Can MSI/otherPEOPLE RESPOND to MISSING "ATA PASSWORD" FEATURE IN BIOS (SECUR) ??

Question

Hello people,
Can you please answer following ?:
Note: I can fix anything (Engineer & x-Tech here), so rarely (if ever) ask for help, but one problem is really killing me with Desktop Motherboards:
I purchased your:
ProductName#: "Motherboard P67A-G45 (B3)", specific Part# 911-7673-030;
Part# not important b/c problem covers many Desktop Boards.
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Let me first state the Question/Problem (short), then go onto Explanation (lengthy):
MSI-SUPPLIED "BIOS" IS MISSING ABILITY TO SET "ATA PASSWORD".
IS THERE SOLUTION AVAILABLE or COMING UP; and FOR ALL PEOPLE or if not, COULD I GET ONE IN PRIVATE (might even pay a reasonable fee for modifying BIOS!) ?
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Explanation:
You may call P67A-G45 (B3) a "Consumer" Motherboard, but in reality we're using it for business (here).
Please assure your Technical knowledge is deep enough b/c to avoid bloating message, I provide minimum explanation for a subject some Sales folks keep confusing with another (people who use cheap computers, have no clue BIOS/PowerOn password has NO relation to Harddisk/ATA Password - so would help if an engineer or technically-inclined customers/enthusiasts respond to following:
If you use computers for serious business rather than "pictures, music" or similar waste alone; you are likely using either or both protections:
a) Encryption (Software or Hardware types) and/or
b) Harddisk aka "ATA Password" (been part of ATA Command Set since mid 1990's, powerusers know).  The term "Harddisk" here is interchangeable with SSD Drives (new SSD's e.g. Intel320series, are ATA Password compliant just like conventional/spinning harddisks).
I know all about Encryption and it is NOT the subject of this email, in some cases we cannot use Encryption to full extent (e.g. FDE [Full Disk Encryption] in a form of BitLocker, TrueCrypt, PGP, etc.), or we can't use it for the entire Harddisk/SSD, or it has tobe combined with ATA Password anyway.  Self-encrypting/Built-in AES storage like new SSD's from Intel (Intel320) or some WesternDigital harddrives (SED - Self Encrypting Drive) are also not an option.  Too long to explain, just please accept this fact.
All I am asking to please answer WHY "ATA Password" feature (security) is missing in BIOS and HOW to get it back, either for everyone or can I pay a small $fee to get BIOS modified?
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Explanation - Detailed:
ATA Password can be set in most business/hi-end laptops & some desktops BIOS's simply because they don't hide such functionality; cheaper/consumer machines hide it to deny 'idi0t-customers' [who only use computers for entertainment], though manufacturers like Intel , *P, *ell, *enovo/*BM or *sus may offer also on consumer models.  Too bad for MSI you might be losing sales for professional/business applications b/c as an example (my MSI Board part# P67A-G45 (B3) is a good choice for business use (we are using in medium-power CAD workstation, after installing nVidia 560 GTX Fermi).
Your board part# P67A-G45 (B3) actually doesn't have a BIOS, it's using UEFI - but I don't care how you call it now, we just need "ATA Password"
function restored.
By the way:
Even though UEFI may sound like a new great thing, it lacks what we TECHNICAL people expected in BIOS, so it's as "good" as Windows is "better"
than Linux, now it's missing some important feature.
Remember I politely asked for Technically-inclined people to respond, which Sales folks often are NOT.  They keep confusing ATA/Harddisk Password with other passwords - usually PowerOn/BIOS/Supervisor passwords present in most even "cheapo" computers - but completely unrelated & worthless (it can be
reset by kids in minutes)!  P67A-G45 (B3) does have that password (PowerOn and/or BIOS-style access), but it has no relation to "ATA password.
No professional takes "PowerOn" or "BIOS" password(s) seriously - it is a joke which can be defeated in minutes (even by kids).  I promised not to explain much, but let me say this much:
Your data is on a storage device, if a Thief steals your Harddrive/SSD & plugs into another computer/controller board ==> you're DEAD if ATA Password was not setup.  Doesn't mean ATA Password is hard to crack, but it is a real strong protection against moderately violent attack.  Ultimate protection is Encryption, but like I said I am contacting you to give us back "ATA Password".
Encryption is NOT the subject of this Message.
The missing ability to set Harddisk/ATApassword (also applies to MSI Mobo with SSDdrive attached, instead of Harddisk) is giving us a headache, in fact I can manage every technical problem but not missing feature in BIOS/UEFI.  Because hacking BIOS and/or using third-party ATA/Harddrive hacktools is very risky and so many people have ruined their hardware, not to mention that life is short and we are not going to spend it searching for some "Hacktools" to bypass BIOS.
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Security is one gaping hole with desktop Motherboards.
In addition to hi-end desktops, in laptops I personally started using Harddisk/ATA Passwords back in mid 1990's in *BM *hinkpads (*BM was first to implementATA "Security Xtension" added into ATA Standard in mid 1990's); later they were renamed as Lenovo, also I used Asus even consumer laptops offered ATA password!; now for business we're using "HP Elitebooks"; but this same ATA Password feature in Desktops is a pain.  Some manufacturers forget it.  MSI did not include ATA Password in this Motherboard:
Product# P67A-G45 [B3 version], Part# 911-7673-030;
Can you please JUST FIX IT at least for part# P67A-G45 (B3) PLEASE, we need it so badly I can even pay a reasonable fee.
I can't transform everything here to use Encryption FDE, even if I could I still prefer having that stupid ATA password
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Thanks if you can answer?
Max S.

Answer 1

Quote from: Jack on 25-August-11, 04:43:25
contacting MSI Technical Support is way you should try out first. Whatever I say will not keep other users from responding. So, please, try to relax a little.
I did.  They said at this time official response is to not change BIOS.  That's why based on experience I found this User Forum, some of the best solutions come from users who venture outside of standard canned response you might get from tech Support for one (1) board.
If I were some company buying 300 Motherboards, of course MSI might attempt a custom BIOS.
But the feature I am talking about is so straightforward basic, almost all business laptops (at least my EliteBooks now, and *sus, *enovo, *ell in the past) had iit.  It is usually (wrongly) called "Harddisk Password".  First time I had it in 1998 in *BM *hinkpad.
Makes stealing your harddisk difficult!  I keep industrial drawings + Banks/creditcards/emails on this harddisk attached to MSI Mobo.
If stolen, I will need a gun to shoot myself.  FDE (Encryption) is one solution, but for reasons too long to explain need ATA password.
OK so I will wait  alittle more in case someone did activate it.
P.S. I am not  a gamer.  But I am a player.