ATATool

<h2 id="usage-examples">Usage examples</h2>
<p>ATATool must be run with administrator privileges. On <a href="/facts/Windows_Vista/IASEUCTB">Windows Vista</a> and later it requires an elevated-privileges command prompt (see <a href="/facts/User_Account_Control/BjUhEq9u">User Account Control</a>). The target drive must be connected to a physical disk controller. The software will not work when using a hard drive through an external connection like <a href="/facts/USB/XcIKWLyg">USB</a> or any external hard drive.
</p><p>
Display detected Hard Drives:
</p>
ATATOOL /LIST

<p>Display information on Hard Drive 1:
</p>
ATATOOL /INFO \\.\PhysicalDrive1

<p>Set a volatile HPA of 50GB on Hard Drive 1 (HPA will be lost after a power cycle):
</p>
ATATOOL /SETHPA:50GB \\.\PhysicalDrive1

<p>Set a permanent HPA of 50GB on Hard Drive 1 (HPA will still stay after power cycles):
</p>
ATATOOL /NONVOLATILEHPA /SETHPA:50GB \\.\PhysicalDrive1

<p>Remove permanent HPA on Hard Drive 1:
</p>
ATATOOL /NONVOLATILEHPA /RESETHPA \\.\PhysicalDrive1

<p>Set DCO to 100GB on Hard Drive 1:
</p>
ATATOOL /SETDCO:100GB \\.\PhysicalDrive1

<p>Remove DCO of 100GB on Hard Drive 1:
</p>
ATATOOL /RESTOREDCO:100GB \\.\PhysicalDrive1

<p>Make sector 5 bad:
</p>
ATATOOL /BADECC:5 \\.\PhysicalDrive1

<p>Make sector 5 not bad:
</p>
ATATOOL /FIXECC:5 \\.\PhysicalDrive1

<p>Make sector 10 bad and then not bad again (alternative method):
</p>
ATATOOL /BADECCLONG:10 \\.\PhysicalDrive1
ATATOOL /FIXECCLONG:10 \\.\PhysicalDrive1

<h2 id="warning">Warning</h2>
<p>Using ATATool can permanently change the disk configuration, may result in permanent data loss by making some sectors of the disk inaccessible. Please use ATATool at your own risk.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a>
</p>
<h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>
<ul><li><a href="/facts/Hdparm/Ee8f9pLn">hdparm</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Host_protected_area/pxqPNGMe">Host protected area</a> (HPA)</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Device_configuration_overlay/u6kp7Yye">Device configuration overlay</a> (DCO)</li></ul>

<h2 id="external-links">External links</h2>
<ul><li><a href="http://www.datasynergy.co.uk/products/misc/atatool.aspx">ATATool</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1"><p>Hassan, Nihad Ahmad; Hijazi, Rami (2017). Data Hiding Techniques in Windows OS: A Practical Approach to Investigation. <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:2"><p>Data Synergy UK (July 2015). "ATATool – Data Synergy Windows HPA/DCO Utility". <a href="http://www.datasynergy.co.uk/products/atatool" target="_blank">http://www.datasynergy.co.uk/products/atatool</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:3"><p>"PowerMAN PC Power Management Software from Data Synergy". www.datasynergy.co.uk. Retrieved 26 July 2024. <a href="https://www.datasynergy.co.uk/products/misc/atatool.aspx" target="_blank">https://www.datasynergy.co.uk/products/misc/atatool.aspx</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:4"><p>"PowerMAN PC Power Management Software from Data Synergy". Retrieved 3 February 2017. <a href="http://www.datasynergy.co.uk/products/misc/atatool.aspx" target="_blank">http://www.datasynergy.co.uk/products/misc/atatool.aspx</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
</ol>

ATATool open-in-new

ATATool