In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.

Help from the Computer Experts, please

nononsensenononsense Member Posts: 10,928 ✭✭✭✭
edited June 2008 in General Discussion
I have to send my laptop off for some repairs. My concern is the data and information that I have on the hard drive. I realize that I have to transfer all of this to my stand alone hard drive but how do I make sure that the drive in the laptop is clean? My e-mails to and from clients are a question also. There isn't anything illegal or immoral but the information should be private and controlled by me and not the repair folks.

I appreciate any and all suggestions.

Thanks for your time!

Best.
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • n/an/a Member Posts: 168,427 ✭
    edited November -1
    If they want the info bad enough, it is there for them to get...Only way to "clean" it is to destroy it..
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • slipgateslipgate Member Posts: 12,741
    edited November -1
    depends on the nature of the repair. If they are not repairing the hard drive or any of the software, you should be able to send it with no hard drive and let them put 1 in if needed for the repair. Ask them.

    Other options are copying to CD/DVD and erasing from the drive.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • kyplumberkyplumber Member Posts: 11,111
    edited November -1
    zero fill the drive there are freeware tools that will do it.

    http://www.pcmech.com/article/ubcd-zero-fill-hard-drive-utilities/

    I recommend HIGHLY the ultimate boot CD
    http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • kyplumberkyplumber Member Posts: 11,111
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by BlackRoses
    ..Only way to "clean" it is to destroy it..


    not true at all.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • JamesRKJamesRK Member Posts: 25,670 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    AFTER you copy the disk, run a DOD WIPE.
    The road to hell is paved with COMPROMISE.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • 1911a1-fan1911a1-fan Member Posts: 51,193 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by kyplumber
    zero fill the drive there are freeware tools that will do it.

    http://www.pcmech.com/article/ubcd-zero-fill-hard-drive-utilities/

    I recommend HIGHLY the ultimate boot CD
    http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/



    writing o's will over write anything and everything, there will be absolutly no data to recover

    of course the repair person would greatly apreciate you putting an os back on, and will speed the return of your puter
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • slipgateslipgate Member Posts: 12,741
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by 1911a1fan
    quote:Originally posted by kyplumber
    zero fill the drive there are freeware tools that will do it.

    http://www.pcmech.com/article/ubcd-zero-fill-hard-drive-utilities/

    I recommend HIGHLY the ultimate boot CD
    http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/



    writing o's will over write anything and everything, there will be absolutly no data to recover

    of course the repair person would greatly apreciate you putting an os back on, and will speed the return of your puter


    Not necessarily true. All hard drives have a buffer and the buffer often contains data that can be recovered. Even after a DOD wipe.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • JamesRKJamesRK Member Posts: 25,670 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The technician ain't going to try that hard to look at his eMail. [:D]
    The road to hell is paved with COMPROMISE.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • 1911a1-fan1911a1-fan Member Posts: 51,193 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by slipgate
    quote:Originally posted by 1911a1fan
    quote:Originally posted by kyplumber
    zero fill the drive there are freeware tools that will do it.

    http://www.pcmech.com/article/ubcd-zero-fill-hard-drive-utilities/

    I recommend HIGHLY the ultimate boot CD
    http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/



    writing o's will over write anything and everything, there will be absolutly no data to recover

    of course the repair person would greatly apreciate you putting an os back on, and will speed the return of your puter


    Not necessarily true. All hard drives have a buffer and the buffer often contains data that can be recovered. Even after a DOD wipe.


    so tell me more about this buffer, how big is it?, what information does it hold?
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • 1911a1-fan1911a1-fan Member Posts: 51,193 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    no?

    ok a buffer is like a skip buffer on a cd player, it varies in size from 2megs to 32 megs on newer bigger hard drives, everything goes through the buffer before it writes to the hd, and it caches everything out as it writes, even o's

    most hard drives sold in a computer has a 8meg buffer, not enough to hold anything at all
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • 1911a1-fan1911a1-fan Member Posts: 51,193 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    did i get it right??
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • nononsensenononsense Member Posts: 10,928 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    O.K., if I can interject here for a second, I understand how to destroy a hard drive, I've done that with the drives that contain my machining programs and drawings.

    What I wanted to confirm is whether I can leave the OS intact, copy my files and e-mails to another hard drive, erase those files, then over write all of those files with a program such as Secure Shredder or CCleaner. Does that make any sense?

    I guess I'm just looking for a confirmation of the process that I think I can handle without destroying the hard drive. Yes, I could take this one out but they prefer I leave it in. I asked. They think it's the NIT card but they're not sure.

    Thanks!

    Best.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • zipperzapzipperzap Member Posts: 25,057
    edited November -1
    Yep - don't want to get caught with all that kiddie porn on there.
    [:D]
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • 1911a1-fan1911a1-fan Member Posts: 51,193 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by nononsense

    O.K., if I can interject here for a second, I understand how to destroy a hard drive, I've done that with the drives that contain my machining programs and drawings.

    What I wanted to confirm is whether I can leave the OS intact, copy my files and e-mails to another hard drive, erase those files, then over write all of those files with a program such as Secure Shredder or CCleaner. Does that make any sense?

    I guess I'm just looking for a confirmation of the process that I think I can handle without destroying the hard drive. Yes, I could take this one out but they prefer I leave it in. I asked. They think it's the NIT card but they're not sure.

    Thanks!

    Best.





    remove the info you want and just do a format with the original software, i wouldn't worry about it, they are not worried about doing a csi on your puter, they just want to get on with the next one


    o the drive does not destroy it, in fact it can over write scratches and bad sectors, but takes forever with these bigger drives
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • nononsensenononsense Member Posts: 10,928 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    1911a1fan,

    Thank you. I am concerned for client information and material and I want to err on the side of protecting them.

    Best.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • 1911a1-fan1911a1-fan Member Posts: 51,193 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    np

    i do apologise here too for the tone, i've not had a good day



    sorry slipgate for the unintended sarcasm
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Tailgunner1954Tailgunner1954 Member Posts: 7,734 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    NOT a expert, but what about simply coping the files/e-mails you want to save to a "thumb drive" (one of those thingies you plug into the USP port, measures about 2 1/2" x 5/8" x 3/8" and costs about $10-25). After making the copy, delete the files from the hard drive, and reload them after the computer is repaired.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • nononsensenononsense Member Posts: 10,928 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Tailgunner1954,

    That was my plan and why I was asking. I have a 500 GB hard drive that store drawings and CNC programs on so I was going to copy over to that.

    From my previous post:

    "What I wanted to confirm is whether I can leave the OS intact, copy my files and e-mails to another hard drive, erase those files, then over write all of those files with a program such as Secure Shredder or CCleaner. Does that make any sense?"

    Anyway, most seem to agree that there shouldn't be any problem doing it that way so that's where I'm headed now.

    Thanks.

    Best.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • scrumpyjackscrumpyjack Member Posts: 5,336 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Tailgunner...Simply deleting files does not remove them from the harddrive. Someone who knows where to look can read every email you've ever sent or received with that computer.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Sign In or Register to comment.