Let it become permanent record that I turned to this website as soon as I found out by word-of-mouth. Looking forward to people's thoughtful comments here.
Very sad day.
I know that when Gateway sold its Professional Services Unit to MPC (formerly MicronPC) in 2007 and then MPC filed for chapter 11 a year later, MPC was obligated to honor the existing warranties whether they were originally contracted with the former Gateway unit or the later MPC unit. To this day, we're still having warranty work done by a third-party company on behalf of Gateway/MPC.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MPC_Computers
You know how data restoration companies do it?
They take out the spindle with the platters, and put it in their own reading device with its own controller. And with that you can read and write the exact bits (as long as quantum physics allow it). But the head has to be compatible (e.g. perpendicular recording needs entirely different heads).
I bet those devices can be bought, and I bet their controller is actually just software on the computer (for flexibility). I also bet they come with different head configurations.
But they are definitely not going to be cheap.
Hey, at least it is a real solution.:)
Having worked for a successful "data restoration company", I can say that you are absolutely incorrect. There is no mysterious 'reading device with its own controller'. Why would you even need one when the drive you're working on is often modular? Individual components can often be replaced (head stack, spindle motor, PCB, etc) from another drive that matches the original in a very specific way (this differs by manufacturer).
Have you actually ever been trained to perform invasive data recovery, or are you just going by what someone told you over the phone?
On the other hand, I actually have to thank Infinity Ward for MW2, for one simple reason: it's been a while since any American game depicted a proper, honest-to-God Russian invasion of U.S. soil, complete with shelled cute "American Dream" neighborhoods and burning White House, and the overall gloomy atmosphere of verging on defeat. At least it's markedly different from your typical drivel of a U.S. Rambo squad on rampage somewhere in Siberia, taking out Russian soldiers by the thousands. Just as unrealistic, too, but hey, at least you can appreciate how it looks from the other side now. I only wish there was an option to play for the paratroopers in the initial wave:)
The model number listed in this scenario is 'ST3500320AS'. Note the 'ST'. Re-branded Seagate/Maxtor drives start with 'STM'.
So as far as drive technology goes, the affected editions should be Seagate-original designs.
However, if they've (mistakenly) added Maxtor engineers to their PCB/firmware tech teams...
SpinRite is not an alternative to professional data recovery, but simply one of the many steps you can take during the recovery process. SpinRite does not repair a seized motor assembly, failed electronics (circuit board or otherwise), damaged/failed read/write head assembly, firmware corruption, etc...these symptoms need to be diagnosed and repaired by an experienced recovery specialist. Many situations, 60% by Ontrack's figures, do not fall under the 'software coulda got it' category.
Using forensic search methods I was able to prove the case that the defendant had intended to send sensitive materials to the plaintiff's competitors via Hotmail. The cache file was partially overwritten, but there was no mistaking what the browser was able to display, even before cleaning the data space of the offending newer entry. I was able to prove the date, time, to and from addresses, subject, message and attachment as the sender saw it on his screen some weeks prior. What I couldn't prove was that the defendant actually hit the 'send' button. DOH! I was unable to find anything after that date/time showing his Sent folder and there were no replies in the two Inbox page caches I found.
So...just because it's webmail doesn't mean you're free and clear.
I mean really, this was worthy of a book? Couldn't these things have been covered in a linux/unix/web admin forum? Rather, *aren't* these things covered in such a way already? Am I asking too many questions?
At first I read your post and wanted to hit you with something solid and blunt. But you offer a second perspective I had only briefly considered then waved-off. Now that I've read his main page (evanwashere.com) I'm starting to favor your view. This looks like a hoax. Same as helpwinmybet.com. Ugh.
I fear for Apple's business. It's been 'doomed to fail' for decades by the uninformed (and those who just plain don't get it), but I always stood firm on my faith. But this...this truly scares me. Cue death countdown and Dvorak commentary.
I hope MS DRM in future products is this unbreakable...psshh
Re:Does not higher density mean higher risk?
on
Hard Drive Window
·
· Score: 1
Anything from the Maxtor DiamondMax series, almost every IBM/Hitachi, almost all WD Caviar Arch. V and newer series, Seagate 7200.x series, Samsung SpinPoint series...and thats just some of the 3.5" lineup.
Take a loot there. The T8 screw right above the label (to the left in this pic) goes directly into the top of the platter spindle, affecting alignment. Between the capacity spec and the model number under the label is another T8 screw that goes directly into the pivot of the head assembly.
Re:Does not higher density mean higher risk?
on
Hard Drive Window
·
· Score: 1
As I have stated elsewhere, I took apart a drive with growing bad sectors and within SECONDS of being opened, the drive was DESTROYED. It initially worked and while open and spinning it died completely, returning no data at all (forever trying to read).
In order to take that top cover off you had to remove one or two screws (depends on model) that keep the spindle and head assembly perfectly aligned. There are perimeter screws and then there are one or two toward the centerline of the drive, one should be offset (this would be the head assembly) and the other is perfectly centered (for the spindle screw). Removing those allows some movement which would cause the instant destruction you described. Congrats, you learned the hard way.
Assuming you do the mod properly, there's no reason to leave dust particles behind in the case. So if we rule that out there's really no reason why capacity would affect difficulty. I replace head assemblies, solder PCBs, and work with drive firmware for a living. Dust and other particulates are always a big concern, and there are methods we use to keep the risk as low as possible. And it doesn't require working inside an air-tight bubble - though we do have that option for certain situations and it can come in handy.
Newer drives with increased capacity won't make this mod any more difficult. They still use the same physical size platters, same physical size casing, still has a spindle, motor, read/write assembly, and circuit board on back. If anything, just the abnormal case design on that series of WD Caviar is more difficult because of how the top cover extends down around the sides of the drive casing.
You must live on the first floor and I also assume you don't relocate often. Try getting a 215lbs. 36" CRT HDTV up a couple flights of stairs. Even with the home delivery options you're lucky if the thugs don't damage your set, your building, or both.
Slashdot Mirror
Let it become permanent record that I turned to this website as soon as I found out by word-of-mouth. Looking forward to people's thoughtful comments here. Very sad day.
Thank you for the tabs on top tip, i was looking for the "Un-kill Your Face" checkbox before I read your post. That'll do.
I know that when Gateway sold its Professional Services Unit to MPC (formerly MicronPC) in 2007 and then MPC filed for chapter 11 a year later, MPC was obligated to honor the existing warranties whether they were originally contracted with the former Gateway unit or the later MPC unit. To this day, we're still having warranty work done by a third-party company on behalf of Gateway/MPC. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MPC_Computers
Similar to the War on Drugs, the small fish and the users get pinched while the root of the issue goes ignored.
You know how data restoration companies do it? They take out the spindle with the platters, and put it in their own reading device with its own controller. And with that you can read and write the exact bits (as long as quantum physics allow it). But the head has to be compatible (e.g. perpendicular recording needs entirely different heads).
I bet those devices can be bought, and I bet their controller is actually just software on the computer (for flexibility). I also bet they come with different head configurations. But they are definitely not going to be cheap.
Hey, at least it is a real solution. :)
Having worked for a successful "data restoration company", I can say that you are absolutely incorrect. There is no mysterious 'reading device with its own controller'. Why would you even need one when the drive you're working on is often modular? Individual components can often be replaced (head stack, spindle motor, PCB, etc) from another drive that matches the original in a very specific way (this differs by manufacturer). Have you actually ever been trained to perform invasive data recovery, or are you just going by what someone told you over the phone?
On the other hand, I actually have to thank Infinity Ward for MW2, for one simple reason: it's been a while since any American game depicted a proper, honest-to-God Russian invasion of U.S. soil, complete with shelled cute "American Dream" neighborhoods and burning White House, and the overall gloomy atmosphere of verging on defeat. At least it's markedly different from your typical drivel of a U.S. Rambo squad on rampage somewhere in Siberia, taking out Russian soldiers by the thousands. Just as unrealistic, too, but hey, at least you can appreciate how it looks from the other side now. I only wish there was an option to play for the paratroopers in the initial wave :)
Take a look at World in Conflict for PC. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_in_conflict
The model number listed in this scenario is 'ST3500320AS'. Note the 'ST'. Re-branded Seagate/Maxtor drives start with 'STM'. So as far as drive technology goes, the affected editions should be Seagate-original designs. However, if they've (mistakenly) added Maxtor engineers to their PCB/firmware tech teams...
Perhaps TVersity will come to the rescue. I can already stream many web sources to my DirecTV HR20, Netflix could be the next best thing.
can we expect the book? Surely she's still just as greedy, and what better way?
see title.
SpinRite is not an alternative to professional data recovery, but simply one of the many steps you can take during the recovery process. SpinRite does not repair a seized motor assembly, failed electronics (circuit board or otherwise), damaged/failed read/write head assembly, firmware corruption, etc...these symptoms need to be diagnosed and repaired by an experienced recovery specialist. Many situations, 60% by Ontrack's figures, do not fall under the 'software coulda got it' category.
Using forensic search methods I was able to prove the case that the defendant had intended to send sensitive materials to the plaintiff's competitors via Hotmail. The cache file was partially overwritten, but there was no mistaking what the browser was able to display, even before cleaning the data space of the offending newer entry. I was able to prove the date, time, to and from addresses, subject, message and attachment as the sender saw it on his screen some weeks prior. What I couldn't prove was that the defendant actually hit the 'send' button. DOH! I was unable to find anything after that date/time showing his Sent folder and there were no replies in the two Inbox page caches I found.
So...just because it's webmail doesn't mean you're free and clear.
I mean really, this was worthy of a book? Couldn't these things have been covered in a linux/unix/web admin forum? Rather, *aren't* these things covered in such a way already? Am I asking too many questions?
At first I read your post and wanted to hit you with something solid and blunt. But you offer a second perspective I had only briefly considered then waved-off. Now that I've read his main page (evanwashere.com) I'm starting to favor your view. This looks like a hoax. Same as helpwinmybet.com. Ugh.
these same people also claim they've had sex and will one day move out of mom's house...
I'll believe it when I see it.
I fear for Apple's business. It's been 'doomed to fail' for decades by the uninformed (and those who just plain don't get it), but I always stood firm on my faith. But this...this truly scares me. Cue death countdown and Dvorak commentary.
I hope MS DRM in future products is this unbreakable...psshh
Anything from the Maxtor DiamondMax series, almost every IBM/Hitachi, almost all WD Caviar Arch. V and newer series, Seagate 7200.x series, Samsung SpinPoint series...and thats just some of the 3.5" lineup.
. jpg
http://www.harddriveupgrade.com/hard_drive_120gxp
Take a loot there. The T8 screw right above the label (to the left in this pic) goes directly into the top of the platter spindle, affecting alignment. Between the capacity spec and the model number under the label is another T8 screw that goes directly into the pivot of the head assembly.
As I have stated elsewhere, I took apart a drive with growing bad sectors and within SECONDS of being opened, the drive was DESTROYED. It initially worked and while open and spinning it died completely, returning no data at all (forever trying to read).
In order to take that top cover off you had to remove one or two screws (depends on model) that keep the spindle and head assembly perfectly aligned. There are perimeter screws and then there are one or two toward the centerline of the drive, one should be offset (this would be the head assembly) and the other is perfectly centered (for the spindle screw). Removing those allows some movement which would cause the instant destruction you described. Congrats, you learned the hard way.
Assuming you do the mod properly, there's no reason to leave dust particles behind in the case. So if we rule that out there's really no reason why capacity would affect difficulty. I replace head assemblies, solder PCBs, and work with drive firmware for a living. Dust and other particulates are always a big concern, and there are methods we use to keep the risk as low as possible. And it doesn't require working inside an air-tight bubble - though we do have that option for certain situations and it can come in handy.
Newer drives with increased capacity won't make this mod any more difficult. They still use the same physical size platters, same physical size casing, still has a spindle, motor, read/write assembly, and circuit board on back. If anything, just the abnormal case design on that series of WD Caviar is more difficult because of how the top cover extends down around the sides of the drive casing.
F* them and let them start their own networks. We should help, however, by giving them the AOL user-base. :D
Hey, it had the magic words 'GPL' and 'demo'. Just do the math :)
You must live on the first floor and I also assume you don't relocate often. Try getting a 215lbs. 36" CRT HDTV up a couple flights of stairs. Even with the home delivery options you're lucky if the thugs don't damage your set, your building, or both.
Rumors, law suits, cancellations, more rumors... it all adds up to an exciting climax.
Sounds like iForeplay! Wonder if they've got the patent on this 'heavy petting' leading up to 'climax'.