Hard Drive+Security with Techs

H

harpur67

New Member
After an HP tech examined my Vista Desktop, he determined that the hard drive was the fault. He ordered a new hard drive to be installed Saturday.

HP also requires that the tech return the "bad" hard drive. I am not very familiar with computers but I assume all my banking, financial information, credit card, medical, social security # and passwords could be accessed at HP by a "curious" tech.

I am thinking of removing the "bad" hard drive(by a techie friend) and merely refuse to give up this drive....

Any comments/advise, or am I just too paranoid?

Thanks
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    FK572AA#ABA
They tend to "fix" and resell the HDD's. There have been many cases were someone's data on drive is recovered on a refurbished/ Recertified "new" system.

There are programs to overwrite the data (the only true way to "delete" the data), but the best way is to destroy the disk platters. I woud not send them your HDD "as is"

try this:http://www.heidi.ie/node/6 or http://www.cbltech.com/data-recovery/software/data-shredder.html (there are other free programs online)

You could also "upgrade" your HDD yourself, and get one with faster/larger capacity, and destroy the damaged one... (this may run you about $50-$80, but will give you piece of mind)

determine if you have a SATA/IDE drive:http://www.newegg.com/Store/Category.aspx?Category=15&name=Hard-Drives
 
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My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    T7600G Core2Duo 2.66 Ghz
    Motherboard
    Intel 945PM + ICH7 Chipset
    Memory
    4GB DDR2 PC2-5300 667MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Mobility Radeon x1900 256MB
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    WUXGA 17"
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1200
    Hard Drives
    640GB 7200RPM SATA/RAID 0 (2x320GB)
    and 320GB 7200RPM External
    Mouse
    Wireless Microsoft 3000
    Internet Speed
    10 mbps/2 mbps
    Other Info
    Optical Drive:
    Panasonic UJ-220 DL BD-RE (Blu-Ray)
Your concern is understandable and technically valid.

Given resources and dedication, it is possible to pull data off almost any HDD, even one which is badly damaged and otherwise inoperable. Commercial data recovery organisations routinely "fix" broken drives by merely replacing the circuit board (on which something had been fried), and thereby immediately gaining full access to the data stored on the platters. They then charge several $thousand for 7 minutes work, but that's another story :)

It is even possible to read the contents of files which have been physically overwritten by other data. Minute fluctuations in the magnetic field reveal what data USED to be stored in that particular location, sometimes 5, 7, 10 files ago. That's just what publicly available technology is capable of. Bob only knows what governments can do - possibly read everything ever written to a particular disk, if they throw sufficient resources into it.

Are your curious HP techs going to have access to that type of technology? Of course not. It's therefore sufficient to "zero fill" the drive (write zeros over every spot on the drive) using any of the multitude of downloadable utilities, some of which are free. HDD manufacturers frequently provide zero-fill utils in their software suite.

It won't stop CIA/KGB-level snooping, but zero-filling the drive is more than enough for those HP techs and anyone whom you sell a drive to on eBay ;)
 

My Computer

System One

H2SO4 said:
Your concern is understandable and technically valid.

Given resources and dedication, it is possible to pull data off almost any HDD, even one which is badly damaged and otherwise inoperable. Commercial data recovery organisations routinely "fix" broken drives by merely replacing the circuit board (on which something had been fried), and thereby immediately gaining full access to the data stored on the platters. They then charge several $thousand for 7 minutes work, but that's another story :)

It is even possible to read the contents of files which have been physically overwritten by other data. Minute fluctuations in the magnetic field reveal what data USED to be stored in that particular location, sometimes 5, 7, 10 files ago. That's just what publicly available technology is capable of. Bob only knows what governments can do - possibly read everything ever written to a particular disk, if they throw sufficient resources into it.

Are your curious HP techs going to have access to that type of technology? Of course not. It's therefore sufficient to "zero fill" the drive (write zeros over every spot on the drive) using any of the multitude of downloadable utilities, some of which are free. HDD manufacturers frequently provide zero-fill utils in their software suite.

It won't stop CIA/KGB-level snooping, but zero-filling the drive is more than enough for those HP techs and anyone whom you sell a drive to on eBay ;)
Click to expand...

The problem here is if he doesnt overwrite the data/destroy the platters, and gives it to HP, (and the tech is wrong-what are the chances...:rolleyes:) or they "fix" it, it may find its way onto a refurbished/recertified system and who knows what that 3rd party who buys it may do If they are able to retrieve the data?
 
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My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    T7600G Core2Duo 2.66 Ghz
    Motherboard
    Intel 945PM + ICH7 Chipset
    Memory
    4GB DDR2 PC2-5300 667MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Mobility Radeon x1900 256MB
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    WUXGA 17"
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1200
    Hard Drives
    640GB 7200RPM SATA/RAID 0 (2x320GB)
    and 320GB 7200RPM External
    Mouse
    Wireless Microsoft 3000
    Internet Speed
    10 mbps/2 mbps
    Other Info
    Optical Drive:
    Panasonic UJ-220 DL BD-RE (Blu-Ray)
Oh, I completely agree with you (in fact, I think we typed up our responses at the same time!). The drive should be zero-filled if it's sufficiently operable, or smashed into bits with a hammer otherwise. I'd never contemplate giving away a HDD from one of my personal machines, and I actually lead a fairly boring life too :)

Sorry if there was a misunderstanding.
 

My Computer

System One

if you know beyond the shadow of a doubt that the original drive is bad, use it as a science experiment and dissect it...:p

i opened one up once, removed the platters, and used them as shurikens!
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Garage PC
    CPU
    Intel Pentium E3300 @ 2.5GHz
    Motherboard
    BioStar G41-M7
    Memory
    A-Data PC2-6400 (2 X 2GB)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Diamond Radeon HD 4650
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP Mx705 (CRT)
    Screen Resolution
    1152x864
    Hard Drives
    320 GB Hitachi - System Drive /
    100 GB Maxtor - Diagnostic Application /
    PSU
    LOGISYS PS480E12 480W
    Case
    Generic Barebones Case
    Cooling
    Stock Intel HSF
    Keyboard
    Generic PS/2
    Mouse
    Logitech
    Internet Speed
    10 d / 1 u
Id never let them take it away , i was once told by a data recovery specialist the best way to destroy a hard drive and make it unrecoverable is to drill a hole in it , do that then put it back in and leave it switched off , when the tech guy asks you what heppened just act dumb ;) ;) ;) ;)
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Build
    CPU
    Intel Q9550 @ 4Gig / Titan Fenir
    Motherboard
    XFX 780i
    Memory
    4GB OCZ PC2-8500C5 DDR2
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gainward GTX260/216 SLI
    Sound Card
    Creative X-FI Xtreme Gamer
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell UltraSharp 2209WA 22"
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    western digital raptor 10000rpm sata
    PSU
    OCZ Modstream 700w
    Cooling
    Titan Fenir
    Keyboard
    Razer Reclusa
    Mouse
    Logitech G5 Gamer
    Internet Speed
    8mb
Yikes... a new hard drive is $624....send back the old, risk"ID" theft, or pay the $624?

Computer only 4 months old, covered by warranty, but MUST return the defective part(the hard drive)no charge, or keep and pay $624!!!

Thanks for any input...
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    FK572AA#ABA
$624 is a joke , you could replace that hard drive yourself for a fraction of that price and dispose of the old one , only problem is im assuming that would invalidate your warrenty , its shocking how they are treating their customers , remember where not to buy your next PC mate , they got you by the balls dude you gotta return your old drive :(
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Build
    CPU
    Intel Q9550 @ 4Gig / Titan Fenir
    Motherboard
    XFX 780i
    Memory
    4GB OCZ PC2-8500C5 DDR2
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gainward GTX260/216 SLI
    Sound Card
    Creative X-FI Xtreme Gamer
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell UltraSharp 2209WA 22"
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    western digital raptor 10000rpm sata
    PSU
    OCZ Modstream 700w
    Cooling
    Titan Fenir
    Keyboard
    Razer Reclusa
    Mouse
    Logitech G5 Gamer
    Internet Speed
    8mb
archie123 said:
$624 is a joke , you could replace that hard drive yourself for a fraction of that price and dispose of the old one , only problem is im assuming that would invalidate your warrenty , its shocking how they are treating their customers , remember where not to buy your next PC mate , they got you by the balls dude you gotta return your old drive :(
Click to expand...

Upgrading the Hard drive (or adding hard drives doesn not void the warranty. They will still cover every component on the computer/monitor except for the purchased HDD (if you tell them). For $59 I wouldnt even sweat it.

harpur67 said:
Yikes... a new hard drive is $624....send back the old, risk"ID" theft, or pay the $624?
This computer (including monitor only costs $899)http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/978025/HP-Pavilion-a6642p-b-Desktop-Computer/

Computer only 4 months old, covered by warranty, but MUST return the defective part(the hard drive)no charge, or keep and pay $624!!!

Thanks for any input...
Click to expand...

Where are you getting $624? You can buy another PC for that price.
This computer (including monitor only costs $899)http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/978025/HP-Pavilion-a6642p-b-Desktop-Computer/

HP Pavilion a6642p desktop PC Model FK572AA#ABA uses a desktop 3.5" 500GB 7200RPM SATA 3GB Hard drive... This can be bought new off Newegg.com for $59
HP Pavilion a6642p Desktop PC*-* Product Specifications*

You can get a 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3 Hard drive for $89 (double your current Hard Drive capacity)
or an exact replacement desktop 500GB 7200RPM HDD SATA 3 for $59

Ps- you can install a total of three (3) 3.5" SATA hard drives"
 

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Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    T7600G Core2Duo 2.66 Ghz
    Motherboard
    Intel 945PM + ICH7 Chipset
    Memory
    4GB DDR2 PC2-5300 667MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Mobility Radeon x1900 256MB
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    WUXGA 17"
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1200
    Hard Drives
    640GB 7200RPM SATA/RAID 0 (2x320GB)
    and 320GB 7200RPM External
    Mouse
    Wireless Microsoft 3000
    Internet Speed
    10 mbps/2 mbps
    Other Info
    Optical Drive:
    Panasonic UJ-220 DL BD-RE (Blu-Ray)
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