Wanted : Hacked chip recovery testers
 

Some members have reported having problems removing the hack from bogus memory chips. I have been experimenting with TestDisk to find an easier way to restore the chips correct size. Please read the guide completely before starting so that you understand the full process.

Using TestDisk you can delete the partition table completely and then create a new partition with Windows Disk manager. In over 20 tests on 5 different players the firmware remained intact. I have had no problems with this process but as all my players are legit I have not tested the process on a hacked chip so feedback would be appreciated.

You can download TestDisk HERE


Run TestDisk and select your player from the drives listed.
"BE VERY SURE YOU HAVE SELECTED THE RIGHT DRIVE BEFORE PROCEEDING. I ACCEPT NO RESPONSIBILITY IF YOU DELETE THE WRONG PARTITION BY MISTAKE"

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/5554/td1hv5.jpg

Select the partition table type

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/6721/td2tb4.jpg

Select the delete option

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/1104/td7nd7.jpg

Press Y to confirm

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/2297/td4xq3.jpg

Then Y to reconfirm

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/5267/td8yf9.jpg

Then select OK and exit TestDisk

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/1018/td9wk9.jpg

Disconnect your player then reconnect it. Now when you try to access your player Windows will give the following message.

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/630/td15ph1.jpg

After deleting the partition and reconnecting the player open the Disk Tool and go to the Partition Encrypt tab. Move the slider all the way right then back all the way left and press the start button.

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/854/peoe7.jpg

This will create a new partiton on your player and then format the drive and the hack should be removed and your chip reading the correct size.


Revised 12\10\2006

Re: Wanted : Hacked chip recovery testers
 

the correct link to download TestDisk is Here :)

OOOP's thanks ok1 :)

Re: Wanted : Hacked chip recovery testers
 

You are wellcome tadad1 :) thanks for my new name! :lol:

You put the link for TestDisk 6.4 and i put the link for TestDisk 6.3!

Here is the link for TestDisk 6.5 WIP for people wanna download it.
theses links are all for http://www.cgsecurity.org/os/win.pngwindows NT/XP/2000/2003

For other peple who want TestDisk for other systemes (http://www.cgsecurity.org/os/linux.png Linux, http://www.cgsecurity.org/os/macosx.png Mac OS X,....etc) you can get it from Here

Re: Wanted : Hacked chip recovery testers
 

Hello,

This tiny tool is amazing and free!
BTW, tested against my fake 4GB that is a 512 Mb Ram and here are results...

Before following the above advice, it was stating 474 MB, after the use of this tool it states... 470 MB... :/

Have any other people had encountered same problem or is it normal ?

Thanks

Gerome, The player locks off a certain amount of space for the firmware but the fact that you lost 4MB is interesting, I have not had this problem. Did you format the chip in fat or fat32?

Gerome, Could you do me a favour and use TestDisk to delete the partition again. unplug then reconnect the player, then open the MP3 Player Disk Tool and set it to do a Low Level format and tell me what results you get.

Thankyou.

Re: Wanted : Hacked chip recovery testers
 

Hi!
I tried this tool on a normal flash memory ( simple 128 Mb flash memory ) , well it works good but i had the same probleme as Gerome its when i formatted it usin FAT32, but its fixed when i used FAT :) , no chrged space its 0 Mb, but the memory volum its about 125 Mb, i think that 3 Mb is for the Boot sector! :)

ok1, I think you may be right. Fat32 seems to consume more space.

Hello,

I followed your path and then after partition deletion + unplug + replug my player, opened the MP3 Player Disk Tool i could not format it to low level 'Unable to format encypted...' messagebox error...
So I've been obliged to follow the entire description at the top of this topic, recreate a FAT partition and low level formatting it via MP3 Player Disk Tool, but it recognized it as a 470 Mb capacity this time... versus 474 MB before...
Is is normal ?