I've got a pretty badly damaged harddrive which I can't salvage anything off
or even reformat or zeroise. I can see it in BIOS, POST and System devices,
but it's unaccessible beyond that. It's under warranty and I've got an RMA
authorised, but was just wondering if there's anything I can do to protect
the data on it. There's nothing on it that's gonna bring down a government,
but it does contain a pretty extensive MP3 collection (not all of which can
be found in my CD collection) and a heap of business and personal documents.

Can anyone recommend an erase or format utility that will ensure my damaged
drive isn't readable by some bored harddrive tech after I return it to the
manufacturers?

Slamadatan <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:3f9cc7e1$0$23615$(E-Mail Removed)...

> I've got a pretty badly damaged harddrive which I can't salvage
> anything off or even reformat or zeroise. I can see it in BIOS,
> POST and System devices, but it's unaccessible beyond that.
> It's under warranty and I've got an RMA authorised, but was just
> wondering if there's anything I can do to protect the data on it.

Thats always been the big downside with waiting
until the drive dies until considering that problem.

The only effective approach is solidly secure
encryption of what matters before the drive dies.

> There's nothing on it that's gonna bring down a government,
> but it does contain a pretty extensive MP3 collection (not
> all of which can be found in my CD collection)

You wont be getting a visit from large footed fellas
who will be frog marching you off to the nearest jail.

> and a heap of business and personal documents.

The most that might happens is someone gets
a bit of amusement at the more salacious stuff,
like you getting your rocks off with goats etc.

> Can anyone recommend an erase or format utility that
> will ensure my damaged drive isn't readable by some
> bored harddrive tech after I return it to the manufacturers?

Not possible if the drive cant be accessed.

You've basically got to decide if you care enough about the
unprotected data to give up on the RMA and just buy a new drive.

"Rod Speed" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:bnil1b$11b1fi$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> Slamadatan <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:3f9cc7e1$0$23615$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> > I've got a pretty badly damaged harddrive which I can't salvage
> > anything off or even reformat or zeroise. I can see it in BIOS,
> > POST and System devices, but it's unaccessible beyond that.
> > It's under warranty and I've got an RMA authorised, but was just
> > wondering if there's anything I can do to protect the data on it.
>
> Thats always been the big downside with waiting
> until the drive dies until considering that problem.
>
> The only effective approach is solidly secure
> encryption of what matters before the drive dies.

Fair point. All the important stuff has been backed up, and in all honesty
there isn't anything that dangerous on there that necessitated encryption.

> > There's nothing on it that's gonna bring down a government,
> > but it does contain a pretty extensive MP3 collection (not
> > all of which can be found in my CD collection)
>
> You wont be getting a visit from large footed fellas
> who will be frog marching you off to the nearest jail.

Here's hoping. Word is that Madonna get's pretty narcky about such stuff,
but then she's not got particularly large feet...

> > and a heap of business and personal documents.
>
> The most that might happens is someone gets
> a bit of amusement at the more salacious stuff,
> like you getting your rocks off with goats etc.

Bah. More embarrassing for the goats, than me...

> > Can anyone recommend an erase or format utility that
> > will ensure my damaged drive isn't readable by some
> > bored harddrive tech after I return it to the manufacturers?
>
> Not possible if the drive cant be accessed.

Ah, but is it reasonably possible for the bored tech? Will he likely have
enough time and compulsion to start sniffing around? That is the hundred
thousand dollar (hypothetical) question.

> You've basically got to decide if you care enough about the
> unprotected data to give up on the RMA and just buy a new drive.

I paid over $200 bucks for it! I guess I'll risk that against the tens of
thousands I could lose in corporate theft and ARIA fines...

Slamadatan wrote:


> Can anyone recommend an erase or format utility that will ensure my damaged
> drive isn't readable by some bored harddrive tech after I return it to the
> manufacturers?
>
>
http://www.killdisk.com/eraser.htm

"Slamadatan" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:3f9cd9a0$0$23606$(E-Mail Removed)...
> "Rod Speed" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:bnil1b$11b1fi$(E-Mail Removed)...
> >
> > Slamadatan <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > news:3f9cc7e1$0$23615$(E-Mail Removed)...
> >
> > > I've got a pretty badly damaged harddrive which I can't salvage
> > > anything off or even reformat or zeroise. I can see it in BIOS,
> > > POST and System devices, but it's unaccessible beyond that.
> > > It's under warranty and I've got an RMA authorised, but was just
> > > wondering if there's anything I can do to protect the data on it.
> >
> > Thats always been the big downside with waiting
> > until the drive dies until considering that problem.
> >
> > The only effective approach is solidly secure
> > encryption of what matters before the drive dies.
>
> Fair point. All the important stuff has been backed up, and in all honesty
> there isn't anything that dangerous on there that necessitated encryption.
>
> > > There's nothing on it that's gonna bring down a government,
> > > but it does contain a pretty extensive MP3 collection (not
> > > all of which can be found in my CD collection)
> >
> > You wont be getting a visit from large footed fellas
> > who will be frog marching you off to the nearest jail.
>
> Here's hoping. Word is that Madonna get's pretty narcky about such stuff,
> but then she's not got particularly large feet...
>
> > > and a heap of business and personal documents.
> >
> > The most that might happens is someone gets
> > a bit of amusement at the more salacious stuff,
> > like you getting your rocks off with goats etc.
>
> Bah. More embarrassing for the goats, than me...
>
> > > Can anyone recommend an erase or format utility that
> > > will ensure my damaged drive isn't readable by some
> > > bored harddrive tech after I return it to the manufacturers?
> >
> > Not possible if the drive cant be accessed.

> Ah, but is it reasonably possible for the bored tech?

Yes, if the drive has just had the logic card die, most
drives can just have a new logic card added and then
the tech can cream his jeans till the cows come home.

> Will he likely have enough time and
> compulsion to start sniffing around?

Very unlikely unless he can see something obviously titillating etc.

> That is the hundred thousand dollar (hypothetical) question.

It does happen in some circumstances, particularly with porn.

>> You've basically got to decide if you care enough about the
>> unprotected data to give up on the RMA and just buy a new drive.

> I paid over $200 bucks for it! I guess I'll risk that against the
> tens of thousands I could lose in corporate theft and ARIA fines...

Yeah, the risk is microscopic. Even the stupidest monkey
will realise that if he does start looting your corporate
accounts that he'd be the first to be suspected.

You could trawl the web for pics of your nefarious
activitys with those poor goats tho. He'll likely decide
that you wouldnt be game to say anything about them.

"B.Al.Zeebub" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:4j5nb.166982$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Slamadatan wrote:
>
>
> > Can anyone recommend an erase or format utility that will ensure my
damaged
> > drive isn't readable by some bored harddrive tech after I return it to
the
> > manufacturers?
> >
> >
> http://www.killdisk.com/eraser.htm

Thanks for the suggestion. I downloaded the free version and made a bootable
floppy, but even though it could see the drive, it could not write to it.
Are most other similar products likely to have the same problem?

"Rod Speed" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:bnipgg$11av3j$(E-Mail Removed)...
> > > > Can anyone recommend an erase or format utility that
> > > > will ensure my damaged drive isn't readable by some
> > > > bored harddrive tech after I return it to the manufacturers?
> > >
> > > Not possible if the drive cant be accessed.
>
> > Ah, but is it reasonably possible for the bored tech?
>
> Yes, if the drive has just had the logic card die, most
> drives can just have a new logic card added and then
> the tech can cream his jeans till the cows come home.

Any online sources of information regarding such a logic card transplant?
Assuming I get get my hands on an identical drive, is it possible to trasfer
the logic card over (and back again) or must it take place in a clean room?
I'm handy with a soldering iron and a set of tech screw drivers, but
anything much more complicated might be difficult.

Try SpinRite. It is a strong tool and has worked for me, albeit on a drive
that wasn't as far gone as yours sounds.
Good luck, hj

--
______________________
please remove the obvious from my email...
"Slamadatan" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:3f9cc7e1$0$23615$(E-Mail Removed)...
: I've got a pretty badly damaged harddrive which I can't salvage anything
off
: or even reformat or zeroise. I can see it in BIOS, POST and System
devices,
: but it's unaccessible beyond that. It's under warranty and I've got an RMA
: authorised, but was just wondering if there's anything I can do to protect
: the data on it. There's nothing on it that's gonna bring down a
government,
: but it does contain a pretty extensive MP3 collection (not all of which
can
: be found in my CD collection) and a heap of business and personal
documents.
:
: Can anyone recommend an erase or format utility that will ensure my
damaged
: drive isn't readable by some bored harddrive tech after I return it to the
: manufacturers?
:
:

"hugh jass" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:vh7nb.1278$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Try SpinRite. It is a strong tool and has worked for me, albeit on a
drive
> that wasn't as far gone as yours sounds.
> Good luck, hj

Should've mentioned it's for NTFS on an XP system. I think SpinRite is a FAT
only tool.

I had a ten you old drive I had no use for, so I decided to play with big
speaker magnets. It caused almost no damage if the platters were still, but
with them spinning it caused tons of bad sectors in a few seconds.

A modern drive may lose it ability to track servoes and spin down under strong
magnets. Give it a try and report back.

"Slamadatan" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:3f9cc7e1$0$23615$(E-Mail Removed)...
| I've got a pretty badly damaged harddrive which I can't salvage anything off
| or even reformat or zeroise. I can see it in BIOS, POST and System devices,
| but it's unaccessible beyond that. It's under warranty and I've got an RMA
| authorised, but was just wondering if there's anything I can do to protect
| the data on it. There's nothing on it that's gonna bring down a government,
| but it does contain a pretty extensive MP3 collection (not all of which can
| be found in my CD collection) and a heap of business and personal documents.
|
| Can anyone recommend an erase or format utility that will ensure my damaged
| drive isn't readable by some bored harddrive tech after I return it to the
| manufacturers?
|
|