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.
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 that when the Xbox boots up is 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 remains locked. 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 unlocks 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
Need notes on dashboards that'll show it, LiveInfo, and the fact that you don't even need to know if you have your EEPROM backed up.
Master Passcodes
Aside from the standard passcode (based on the drive serial/Xbox EEPROM) there is also a Master passcode which you can use to unlock the drive 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 is no longer required!!
For stock Xbox drives these are:
- Seagate: Seagate + 25 spaces
- Western Digital: WDCWDCWDCWDCWDCWDCWDCWDCWDCWDCWD
- What was the other drive type? Can't remember, don't think the master code is known anyway.
For drives locked using the following tools the passcodes will be:
- ConfigMagic or later versions of EvoX: TEAMASSEMBLY (Does this include Slayers?)
- XboxHDM: XBOXSCENE (Only if locked with ATAPWD?)
Locking/Unlocking Hard Drives
Via an X-Box
Via a PC
- Using XBoxHDM/ATAPWD
- Using a Firmware Flash (Seagate only)
- 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.
