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Re: Gparted MSDOS Sector Zero with WIn 7 v XP

Subject Re: Gparted MSDOS Sector Zero with WIn 7 v XP
Newsgroups comp.os.linux.misc
References <tq1km9$ian$1@reader2.panix.com> <lsicnb01vPUQd1n-nZ2dnZfqnPWdnZ2d@earthlink.com> <N86dnZUx4oFUcFn-nZ2dnZfqnPidnZ2d@earthlink.com> <tq2uhf$2ll9v$2@dont-email.me>
From "26C.Z968" <26C.Z968@noaada.net>
Date 2023-01-16 19:28 -0500
Message-ID <2pqdnTqsWtkIdlj-nZ2dnZfqn_qdnZ2d@earthlink.com> (permalink)

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On 1/16/23 2:31 AM, Marco Moock wrote:
> Am 16.01.2023 um 01:25:12 Uhr schrieb 26C.Z968:
> 
>>     Modern disks have TWO EXTRA SECTORS beyond the theoretical
>>     last sectors. One contains disk info - brand name/type/
>>     real-size and such. The other is harder to decode, often
>>     seems to just have gobbledegoop. 'dd' may or may NOT pick
>>     up on those.
> 
> Where is all that specified?

> Or is it just arbitrariness of the manufacturers?

   Hang on ... I *have* looked at those sectors before, which
   is why I remember what was in them. There IS a linux utility,
   hdparm, that'll let you peek - but it's been a few years.
   These are not partitions, they seem to be a few data sectors
   not part of any partitioning scheme.

   They are KNOWN as the "HPA" (Host Protected Area) and "DCO"
   (Drive Configuration Overlay) sectors and, theoretically, the
   spooky people could maybe fit a little spy program in them.

   If "sudo hdparm --dco-identify /dev/sda" returns anything
   then you have the DCO sector.

   The DCO can be removed and, theoretically, restored.

   To see if you HAVE an HPA "sudo hdparm -N /dev/sda" can
   be used - but NOTE THAT COMMAND COMES WITH WARNINGS. It's
   a case of where just looking can do bad things.

   One SSD I checked has DCO, dunno about any and all.

   Peruse :

 
https://niiconsulting.com/checkmate/2006/09/hiding-data-with-hpahost-protected-area-in-linux/

   And some 'forensic' (usually commercial) suites can unhide
   and read the HPA.

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Thread

Gparted MSDOS Sector Zero with WIn 7 v XP vjp2.at@at.BioStrategist.dot.dot.com - 2023-01-15 19:37 +0000
  Re: Gparted MSDOS Sector Zero with WIn 7 v XP "26C.Z968" <26C.Z968@noaada.net> - 2023-01-16 01:11 -0500
    Re: Gparted MSDOS Sector Zero with WIn 7 v XP "26C.Z968" <26C.Z968@noaada.net> - 2023-01-16 01:25 -0500
      Re: Gparted MSDOS Sector Zero with WIn 7 v XP Marco Moock <mo01@posteo.de> - 2023-01-16 08:31 +0100
        Re: Gparted MSDOS Sector Zero with WIn 7 v XP "26C.Z968" <26C.Z968@noaada.net> - 2023-01-16 19:28 -0500
          Re: Gparted MSDOS Sector Zero with WIn 7 v XP "26C.Z968" <26C.Z968@noaada.net> - 2023-01-16 19:44 -0500
            Re: Gparted MSDOS Sector Zero with WIn 7 v XP vjp2.at@at.BioStrategist.dot.dot.com - 2023-01-17 13:58 +0000
              Re: Gparted MSDOS Sector Zero with WIn 7 v XP vjp2.at@at.BioStrategist.dot.dot.com - 2023-01-17 17:09 +0000
                Re: Gparted MSDOS Sector Zero with WIn 7 v XP "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2023-01-17 20:37 +0100
                Re: Gparted MSDOS Sector Zero with WIn 7 v XP "26C.Z968" <26C.Z968@noaada.net> - 2023-01-18 00:04 -0500
                Re: Gparted MSDOS Sector Zero with WIn 7 v XP "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2023-01-18 10:47 +0100
              Re: Gparted MSDOS Sector Zero with WIn 7 v XP vjp2.at@at.BioStrategist.dot.dot.com - 2023-01-17 17:10 +0000
                Re: Gparted MSDOS Sector Zero with WIn 7 v XP vjp2.at@at.BioStrategist.dot.dot.com - 2023-01-17 17:17 +0000
                Re: Gparted MSDOS Sector Zero with WIn 7 v XP "26C.Z968" <26C.Z968@noaada.net> - 2023-01-18 00:15 -0500

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