[dba-Tech] Retrieving Deleted Files off a hard drive

Erwin Craps Erwin.Craps at ithelps.be
Fri Aug 1 10:38:44 CDT 2003


well it depends on how bad your disk is... (how many time it takes)

	-----Original Message-----
	From: Jon Tydda [mailto:Jon.Tydda at alcontrol.co.uk] 
	Sent: Friday, August 01, 2003 5:06 PM
	To: 'Discussion of Hardware and Software issues'
	Subject: RE: [dba-Tech] Retrieving Deleted Files off a hard drive
	
	
	€250??? I got quoted £2500 minimum to recover a 4gb drive... that's nearly €3750!!!
	 
	I'm obviously looking in the wrong places :-)
	 
	 
	Jon
	-----Original Message-----
	From: Erwin Craps [mailto:Erwin.Craps at ithelps.be]
	Sent: 01 August 2003 16:03
	To: Discussion of Hardware and Software issues
	Subject: RE: [dba-Tech] Retrieving Deleted Files off a hard drive
	
	
	If pieces of the platters from a disk are intact data can be recuperated from that to....
	 
	I indeed do believe to have read something that when you overwrite a cluster you gonna have a fresh magnetismem and an old magnestismen (you know hard disks are based on magetisme). With superiour equipment they are able to ignore the fresh magnetisme and go 1 or maybe more levels lower to old magnetismens....
	 
	I beleive recuperating a crashed disk or accidently formatted disk would cost you around € 250 (in Belgium).
	Depends on several factors ofcourse.
	 
	Encypting the disk would be better...
	I use to know hardware controllers (SPEED!)  that encrypted before writing to disk.
	You needed to put an electronic diskette in to the drive to start from your hd.
	 
	I knew a bank that did that for all important pcs...
	 
	 
	Erwin
	 

		-----Original Message-----
		From: John Bartow [mailto:jbartow at fastbytes.com] 
		Sent: Friday, August 01, 2003 4:26 PM
		To: Discussion of Hardware and Software issues
		Subject: RE: [dba-Tech] Retrieving Deleted Files off a hard drive
		
		
		As does Norton Utilitie's "Wipe Info" program. I haven't been able to recover the data, but then I'm not a specialist at it either :o)
		 
		Even if Symantec or McAfee garaunteed that it would be unrecoverable I would question it because they both have to deal with the US govt and I don't know their laws pertaining to this. If they try to control it the wway they have been attempting to control encryption then I think Martin's friend is correct throwing it in a hot fire is the only "for sure" method".
		 
		I go through this discussion every now and again with my accounting clients. They ask me about "permanently" removing client info from the hard drive of old PCs they are going to discard, I physically remove the hard drive and damage it and then give it back to them. It builds their confidence in my thoroughness (and gives them second thoughts about buying a cheap solution in a box). I don't personally believe that there is no way to destroy the magnetic signatures of files on a hard drive - I just don't know how to do it or how to prove it can be done.
		:o)
		 
		I guess the bottom line is that if a particular company wants dirt on someone the employ they can find with less expensive methods than paying a data recovery specialist - they're not cheap!
		 
		JB
		 
		 -----Original Message-----
		From: dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com [mailto:dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com]On Behalf Of Jon Tydda
		Sent: Friday, August 01, 2003 4:38 AM
		To: 'Discussion of Hardware and Software issues'
		Subject: RE: [dba-Tech] Retrieving Deleted Files off a hard drive
		
		

			McAfee Shredder does that - passes over the disk 7 times writing junk and erasing it on each pass, making it unrecoverable (they claim).
			 
			 
			Jon
			-----Original Message-----
			From: Erwin Craps [mailto:Erwin.Craps at ithelps.be]
			Sent: 01 August 2003 10:37
			To: Discussion of Hardware and Software issues
			Subject: RE: [dba-Tech] Retrieving Deleted Files off a hard drive
			
			
			Formattting a drive will only remove the FAT (File Allocation Tabe), that the index of where the files are positoned on the drive.
			Formattig does alos put some positionmakers on the disk (that why you loose useable data on the disk) to find it way on the disk.
			 
			It like a citymap (simply stated) You have an index saying that stree x is positioned in the square B7.
			Formatting removes the index (creates an empty one) and puts a new grid (the quares A7) in pace.
			But the data of the old streets are still there.
			 So it is just a question to put to put the pieces togheter and build a new index (simply stated).
			Custers that are overwritten by the format or by new data will corruot the old file but the rest of the file is still readable.
			 
			There are companies that can rebuild your disk, within 30 minutes, depending on the size and fragmentaion.
			 
			Only way to clrear a disk is to write random data on each cluster thus distroying the old data.
			there does exesits software to do that.
			 
			Erwin
			 

				-----Oorspronkelijk bericht-----
				Van: Martin Reid [mailto:mwp.reid at qub.ac.uk] 
				Verzonden: vrijdag 1 augustus 2003 11:05
				Aan: Discussion of Hardware and Software issues
				Onderwerp: Re: [dba-Tech] Retrieving Deleted Files off a hard drive
				
				
				AFAIK unless you overwrite the data several time using specific software then its possible to get most things back. One of our guys says the only way to be totally sure is to melt down the HDD.
				 
				Martin

					----- Original Message ----- 
					From: Jon Tydda <mailto:Jon.Tydda at alcontrol.co.uk>  
					To: 'Discussion of Hardware and Software issues' <mailto:dba-tech at databaseadvisors.com>  
					Sent: Friday, August 01, 2003 9:45 AM
					Subject: RE: [dba-Tech] Retrieving Deleted Files off a hard drive


					I formatted a hard disk with windows 95 on it, then plugged it into a pc running 98. I ran scandisk and all the files came back, so I guess format ain't everything.


					Jon 

					-----Original Message----- 
					From: Stoker, Kenneth E [mailto:Kenneth.Stoker at pnl.gov] 
					Sent: 31 July 2003 20:50 
					To: dba-Tech (E-mail) 
					Subject: [dba-Tech] Retrieving Deleted Files off a hard drive 


					Everyone, 

					I recently had a discussion with a coworker about the subject of retrieving deleted files off a hard drive.  We got on the subject because we are having an audit on those company-owned computers systems that some staff may have at home for business use.  He claims that any file can be reclaimed, even if a defragmentation has been run.  I thought that once a disk has been defragmented, those files were truly gone, if the anyone defragmented the disk, the audit would basically be a waste of time.  Is this true?  The computer security group here is, I'm sure, quite good, don't let any limitations be considered in any advise returned to settle this score.  

					If it is possible, does that also apply to a reformatted disk?  I would think that a reformatted disk would be the ultimate cleanup, but that would have me wondering now if a defragment doesn't work.  Which would cause some serious concerns at this location as much of the stuff that I work with is very sensitive and would make me wonder about correct processes when buying a new machine and excessing the old one.

					Thanks for your help in settling the discussion. 


					Ken Stoker 
					Technology Commercialization 
					Information Systems Administrator 
					PH: (509) 375-3758 
					FAX: (509) 375-6731 
					E-mail:  Kenneth.Stoker at pnl.gov 


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			The information in this e-mail is confidential and may also be legally

			privileged. The contents are intended for recipient only and are subject

			to the legal notice available on request from : webmaster at alcontrol.co.uk

			ALcontrol Laboratories is a trading division of ALcontrol UK Limited.

			Registered Office: Templeborough House, Mill Close, Rotherham, S60 1BZ.

			Registered in England and Wales No 4057291



	The information in this e-mail is confidential and may also be legally

	privileged. The contents are intended for recipient only and are subject

	to the legal notice available on request from : webmaster at alcontrol.co.uk

	ALcontrol Laboratories is a trading division of ALcontrol UK Limited.

	Registered Office: Templeborough House, Mill Close, Rotherham, S60 1BZ.

	Registered in England and Wales No 4057291

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