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2011
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BM67_BS67m02
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remember the user password. Both passwords can be set independently however the drive will only lock if a user password is installed. The
max length of the passwords is 32 bytes.
During POST each hard drive is checked for security mode feature support. In case the drive supports the feature and it is locked, the BIOS
prompts the user for the user password. If the user does not enter the correct user password within four attempts, the user is notified that the
drive is locked and POST continues as normal. If the user enters the correct password, the drive is unlocked until the next reboot.
In order to ensure that the ATA security features are not compromised by viruses or malicious programs when the drive is typically unlocked,
the BIOS disables the ATA security features at the end of POST to prevent their misuse. Without this protection it would be possible for viruses
or malicious programs to set a password on a drive thereby blocking the user from accessing the data.