DIGIT-ARC read-only archive · snapshot: July 23, 2026

How to disable HDD, but Temporarily ???

30 posts · originally from https://geek.digit.in/community/threads/how-to-disable-hdd-but-temporarily.33832/

rachitboom2
rachitboom2 Original post #1
Aug 11, 2006 at 4:53 PM
Hi all,

One of my cousins had got one of his HDD to be corrupted and now hi is asking one of my spare HDD for some time,
and I know that if I give it to him I wont get it back soon,

so pls tell me that is there any way to disable or corrupt my HDD temporarily so that I wont have to give it to him, and pls also tell me how make it run again ???

Thanks in advance !!!
ilugd
ilugd #2
Aug 11, 2006 at 5:24 PM
just say no man. Don't mess with the hard drive.
Vishal Gupta
Aug 11, 2006 at 8:10 PM
lol...

1st method: Just enter into BIOS settings and set all boot device orders to disable.

2nd method: Open cabinet and remove the power cable from ur HDD.
shashank4u
Aug 11, 2006 at 8:20 PM
load linux or other operating system in that spare hdd..
and u know what to say..
Pathik
Pathik #5
Aug 11, 2006 at 8:21 PM
yup disable the hdd from the bios.
Stalker
Stalker #6
Aug 11, 2006 at 9:06 PM
install linux on the harddisk, in that case it won't be detected in windows

has anyone got a better idea?? i somewat have the same problem
rachitboom2
Aug 11, 2006 at 11:00 PM
Oh,
sorry none of you are understanding my prob,

he will take it from me and then he will attach it in his system and then reinstall XP using a bootable CD as he dosent have any OS currently !!!

So, none of your sugestions would help me !!!
P
pops #8
Aug 12, 2006 at 1:56 AM
Very Sorry!!! There is one easy way. Simply disable it from your BIOS or loose the power cable!!!
If u Dont like u may......

U Have not maintained what type of HD, As SATA or ATA type.
If u have ATA type then u have another option, u can try. Plough another CD-ROM or a HD to the same cable. Then change Master/Slave jumper. Do same for both drive, which ll make confusion and Your HD will not readable for your computer. But in this case u r going to block both the device!!!! Sorry. Later u can change all the setting to back.

(Another option is limited 32GB to give illusion any one as bad-sector HD!!!! But make sure u back-uped ur data!!!!!!! Before changing the jumper for this trick!!!)
S
Aug 12, 2006 at 10:24 AM
rachitboom2 said:
hi is asking one of my spare HDD for some time,
and I know that if I give it to him I wont get it back soon,

Just look him in the eye and say an emphatic... NO !!!!

I have learned this the hard way - people borrow but never lend and never return in same condition so I now just say a big fat .... NO !!!! I dont bother to give a reason as you will find the borrower will try his best to knock down the escuses you give. I firm NO is the end of the discussion.
siriusb
siriusb #10
Aug 12, 2006 at 1:28 PM
If you are willing to go the extra mile to deny your cousin of your hdd, and you have no qualms de-soldering and re-soldering an smd, just desolder a couple of resitors/caps/chips or whatever is easily accessible on the pcb. As soon as he leaves, resolder'em back on. Just hope that you didn't remove the wrong ones o.o

Or, more practically, just hide it in you closet and tell him you gave it away or something.
D
d #11
Aug 12, 2006 at 8:23 PM
yea mate.. simplest is to disable the hard drive from the BIOS.. the next one's to disconnect power.. you should be able to resume as you'd left as soon as you're done with it..
Stalker
Stalker #12
Aug 12, 2006 at 9:08 PM
just say no!....or something like 'u have given it to a friend'. don't mess with the harddisk
satyamy
satyamy #13
Aug 12, 2006 at 9:36 PM
I too have a same problem like rachitboom2
but none of your suggestion is good & working for me
D
d #14
Aug 12, 2006 at 11:01 PM
satyamy.. what is the problem that you're having? why don't any of the solutions fit you?
Stalker
Stalker #15
Aug 13, 2006 at 10:38 AM
d said:
satyamy.. what is the problem that you're having? why don't any of the solutions fit you?

well, i think they both don't want their drives to be detected on their friend's comp but function on their own comp only............right??

well, i have the same sort of problem.......any ideas????
P
pop143 #16
Aug 13, 2006 at 9:01 PM
how abt selling ure HDD to him..! mean..if u dont use it frequent...bcoz..that peice wont go for any cost after some years...!!
Kniwor
Kniwor #17
Aug 14, 2006 at 12:04 AM
*www.popularshareware.com/HD-X-Lock-Hard-Disk-Security-screenshot-28972.html

u can try this
bharat_r
bharat_r #18
Aug 14, 2006 at 12:10 AM
there was some software called Starforce Nightmare which was used to play Star force protected games..u can disable the hard disk with that..
mediator
mediator #19
Aug 14, 2006 at 12:40 AM
Just hide the windows partition!
ayush_chh
ayush_chh #20
Aug 14, 2006 at 5:00 PM
i don't know it will work or not but try
changing the jumper setting........
make it slave......
or limit its capacity........:D
ilugd
ilugd #21
Aug 14, 2006 at 7:57 PM
hey, let us get the question clear ok. He needs to take and give out the harddrive to his cousin. So no bios changes will persist. And changing the jumper settings or setting the harddrive to slave and all is just a matter for noobs. If a guy can install a harddrive in his sys, he will know how to set a harddrive as a master or whatever. (Not that it will matter anyway). What this guy seems to be asking is if he can make the hardware fail temporarily and any such changes can only be done on the harddrive. The only answer which came even near this problem was by @siriusb.
djmykey
djmykey #22
Aug 14, 2006 at 8:00 PM
siriusb said:
If you are willing to go the extra mile to deny your cousin of your hdd, and you have no qualms de-soldering and re-soldering an smd, just desolder a couple of resitors/caps/chips or whatever is easily accessible on the pcb. As soon as he leaves, resolder'em back on. Just hope that you didn't remove the wrong ones o.o

Or, more practically, just hide it in you closet and tell him you gave it away or something.

Most hideous reply :O

I dont think that we can do anything like that. Am not sure coz u will have to edit his bios then for it not to be detected.
Stalker
Stalker #23
Aug 14, 2006 at 11:15 PM
bharat_r said:
there was some software called Starforce Nightmare which was used to play Star force protected games..u can disable the hard disk with that..

no.....u can only disable CD/DVD drives using tat.
siriusb
siriusb #24
Aug 14, 2006 at 11:59 PM
djmykey said:
Most hideous reply :O
Why thank you!

A more less-adventurous (ha) method would be to tamper with the wires leading off the male molex connectors on your hdd (if your hdd is not sata). Just cut the 5V(red) or the 12V(yellow) wire with a plough knife and stick it back with super-glue. Super glue is non conductive and will not conduct. At the same time, everything will appear fine. (Go ahead and let out an evil snicker while your cousin's comp fails to detect the hdd!)
When you get it back, just scrape off the super glue and solder the wire ends. (and let out another eveil snicker)

Actually, apart from the "say no" reply, this is the third relevant reply to your question. But don't ever try out my suggesstions.
I
Aug 15, 2006 at 3:03 AM
okay...i have some nasty ones....
1.As someone said above that superglue is non-conductive how about ....coating the power connectors with a thin layer of superglue so that when he plugs it in.....the harddisk wont be detected coz no power to the harddisk....samething can be tried with the datacable pins on the harddisk.But the power connector way sounds better.The glue can be removed later by applying some alcohol with a paint brush or best thing will be paint thinner that can be bought from the hardware store...costs 30/- per litre.

i think that will do......
thank me....please if you liked my answer.....i am kidding...no need to thank......just tell me how everything went......
ilugd
ilugd #26
Aug 15, 2006 at 5:53 AM
hey super glue is inflammable right? I hate to think what would happen if it burns up due to a spark in the power connector.

Never tried it yet, but i bet it will to give some cool special effect smoke.
N
navipta #27
Aug 15, 2006 at 8:42 AM
Hi Dear I m Navdeep


Go To The My Computer And Right Click On it
Then Go To The Manage Option And Then Got The Specific Drive Which U Want To Hide Just Right Click On Drive N ReMove its DriveLetter And C The Drive Does Not Shown in My Computer....


Thanx
With regrads,
NavDeep
I
Aug 15, 2006 at 9:15 AM
ilugd.......
It doesnt need to flame up.......see what i am tryin to say is put some superglue ie a fine coat just so that there is no open space left on the connector.....kinda like coating it in paint.Why superglue .......coz it dries nastily fast ....leaves no trace of ever being used ie visually....and finally he is not going to plug the molex connector when his pc is on by theway......so there is no need for sparking to take place.its just like inserting a plug into the socket with the plug covered with insulation.

Apply one coat.....wait for sometime for it to dry.....then apply another ...try some more times.....so that the coating becomes thick.
PS: doesnt require to coat all the four connectors.Only coat the red one and the yellow one.(not the wires but the pins on the harddisk)
ilugd
ilugd #29
Aug 15, 2006 at 6:30 PM
ok, @indian will keep that idea in mind. May come in useful some day. The inflamable stuff was just a query. No offence meant. OK??
I
Aug 15, 2006 at 9:09 PM
ilugd.......dont worry yaar.....
no offence taken on this side either......
We can learn.......after all we seek knowledge .All of us.
And also thats what forums are for .....sharing info and bashing each other's views .....with a noble thought...that is.

cheers.Thinking about hatred is the last thing a person can do....and also there isnt much time in guy's ilfe to waste time on thinking bad things about others.Hope i make my point clear.Feel free to comment ...the stage is all urs.