Can I use a Self Encrypted ( hardware ) hard drive in my mid 2009 Mac?

Things may not work the way you think.

The new self encrypting drives endrypt everything. But unless you have a computer with the hardware to support a "sefl encrypting drive". You will not benefit from the encryption. If you plug a Self Encrypting drive externally into a computer with a usb device. Any computer will be able to see the data. Although the data is encrypted, there is no "Lock".

Here is what I bet is your case. Use the SED, put data on it. Pull it out of your computer, plug it into another computer with a USB device and the new computer can read everything on the drive even though it is "Encrypted" because the drive has not been locked by the computer.

johnfinn68 wrote:
Does the MacBook Pro support FDE and possibly FIPS too? I bought a Seagate Constellation ST9500422AS drive, and I can't seem to invoke the HDE function.

johnfinn68 wrote:
jeers to Apples EFI.

look here:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2739755?answerId=22835243022#22835243022

look here:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2739755?answerId=22835243022#22835243022

As far as a list of compatible OPAL drives is concerned:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2739755?answerId=22835243022#22835243022

or look for:

"SecureDoc Supported Self Encrypting Drives" - WinMagic

http://www.winmagic.com/login?return=aW5kZXgucGhwP29wdGlvbj1jb21fcGhvY2Fkb3dubG9 hZCZ2aWV3PWNhdGVnb3J5JmlkPTIwOmRhdGFzaGVldHMmSXRlbWlkPTMxMA==