trader_4 wrote:
On Saturday, October 17, 2015 at 8:32:03 PM UTC-4, wrote:
On Sat, 17 Oct 2015 12:55:10 -0700, Oren wrote:

On Sat, 17 Oct 2015 15:43:35 -0400, wrote:

There are plenty of tools out there that will wipe a drive. It is just
irrational paranoia that has people destroying them.
The tool takes a while to run but you can crank it up and go home.

Got a tool name? I have a drive where the BIOS will not see it, yet I
tried numerous times. I'd like to save it but I can't get access to it
or the data. The ones I destroy and save magnets from are ones I've
pounded (not literally) on trying to get to the data that failed.

I'd like such a tool.

If BIOS doesn't see he drive and the controller is on line, the drive
is bad.

Unless maybe it's an older PC with a newer drive. I remember on one
of mine, when the drives went to a higher number of cylinders, the
BIOS no longer supported it. But I think even with that issue, the
PC still saw it, just wouldn't work with it. But I agree, most likely
the drive is bad. Is he sure he has power on the cable to the drive?






The easiest way to wipe a drive is with the manufacturer's "write all
ones" program on the diagnostic disk.
If you just want to overwrite the unused sectors, fill the disk with
trash using a DOS batch file.
Something on the lines of
:start
MD trash
CD trash
copy some big file
:goto start.

To wipe a drive, either free space or whole thing, I use CCleaner Free.
There used to be some free low level utilities online that would activate
the on drive erase function too. What's doing with the newer drives, IDK.

Data is still there but all scrambled. Can be reconstruct file structure
to read it. When HD crashes mil-spec. requires to disassemble disc
platters one by one and smashed to dust one by one.

On Sun, 18 Oct 2015 18:53:09 -0600, Tony Hwang
wrote:

trader_4 wrote:
On Saturday, October 17, 2015 at 8:32:03 PM UTC-4, wrote:
On Sat, 17 Oct 2015 12:55:10 -0700, Oren wrote:

On Sat, 17 Oct 2015 15:43:35 -0400, wrote:

There are plenty of tools out there that will wipe a drive. It is just
irrational paranoia that has people destroying them.
The tool takes a while to run but you can crank it up and go home.

Got a tool name? I have a drive where the BIOS will not see it, yet I
tried numerous times. I'd like to save it but I can't get access to it
or the data. The ones I destroy and save magnets from are ones I've
pounded (not literally) on trying to get to the data that failed.

I'd like such a tool.

If BIOS doesn't see he drive and the controller is on line, the drive
is bad.

Unless maybe it's an older PC with a newer drive. I remember on one
of mine, when the drives went to a higher number of cylinders, the
BIOS no longer supported it. But I think even with that issue, the
PC still saw it, just wouldn't work with it. But I agree, most likely
the drive is bad. Is he sure he has power on the cable to the drive?






The easiest way to wipe a drive is with the manufacturer's "write all
ones" program on the diagnostic disk.
If you just want to overwrite the unused sectors, fill the disk with
trash using a DOS batch file.
Something on the lines of
:start
MD trash
CD trash
copy some big file
:goto start.

To wipe a drive, either free space or whole thing, I use CCleaner Free.
There used to be some free low level utilities online that would activate
the on drive erase function too. What's doing with the newer drives, IDK.

Data is still there but all scrambled. Can be reconstruct file structure
to read it. When HD crashes mil-spec. requires to disassemble disc
platters one by one and smashed to dust one by one.

If you overwrite the sectors, there may be some special machine that
can read the data under the new data but it is not a regular PC.

On Sun, 18 Oct 2015 21:50:57 -0400, wrote:

On Sun, 18 Oct 2015 18:53:09 -0600, Tony Hwang
wrote:

trader_4 wrote:
On Saturday, October 17, 2015 at 8:32:03 PM UTC-4, wrote:
On Sat, 17 Oct 2015 12:55:10 -0700, Oren wrote:

On Sat, 17 Oct 2015 15:43:35 -0400, wrote:

There are plenty of tools out there that will wipe a drive. It is just
irrational paranoia that has people destroying them.
The tool takes a while to run but you can crank it up and go home.

Got a tool name? I have a drive where the BIOS will not see it, yet I
tried numerous times. I'd like to save it but I can't get access to it
or the data. The ones I destroy and save magnets from are ones I've
pounded (not literally) on trying to get to the data that failed.

I'd like such a tool.

If BIOS doesn't see he drive and the controller is on line, the drive
is bad.

Unless maybe it's an older PC with a newer drive. I remember on one
of mine, when the drives went to a higher number of cylinders, the
BIOS no longer supported it. But I think even with that issue, the
PC still saw it, just wouldn't work with it. But I agree, most likely
the drive is bad. Is he sure he has power on the cable to the drive?






The easiest way to wipe a drive is with the manufacturer's "write all
ones" program on the diagnostic disk.
If you just want to overwrite the unused sectors, fill the disk with
trash using a DOS batch file.
Something on the lines of
:start
MD trash
CD trash
copy some big file
:goto start.

To wipe a drive, either free space or whole thing, I use CCleaner Free.
There used to be some free low level utilities online that would activate
the on drive erase function too. What's doing with the newer drives, IDK.

Data is still there but all scrambled. Can be reconstruct file structure
to read it. When HD crashes mil-spec. requires to disassemble disc
platters one by one and smashed to dust one by one.

If you overwrite the sectors, there may be some special machine that
can read the data under the new data but it is not a regular PC.
If you overwrite first with zeros, then with ones, then with random
- for 2 cycles - that's 6 rewrites, it is IMPOSSIBLE to reconstruct
the data. Might be impossible with fewer rewrites, but the 6X rewrite
is considered "clean".

Anything less than a 1TB drive is hardly worth the trouble,
particularly if it is 3 years old or more. Just destroy them and start
over with a fresh new drive.

On Sunday, October 18, 2015 at 9:51:07 PM UTC-4, wrote:
On Sun, 18 Oct 2015 18:53:09 -0600, Tony Hwang
wrote:

trader_4 wrote:
On Saturday, October 17, 2015 at 8:32:03 PM UTC-4, wrote:
On Sat, 17 Oct 2015 12:55:10 -0700, Oren wrote:

On Sat, 17 Oct 2015 15:43:35 -0400, wrote:

There are plenty of tools out there that will wipe a drive. It is just
irrational paranoia that has people destroying them.
The tool takes a while to run but you can crank it up and go home.

Got a tool name? I have a drive where the BIOS will not see it, yet I
tried numerous times. I'd like to save it but I can't get access to it
or the data. The ones I destroy and save magnets from are ones I've
pounded (not literally) on trying to get to the data that failed.

I'd like such a tool.

If BIOS doesn't see he drive and the controller is on line, the drive
is bad.

Unless maybe it's an older PC with a newer drive. I remember on one
of mine, when the drives went to a higher number of cylinders, the
BIOS no longer supported it. But I think even with that issue, the
PC still saw it, just wouldn't work with it. But I agree, most likely
the drive is bad. Is he sure he has power on the cable to the drive?






The easiest way to wipe a drive is with the manufacturer's "write all
ones" program on the diagnostic disk.
If you just want to overwrite the unused sectors, fill the disk with
trash using a DOS batch file.
Something on the lines of
:start
MD trash
CD trash
copy some big file
:goto start.

To wipe a drive, either free space or whole thing, I use CCleaner Free.
There used to be some free low level utilities online that would activate
the on drive erase function too. What's doing with the newer drives, IDK.

Data is still there but all scrambled. Can be reconstruct file structure
to read it. When HD crashes mil-spec. requires to disassemble disc
platters one by one and smashed to dust one by one.

If you overwrite the sectors, there may be some special machine that
can read the data under the new data but it is not a regular PC.

Agree. I wouldn't call that scrambled, it's overwritten. However traces of
the previous magnetization are still there and may be recoverable with some
very special gear and a lot of motivation. The more times you overwrite it,
the less chance of recovery. But for a drive a typical person is going to
give to charity, I'd say one pass is sufficient. If you're a spy for Iran,
then maybe you need to do more.

trader_4 wrote:
On Sunday, October 18, 2015 at 9:51:07 PM UTC-4, wrote:
On Sun, 18 Oct 2015 18:53:09 -0600, Tony Hwang
wrote:

trader_4 wrote:
On Saturday, October 17, 2015 at 8:32:03 PM UTC-4, wrote:
On Sat, 17 Oct 2015 12:55:10 -0700, Oren wrote:

On Sat, 17 Oct 2015 15:43:35 -0400, wrote:

There are plenty of tools out there that will wipe a drive. It is just
irrational paranoia that has people destroying them.
The tool takes a while to run but you can crank it up and go home.

Got a tool name? I have a drive where the BIOS will not see it, yet I
tried numerous times. I'd like to save it but I can't get access to it
or the data. The ones I destroy and save magnets from are ones I've
pounded (not literally) on trying to get to the data that failed.

I'd like such a tool.

If BIOS doesn't see he drive and the controller is on line, the drive
is bad.

Unless maybe it's an older PC with a newer drive. I remember on one
of mine, when the drives went to a higher number of cylinders, the
BIOS no longer supported it. But I think even with that issue, the
PC still saw it, just wouldn't work with it. But I agree, most likely
the drive is bad. Is he sure he has power on the cable to the drive?






The easiest way to wipe a drive is with the manufacturer's "write all
ones" program on the diagnostic disk.
If you just want to overwrite the unused sectors, fill the disk with
trash using a DOS batch file.
Something on the lines of
:start
MD trash
CD trash
copy some big file
:goto start.

To wipe a drive, either free space or whole thing, I use CCleaner Free.
There used to be some free low level utilities online that would activate
the on drive erase function too. What's doing with the newer drives, IDK.

Data is still there but all scrambled. Can be reconstruct file structure
to read it. When HD crashes mil-spec. requires to disassemble disc
platters one by one and smashed to dust one by one.

If you overwrite the sectors, there may be some special machine that
can read the data under the new data but it is not a regular PC.

Agree. I wouldn't call that scrambled, it's overwritten. However traces of
the previous magnetization are still there and may be recoverable with some
very special gear and a lot of motivation. The more times you overwrite it,
the less chance of recovery. But for a drive a typical person is going to
give to charity, I'd say one pass is sufficient. If you're a spy for Iran,
then maybe you need to do more.

There are lot of special tools and human specialists we don't even know.
They can reconstruct shredded paper, they can read characters being
typed onto ordinary monitors(One monitor I used work with on military
base had thick Al. case shield. To remove that shield, had to
remove 150 screws. Human voice vibrates window panes. Special laser
equipment can read human conversation detecting the vibration, etc., etc.

On Mon, 19 Oct 2015 17:08:03 -0600, Tony Hwang
wrote:

trader_4 wrote:
On Sunday, October 18, 2015 at 9:51:07 PM UTC-4, wrote:
On Sun, 18 Oct 2015 18:53:09 -0600, Tony Hwang
wrote:

trader_4 wrote:
On Saturday, October 17, 2015 at 8:32:03 PM UTC-4, wrote:
On Sat, 17 Oct 2015 12:55:10 -0700, Oren wrote:

On Sat, 17 Oct 2015 15:43:35 -0400, wrote:

There are plenty of tools out there that will wipe a drive. It is just
irrational paranoia that has people destroying them.
The tool takes a while to run but you can crank it up and go home.

Got a tool name? I have a drive where the BIOS will not see it, yet I
tried numerous times. I'd like to save it but I can't get access to it
or the data. The ones I destroy and save magnets from are ones I've
pounded (not literally) on trying to get to the data that failed.

I'd like such a tool.

If BIOS doesn't see he drive and the controller is on line, the drive
is bad.

Unless maybe it's an older PC with a newer drive. I remember on one
of mine, when the drives went to a higher number of cylinders, the
BIOS no longer supported it. But I think even with that issue, the
PC still saw it, just wouldn't work with it. But I agree, most likely
the drive is bad. Is he sure he has power on the cable to the drive?






The easiest way to wipe a drive is with the manufacturer's "write all
ones" program on the diagnostic disk.
If you just want to overwrite the unused sectors, fill the disk with
trash using a DOS batch file.
Something on the lines of
:start
MD trash
CD trash
copy some big file
:goto start.

To wipe a drive, either free space or whole thing, I use CCleaner Free.
There used to be some free low level utilities online that would activate
the on drive erase function too. What's doing with the newer drives, IDK.

Data is still there but all scrambled. Can be reconstruct file structure
to read it. When HD crashes mil-spec. requires to disassemble disc
platters one by one and smashed to dust one by one.

If you overwrite the sectors, there may be some special machine that
can read the data under the new data but it is not a regular PC.

Agree. I wouldn't call that scrambled, it's overwritten. However traces of
the previous magnetization are still there and may be recoverable with some
very special gear and a lot of motivation. The more times you overwrite it,
the less chance of recovery. But for a drive a typical person is going to
give to charity, I'd say one pass is sufficient. If you're a spy for Iran,
then maybe you need to do more.

There are lot of special tools and human specialists we don't even know.
They can reconstruct shredded paper, they can read characters being
typed onto ordinary monitors(One monitor I used work with on military
base had thick Al. case shield. To remove that shield, had to
remove 150 screws. Human voice vibrates window panes. Special laser
equipment can read human conversation detecting the vibration, etc., etc.

It will usually be easier to simply hack the company data directly
than to recover data from a drive that was low level formatted (write
all ones).

Stormin Mormon wrote:
On 10/16/2015 7:05 AM, Dean Hoffman wrote:
The next question would be if it will be easily seen. I go
through small (under 500 population) towns frequently. The pay phones
were just a little box hanging on the pole in some. Only one had the
traditional phone booth. Finding a phone in the dark would be
problematic.
Can one call 911 free from these phones? Will there be signs
saying so?
I think Nebraska has a law requiring the phone company to keep
one pay phone in each town.
Remember Lily Tomlin?

Years ago, I heard that a cell phone with no paid
contract (the old one that I used to use....) will
call 911, even if I can't make regular calls cause
I don't have a paid carrier. Well, if there is a
working cell tower within range.

Decided to test the information. I got my old cell
which no longer had contract or paid service. Dialed
911 (I'm in area with good cell signal from the
towers). A couple seconds later, a voice from far
away answered. I could barely hear, probably operator
with the microphone pointed towards her adams apple.
I explained what I was doing, and the reason for the
call, cell phone test. She asked my name and phone
number, and I answered honestly. Asked where I was,
and I also answered honestly. About half hour later,
two cops arrived at my place to check on me. We chatted
for a while, and I told them what was going on. Offered
to show them the phone I'd used (which was now in the
back of my van). I apologized several times for wasting
thier time.

Since that time, I've kept an old cell phone in my
vehicle, with battery and car charger. Would have done
no good in the case of the restaurant fire, but some day
I may use it to report a fire in a cell signal area.

-
.
Christopher A. Young
learn more about Jesus
. www.lds.org
.
.

There was a time I had a cell phone I kept in my truck. 90s. Most all the
older phones had antenna jacks to get better service. I think my motorola
razr still had one. Of course I still have on star in the truck, which has
external antenna. Havnt tried to call m truck lately, but have no current
paid minutes.

Greg

I was with a friend, and we ran out of gas at the top of a BIG hill, right by a sign for the gas station in the next town. 2 miles right off the interstat the sign said.

We coasted the entire 2 miles right into the gas station IT WAS CLOSED

I had some work cleaning solvent in my car. it was a 50 / 50 mix of acetone and methyl alcohol.

put a small bottle in the tankand nursed it to the nearest gas station.


now i mentioned this to my boss earl. who ran ut of gas soon after. he put a gallon in his vehicle, and had to buy a new carb. he was mad at me.....

every year at christmas the accounting department gave me a bill for one gallon of that fluid as a gag.....

On Tue, 20 Oct 2015 09:02:39 -0700 (PDT), bob haller
wrote:

I had some work cleaning solvent in my car. it was a 50 / 50 mix of acetone and methyl alcohol.

Back in the late 1970's when there was a gas shortage going on, I did
not have enough gas in my car, and the nearest gas station was 15 miles
away. In order to get to that city, I mixed 3/4 gallon of gas with 3/4
gallon of furnace oil (from my oil furnace). My car ran like absolute
****, but it did get me to the gas station. Nothing in the carburetor or
engine was damaged, but it took several tanks of gas before it ran
normally again.

On 10/18/2015 8:53 PM, Tony Hwang wrote:

Data is still there but all scrambled. Can be reconstruct file structure
to read it. When HD crashes mil-spec. requires to disassemble disc
platters one by one and smashed to dust one by one.
My Company use these kits:
http://www.appliedmagnetics.com/e_paddle_detailed.html