lot, I tried different methods, several hours. As I have a relatively new board, it does not support IDE (only AHCI) and it was hard to break through with something in DOS / WIN / LINUX. WDMARVEL is the only program I've used that cares about AHCI. My disk is WDC WD5000AVVS and it did not help to delete the password you indicate (old drivers) and the second option (method 2 in WD MARVEL), I did not have to run MHDD anymore. I initialized the disk, elevator in normal mode and years. Thanks!

@r6zielak Glad it helped. What was your password?

@kelostay32 same as you

WD5000AVVS - the first method works except that I was running on Windows XP SP3 PL 32-bit, the drives were in IDE mode and "Method 2 (Universal)" instead of "Method 1 (Old drives)" worked. Cheers if anyone is looking to see if this method will work on this NC decoder drive.