[comp.sys.mac.hardware] How to recover a software locked hard disk?

ddaniel@lindy.Stanford.EDU (D. Daniel Sternbergh) (08/01/90)

I'm taking over administration of a small network of Macs in our
department.  One of the Macs I'm "inheriting" had an administration
application installed, allowing various levels of access, hide hard
disk when booted from a floppy, etc.  The standard stuff.

Well, one day, it wouldn't accept the previous administrator's
password.  To jump to the end of the story, we've tried everything
from using a loophole to re-format the disk (which removed everything
including the system, but left the password prompt *somewhere* on the
disk so it still can't be mounted or anything) and going over it with
a huge mother of a magnet.  Still the password prompt (which still
doesn't recognize his password) and still no access.

I don't know enough about the allocation of physical storage space on
the hard disk to know where it's being retained or what else to try.
Desperately seeking suggestions.

Many thanks,

  == Daniel ==                     Daniel Sternbergh
                                   ddaniel@lindy.stanford.edu
                                  {decwrl|sun}!lindy.stanford.edu!ddaniel
                                   BITNET:  ddaniel%lindy@stanford