Broken iPod's HDD as External - getting around HPA and custom firmware

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In the past, I've found that a broken mp3 player's hard drive can come in handy as an external if you can find an adapter/enclosure to fit it.
Recently, my friend's iPod ended up broken, so I decided to try it with the HDD that was in it.
HDD: toshiba mk8010gah
So here's the issue: I tried erasing/formatting the drive with Windows 7, XP, and OS X.
XP doesn't even list the drive in the disc manager, but still lists it under hardware manager. Windows 7 lists it in hardware manager, but can't format or erase. OS X recognizes it and sees its size/model etc, but can't erase.
I've done a lot of digging, and read that even HDDGURU's Wipe Tool and Atola's HDD Capacity Restore aren't effective. Apparently Apple has put an HPA/DCO on the drive, and then special firmware... and the only way to remove this is with special hardware.
Any ideas or thoughts?
I'd like to find a hard drive firmware repair tool that I can buy online, but it seems most companies only list product info on their sites (no online buying option).
 
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