Freecom ToughDrive Virtual CD Removal Tool

Discussion in 'Windows Guides' started by Nimrod, Jan 14, 2010.

  1. Nimrod

    Nimrod Exotic Vendor

    Joined:
    Jun 1, 2007
    Messages:
    1,991
    Likes Received:
    533
    Location:
    London, United Kingdom
    Guide to Remove the Virtual CD (Password Manager) Tool from your Freecom ToughDrive USB HDD

    Freecom decided when to make these ToughDrives to include a password feature, which while good for some people, is totally annoying for everyone else. Every time you plug the device in, it installs itself as a CD Rom drive and attempts to auto-install a password manager, which if your not using is a total joke. It also puts itself in your startup and runs on your PC even if your not using the drive. So if you plug it into a friends computer, they now have the Freecom Password Manager starting with Windows for no reason.

    This tool to remove it is available from Freecom, but they wont hand it out unless you ring there regional support, which makes no sense as to why they are incapable of putting this on there website. Luckily, I am sharing it out now for anyone who wishes to use it.

    There are two tools, version 1.08 and version 1.21. You will need to refer to the following guide to see which version you will need:

    [​IMG]

    Now you know which version you need, the download links for them:

    Download Password Software Removal Tool 1.08

    Download Password Software Removal Tool 1.21

    Note: You must run these as an Administrator, If you are using UAC on Windows Vista or 7, you will need to right click and run as Administration.

    Then follow the guide and press Update, your device will then have the Virtual CD Removed.

    If you have previously ran the Password tool, or if you currently have a password set, please read the appendix before continuing!

    Appendix:

    A) If you have previously ran the Password Tool (even to just see what it is) it will have installed itself in your system, take the following steps to remove it:


    B) If you have a password set for the current hard drive, you must remove it before running this tool as your data won't be accessible anymore!

     

    Attached Files:

    P.KID, Trebor and CurlySteve like this.
  2. CurlySteve

    CurlySteve Elite Member

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2007
    Messages:
    79
    Likes Received:
    15
    Location:
    Birmingham, England, UK
    thanks i wanted to get rid of that rubbish software for ages
     
  3. Trebor

    Trebor Dolphin Fan

    Joined:
    Jun 1, 2007
    Messages:
    1,221
    Likes Received:
    45
    Location:
    West Yorkshire
    Hmmmmm I never saw this happen when I got my Freecom Toughdrive Pro all those years ago (26/03/2007 according to Ebuyer). I just plugged it in, formatted the drive and used it. Thanks for the guide anyway.
     
  4. Nimrod

    Nimrod Exotic Vendor

    Joined:
    Jun 1, 2007
    Messages:
    1,991
    Likes Received:
    533
    Location:
    London, United Kingdom
    It was brought into the newer models sir.
     
  5. pietpuk123

    pietpuk123 New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 2, 2010
    Messages:
    1
    Likes Received:
    0
    I registered especially to say thanks...so

    Thanks!
     
  6. ajdean

    ajdean New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 21, 2010
    Messages:
    1
    Likes Received:
    0
    Thanks

    Do you have the software for Mac OSX? I cannot run an exe file on my Mac but whenever I install the disk it mounts a Password CD virtual drive and also has a small partition on the HDD which I cannot format and erase.

    Thanks

    Adam
     
  7. Nimrod

    Nimrod Exotic Vendor

    Joined:
    Jun 1, 2007
    Messages:
    1,991
    Likes Received:
    533
    Location:
    London, United Kingdom
    I'm afraid I dont have the software for Mac OSX, I'm not sure if they created it. It would be best to contact them and ask them, and if they do please let me know and I'll add the Mac OSX software to this thread.

    However, if you just wanna get rid of the Virtual CD drive quickly, just use a friends computer or some computer somewhere that has Windows and just run the tool on it. Once the tool has run, the Virtual CD will be gone when plugged into your Mac. I'm assuming you must be able to access a Windows computer somehow.
     
  8. JF_

    JF_ New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 29, 2010
    Messages:
    2
    Likes Received:
    0
    Just be careful when using this pwremoval tools - I used it on a brandnew 640G disk that is now useless. The password part is gone, but so it the rest of the disk :-)
    It is recognized as a Freecom USB device when I plug it in, but no disks appear anywhere, and reflashing with 'official' firmware from the freecom website does not work because it does not recognize this drive.
     
  9. InsaneNutter

    InsaneNutter Resident Nutter Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jun 1, 2007
    Messages:
    12,252
    Likes Received:
    3,724
    Location:
    Yorkshire, England
    Can you not even create a partition then format it?

    Hold the Windows key and press R, in the run box that appears type compmgmt.msc

    When the Computer Management window appears click Disk Managment and see if you can partition / format the drive.
     
  10. JF_

    JF_ New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 29, 2010
    Messages:
    2
    Likes Received:
    0
    Thanks InsaneNutter - but I already tried that, the drive only appears in device manager as something like 'usb freecom toughdrive', but it does not appear as a disk under diskmanagement. Partitionmagic can't make anything useful out of the disk too.

    The 1.08 tool flashes the disk just fine (while 1.21 does not recognize), but it is almost as if the no-password firmware is not compatible with the larger drives.
     
  11. PeteNetLive

    PeteNetLive New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 25, 2011
    Messages:
    1
    Likes Received:
    0
    Thanks Nimrod for a great article.
     
  12. Teejooo

    Teejooo New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2011
    Messages:
    1
    Likes Received:
    0
    I removed Password.exe when a password was set... I can't do anything with the HD anymore :(

    Can anyone help me?
     
  13. wraith-one

    wraith-one New Member

    Joined:
    May 24, 2011
    Messages:
    1
    Likes Received:
    0
    Recovery following using the removal tool without first removing the password

    If you have used the removal tool to remove the password software from the freecom USB toughdrive before you have disabled the password, then you have probably found that the hard drive is no longer accessible, and it will not accept formatting or partitioning.

    The only way that I have found to rectify this is to run the password.exe file from your PC while the hard drive is connected. (The password.exe is automatically saved into C:\Windows\temp folder when it is first connected to the PC, and if you havent deleted it it will still be in there)
    Running the password.exe file allows you to re-enter your original password, which will then allow you access to your hard drive. Once your hard drive is up and running, run the password.exe file again and remove your password. There is no need to run the password removal tool again following this procedure, you can just format or partition the hard drive as you like and never have a problem with it again!
     
  14. jkgm

    jkgm New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 7, 2011
    Messages:
    1
    Likes Received:
    0
    I have a ToughDrive Sport, but I have no idea what the model code is. All that's printed on the drive is a bunch of regulatory stamps. All I have found are the pci PROD/VEND flags, which don't tell me the model code. Any ideas?
    Product ID: 0xfc9a
    Vendor ID: 0x07ab
     

Share This Page