How to unfreeze drive in Linux?

Question

I run

sudo hdparm -I /dev/sda

results:

Security:

Master password revision code = [redacted just in case it's sensitive data]

supported

not enabled

not locked

frozen

not expired: security count

supported: enhanced erase

My objective is to perform an enhanced secure erase (how? I'll find that out after I know how to unfreeze my drive) and also to detect and remove a Device Configuration Overlay. Relevant thread: Error when running 'hdparm --dco-identify' in Linux

I am trying to figure out why --dco-identify is failing and I suspect it may be as a result of the drive being "frozen". I recall this being a problem a year back when I was trying to securely erase an SSD. I gave up but suspected that connecting it via USB or hotswapping it might fix it.

Why? Refer to: https://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1982585

So in the context of this post, I am trying to unfreeze my drive. How can I do this while it's connected via SATA?

---

Update: I tried this with an external HDD and ran

sudo hdparm -I /dev/sda

The drive is not frozen. Fascinating.

I ran:

sudo hdparm --dco-identify /dev/sdc

The command executed successfully!!

So that's confirmed but still does not answer my question about whether this can be achieved with an internal drive

Solution 1

If it's a laptop where it's hard to get to the disk drive to unplug it etc, use the suspend method. It worked for me. From the terminal I did this:

sudo systemctl suspend

Wait 1min, then tapped the laptop power button bringing the laptop back up and repeated the:

sudo hdparm -I /dev/sda

And viola, "not frozen".

Solution 2

Suspend & resume unfroze my drive.¹

I just suspended my Laptop and then resumed it and then my drive was unfrozen. (You may need to hot-plug your drive before suspending - I did not need to.)

This is much easier than your approach.

¹ _{https://serverfault.com/a/558556/453474}