Mac OS 8.1: Extended Volume Format and Password Security

This article discusses incompatibility between PowerBook Password Security 1.0.6 software and Mac OS Extended Format volumes.
Password Security v1.0.6, installed by Mac OS 8.1, does not work properly if installed on a Mac OS Extended (HFS Plus) volume. If you format a Mac OS Extended Volume with Drive Setup, Password Security will be removed automatically. However, if you create a Mac OS Extended Volume by choosing Erase Disk... from the Special menu while the Finder is active, the drive still contains the Password Security protection but it does not function.

This could present an issue in the future when updating the hard disk driver with Drive Setup. Drive Setup sees the drive as locked resulting in the Update Driver option being dimmed. The workaround below should permanently remove Password Security and let Drive Setup update the driver:
To ensure that none of these issues arise, you should turn Password Security off using the control panel before converting a volume to the Mac OS Extended Volume Format.

Note: Password Security v1.0.7 included with the PowerBook G3 Series and v 1.0.8 included with Mac OS 8.5 are completely compatible with the Mac OS Extended Volume format.
Published Date: Feb 18, 2012