HDD Locking (Xbox)
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The ability to place a lock on a hard drive is little known part of the ATA specification. With a lock in place, only devices that know one of two special codes may read/write to it.
A stock Xbox requires a lock on the installed HDD as part of the security system put in place by Microsoft. It's primary passcode is based on the HDD's serial number and a key stored in the EEPROM.
When the console is near the end of it's startup sequence it will attempt to read the HDD. If it finds the drive is not locked, it will display a "Contact Customer Service" screen with an error 05. On the other hand, if it finds that the drive IS locked but with an incorrect passcode, error 06 will be displayed.
Assuming the console finds a locked drive it can access, it will open the lock and continue booting. The lock will click shut again when the drive powers down.
Using a modified BIOS via a flashed TSOP or modchip typically disables the check for a locked drive (meaning the system will boot without the lock present, whereas it would otherwise display error 05). Softmodded systems don't load a modified BIOS until after the system has finished booting and so cannot avoid this error - You must lock the drive manually with the correct code.
As a locked drive cannot be accessed without the correct passcode, the only way to correct an error 06 is by manually unlocking the drive.
Note again that when the Xbox boots up it does not ever fully unlock the drive unless you use special software to specifically do so. The drive grants it access when given the code, but the lock itself remains in place. If a console can access a drive, then the art of hotswapping can be used to temporarily transfer these access rights to another device (such as your computer, which may then read/write to the drive using tools such as XBoxHDM or Xplorer360).
You'll often read that hotswapping supposedly removes the lock from the drive, this is a common misconception - When the drive is powered down and restarted, it will again require the passcode to be provided before it will grant access.
Determining Your Passcode
It is typically considered bad practice to manually try to lock or unlock drives using the passcode. This is because the passcode for every drive/console combination is different, the passcodes are long, and the allowance for error is nil. Instead, you should backup the console's EEPROM to your PC, then use the Linux based locking tools included with XBoxHDM to work with the lock.
However, most dashboards can provide you with your passcode information. Additionally, LiveInfo can be used to determine it.
Master Passcodes
Aside from the standard passcode (based on the drive serial/Xbox EEPROM) some drives also have a Master passcode which you can use to unlock if the other code cannot be determined. However, note that you will still need to know the serial/EEPROM based code should you need to re-lock the drive for use with your specific console! Backup your EEPROM data to your PC PRIOR to unlocking with the master code - and if this is not possible, don't do it unless you are certain the lock currently in place is no longer required!!
The ATAPWD program included with XboxHDM allows you to easily attempt Master passcodes.
For stock Xbox drives these are:
- Seagate: Seagate + 25 spaces
- Western Digital: WDCWDCWDCWDCWDCWDCWDCWDCWDCWDCWD
For drives locked using the following tools the passcodes will be:
- ConfigMagic or later versions of EvoX: TEAMASSEMBLY (Uncertain if this includes the version of EvoX used with Slayers)
- XboxHDM: XBOXSCENE Only if locked with the Linux based tools
Locking/Unlocking Hard Drives
Via an X-Box
Via a PC
- XboxHDM contains various tools for working with drive locks, along with extensive documentation as to how to use them.
- Using a Firmware Flash (Seagate only)
- Some Seagates may have their firmware flashed in order to remove the locking capability (and hence any locks that might be present). Although this has not being reported to damage the data on the drives, it does make them impossible to relock.
