Sorry for the silence, but I had no internet access in Amsterdam all weekend.
I am now back in London for one night, back to Stockholm tomorrow afternoon. I promise to post a long one tomorrow night (European time) and give the full update. I am alive and well, and love you guys for being concerned about me. I am concerned about me, too.
In the meantime, all I can say is this-things are looking darker than ever.
That, and how do I erase (without chance of recall) all files from a laptop with Windows 2000 (hopefully, without incurring any cost)?
-H.
Posted by Everydaystranger at December 1, 2003 05:17 PM | TrackBackDo a google search on "disk wipe" and you'll find the tools necessary to really erase your hard drive. I have pulled back nearly all data from a formatted hard drive before, so don't just format it if you are worried about it.
By the way, I discovered your site today and dig it muchly. We have a lot of interesting things in common. :)
Posted by: Almost Lucid at December 2, 2003 05:02 PMThere are a couple of methods:
1)delete the relevant files, then run Defrag a couple of times. This won't throw off the police or a serious data recovery effort, but it will get rid of the files if you're just nervous about a casual user, or perhaps selling the computer or drive.
2)Format the drive using a Win98 boot disk. (which will format it in FAT32 format. Then reinstall Windows 2000, making sure to do it in NTFS format. This would defeat anything but a really determined recovery effort.
3)Pull the hard drive out of the laptop and set it on fire with lighter fluid, while waving your hands and sticking your tongue out, Jimi Hendrix style. More fun than the other methods, but probably not ok with your local fire marshal....
Sorry to hear things suck right now. Many warm, fuzzy thoughts are being radiated your way.
Posted by: Joey at December 2, 2003 04:17 AMIf you truely never want whatever is on that hard drive to see the pixel of day, you can do a low level format and zero all data using the original formatting tools, maxtor maxblast for instance, OR buy a new hard drive and replace the old one. Thus creating and exciting and novel paper wieght.
dread
Posted by: at December 2, 2003 02:49 AMI'll second Nicki on that one.
Ahem, ahem.
Not having *any* reason to want to delete files from my work computer computer, there would be no reason why I'd know about this, now would there be? ;)
Posted by: Courtney at December 1, 2003 10:38 PMI'll second Nicki on that one.
Ahem, ahem.
Not having *any* reason to want to delete files from my work computer computer, there would be no reason why I'd know about this, now would there be? ;)
Posted by: Courtney at December 1, 2003 10:38 PMI have some nudie pics, old emails from Mr. Y, and personal documents.
Weird, but true.
Posted by: Helen at December 1, 2003 10:30 PMIf you've still got your Laptop Recovery Cd, boot from that first and do a full re-install. That will clear the registry, then....
1. Delete all of the files by hand that you can find
2. Clear your internet cache
3. Wipe all temp files you can find
4. Fill the hd with crap- leave a sound recorder running overnight, fill it with mp3s, etc. Then, delete those
Helen, mail me if you want something less dirty as a solution - I'm not at my computer right now
And remember, it's always darkest before the dawn. We're with you.
Just a question (that I'm reasonably sure won't be answered, but I'll still ask):
WHAT - pray tell - is so secret on that laptop that simple deletion is not a complete enough destruction of it's contents? The location of Saddam's chem weapons? The names of the men who killed JFK? The truth about Bert and Ernie? WHAT?
Posted by: Mike the Marine at December 1, 2003 09:44 PMglad to hear you are safe and sound. hope you have a good trip back to stockholm...hang in there! xoxox
Posted by: kat at December 1, 2003 08:36 PMHelen! Glad to "see" you; sad that things are dark.
My version of permanent HD deletion: a *very* stront electromagnet.
Posted by: jean at December 1, 2003 08:21 PMALways wondered how to do that. If the hard drive is removable I would just pull it out and physically destroy it. Though it would cost money to replace it at least your 100% sure of no recovery.
Posted by: Drew at December 1, 2003 08:07 PMhttp://shredxp.com/e/ or
http://www.tucows.com/preview/291498.html or
http://www.evidence-blaster.com/privacy/
check out www.tucows.com - they have utilities that can help
Posted by: Helper at December 1, 2003 07:10 PMCarlene , the problem with just formating. It mearly marks the data so it can be overwritten. Very simple tools can be used to pull the data right back. I think the best bet is a bulk eraser a power drill and a smelter.
Posted by: pylorns at December 1, 2003 06:59 PMc:> format c:
yes
c:> cd d:
d:> format d:
yes
Ok, not sure if that would really work, but it got me giggling. I'm pretty simple, you know.
Posted by: Carlene at December 1, 2003 06:02 PMGood thoughts Helen...good thoughts. I hope being with your friends will give you some peace of mind.
Posted by: Rob at December 1, 2003 05:57 PMOoh nerd fodder ... goody! All of these guys are right although it has to be said that the only way to be sure your data is gone, is to remove the Hard Drive, put it in a strong platic bag, and stick it on the railroad tracks ...
one freight train later and even the FBI won;t be getting that stuff back ... a similar effect can be created using a large hammer (and is worryingly satisfying). Then when you have to give the laptop back you can jusy claim 'it came like that' and 'I wondered why it was taking so long to start up' ;-)
Posted by: robert at December 1, 2003 05:54 PMWith that said, here is more info about how to wipe data from a drive. A typical IT guy won't be able to recover anything if you do these things.
http://guide.vsnl.net.in/security/articles/data_security_erasur_hdd/index031121.html
Posted by: pylorns at December 1, 2003 05:29 PMtry one of these. I haven't used any of them, but this is the type of app you might look for.
http://lists.gpick.com/pages/File_Deletion_Tools.htm
Debug.
http://www.fdisk.com/fdisk/HardDrive.htm
Boot to Win98SE startup disk (It is the best OS made boot disk ever). Type in debug at the A: prompt.
Enter in the following commands:
Blue: what you type in.
Pink: what is displayed on the screen. (DO NOT TYPE THIS IN!)
Black: this is useful information. (DO NOT TYPE THIS IN!)
To delete partitions on a hard drive:
-------------------------------------------
-F 220 L1000 0 (ENTER)
-A CS: 100 (ENTER)
xxxx:0100 MOV AX,301 (ENTER)
xxxx:0103 MOV BX,200 (ENTER)
xxxx:0106 MOV CX,1 (ENTER)
xxxx:0109 MOV DX,80 (ENTER)
xxxx:010C INT 13 (ENTER)
xxxx:010E INT 20 (ENTER)
xxxx:0110 (ENTER)
-G (ENTER)
Program terminated normally
- (CTRL)-(ALT)-(DEL) to reboot system