Patent ID: 8245026

Claim:
A system for securing the contents of one or more data storage devices capable of storing a security password for unlocking and locking the data storage devices located within a computer, the system comprising: a memory; a basic input/output system (BIOS) stored within the memory for controlling the basic input/output functions of the computer, wherein the BIOS comprises a BIOS security setup utility that is operative during a BIOS runtime to control functions for manipulating data storage device security, and wherein the BIOS security setup utility is independent from an operating system of the computer; and a central processing unit operative to execute the BIOS stored in the memory, the BIOS security setup utility is operative to receive a selection of a data storage device, receive from a user a security password, determine whether a hardware reset is performed when the BIOS security setup utility is exited, and in response to determining that a hardware reset is not performed when the BIOS security setup utility is exited, exit the BIOS security setup utility and remove power from the selected data storage device thereby locking the selected data storage device with the security password.