Annie - Perhaps the following link on information security would help
http://www.auckland.ac.nz/security/E...nformation.htm
Additionally, a hardrive from a laptop is not usually that hard to remove, and not that large. If you were to get a mildly priced (somewhere between $75 and $175) safe that is combination locked, register it to yourself with the local athorities, the safe manufacture, and the all local locksmiths. This would help secure your information. Unfortunately there is no full proof way to secure the data against a determined perpitrator with just the use of passwords.
At first I was under the impression you were having trouble resetting the data. As I see you are actually having a different concern.
If you would like more information about data security. Try searching google for classified data security.
You could also take this online course for training on how the government secures their data. Alot of the information will not apply to you, but the practices that it teaches would be helpful
http://www.hr.lanl.gov/scourses/lanl...ity/page01.asp
I do hope it is what you are trying to accomplish.
V/R
ID