Apricorn A25-BIO-500 external "secure" drive

[Don Y]

Hi,

I picked up a pair of these at a local thrift store for a couple
of bucks. It wasn't much money to risk and I figure there are
enough things that could cause someone to "discard" something
like this (outgrown, drive failure, hardware failure, lost key,
etc.).

So, on the chance that *something* (hardware and/or drive)
might work in each of them, I figure the out-of-pocket was
like buying a lottery ticket... all that suspense until you
realize you've *lost*! :>

Once home, I pulled the drives and verified they were operational.
Reformatted, etc. (I figure there was a snowball's chance in hell
that *my* fingerprint would unlock the things! :> )

Then, started looking for literature. And, eventually, *software*
(utilities to initialize the drive, fingerprint scanner, etc.).

<frown>

I have no idea why a manufacturer would hide the software that
(presumably) *only* works with *his* product! Do they expect to
do much business *selling* replacement CD's to legitimate
customers? Do they think folks like me are going to shell out
monies instead of just pulling the drives and using them in a
laptop?

(sigh)

Anyway, if I *could*, I'd like to get my hands on said software.
Any pointers or kind souls? Apparently, there is no way to use
the drive with the security feature turned off. So, if I can't
come up with software, I'll either move the drives into some other
"portable external enclosures" or upgrade one of the laptops.

I'll give them a call in the morning.

Thx,
--don

 

[Don Y]

Hi,

I picked up a pair of these at a local thrift store for a couple
of bucks. It wasn't much money to risk and I figure there are
enough things that could cause someone to "discard" something
like this (outgrown, drive failure, hardware failure, lost key,
etc.).

Grrr... forgot to paste the URL! Probably means its time for a nap! :<

<http://www.apricorn.com/apricorn-bi...28-bit-aes-hardware-encrypted-hard-drive.html>

 

[Don Y]

Hi,

I picked up a pair of these at a local thrift store for a couple
of bucks. It wasn't much money to risk and I figure there are
enough things that could cause someone to "discard" something
like this (outgrown, drive failure, hardware failure, lost key,
etc.).

"Nevermind" (Roseanna Roseanna-Dana) found what I needed!

 

[Robert Baer]

Hi,

I picked up a pair of these at a local thrift store for a couple
of bucks. It wasn't much money to risk and I figure there are
enough things that could cause someone to "discard" something
like this (outgrown, drive failure, hardware failure, lost key,
etc.).

So, on the chance that *something* (hardware and/or drive)
might work in each of them, I figure the out-of-pocket was
like buying a lottery ticket... all that suspense until you
realize you've *lost*! :>

Once home, I pulled the drives and verified they were operational.
Reformatted, etc. (I figure there was a snowball's chance in hell
that *my* fingerprint would unlock the things! :> )

Then, started looking for literature. And, eventually, *software*
(utilities to initialize the drive, fingerprint scanner, etc.).

<frown>

I have no idea why a manufacturer would hide the software that
(presumably) *only* works with *his* product! Do they expect to
do much business *selling* replacement CD's to legitimate
customers? Do they think folks like me are going to shell out
monies instead of just pulling the drives and using them in a
laptop?

(sigh)

Anyway, if I *could*, I'd like to get my hands on said software.
Any pointers or kind souls? Apparently, there is no way to use
the drive with the security feature turned off. So, if I can't
come up with software, I'll either move the drives into some other
"portable external enclosures" or upgrade one of the laptops.

I'll give them a call in the morning.

Thx,
--don

If it is just a bare drive, then it should be useable like any other
drive; wipe it and use it.

 

[Don Y]

Hi Robert,

If it is just a bare drive, then it should be useable like any other
drive; wipe it and use it.

No. It's a drive, in a box, with a USB interface, fingerprint
scanner and encryption software. As I said, above, the drive
works. I was hunting for the software which would also
let me use the drive *in* its nice little case *with* the
encryption feature and "fingerprint authentication".