View Full Version : another computer issue
The hard drive in my PC crapped out, and I had Geek Squad install a new drive and reload my recovery software, the stuff that came with the PC. They said the old drive is so fawked up they can't get the data off of it, but they could "send it to a lab that could".
I'm so pissed off at Geek Squad for other reasons that I don't want to deal with them anymore. Can anybody suggest someone in the Denver area that may be able to get my stuff off this old drive? The Geeks said they connected it to some device they had to try and recover the data, and my drive just locked their device up, so it was beyond their abilities.
Zundfolge
12-22-2010, 12:38
One a hard drive is beyond a certain degree of screwed it has to be sent to the same people that reconstruct data from drives that have gone through house fires, floods, hit by a bus, chewed on by the dog, etc ... its NOT cheap either.
Unless you have something on the old drive that is life or death, just chalk it up to experience and start backing up your data from here on out.
Here's one company you might get a quote from: http://www.denverdatarecovery.net/ (don't know anything about them ... just the first one I found googling "Denver Data Recovery")
As for backing up your files, there are several good cloud based services out there that cost about $5/mo, or you can buy an external drive (http://www.lacie.com/us/products/clearance/products/?id=10007) and have it back up your computer regularly (I use SyncBackSE because it was free).
Yea I hate BB Crap sqaud, I've been doing this crap for a long time now and its just crazy that they charge so much for a zit faced dipshit that barely passed his a+ to work on someone elses system.
You ever see their "setup services" LMAO just deleting crap and taking the updates and they want anywhere from 80-160 to do it!!!
I agree with the above statment about data-recovery, they do charge a crap load. If you have a buddy running linux and see if he cant see whats on there and just move it to a jump drive or cd.
Hate to say it but being a Federal data whore I must....
BACK IT UP!!!!!!!
Zundfolge
12-22-2010, 12:49
Yea I hate BB Crap sqaud...
Once upon a time they actually hired Geeks that knew how to fix stuff ... now they're just glorified extended warranty sales people.
Holy fawk! $399 minimum? Oh my......
Can you tell if the drive still spins up when it is powered? If it is still spinning, there is a free utility in linux, "dcfldd" that will make a bit for bit copy of whatever is still available on the drive.
I'm in Thornton. If you would like me to take a crack at it, I'm game.
How many times did the Geek Squad guys preach at you about backing up your data? It is true, but not very useful after the drive has bought the farm.
Can you tell if the drive still spins up when it is powered? If it is still spinning, there is a free utility in linux, "dcfldd" that will make a bit for bit copy of whatever is still available on the drive.
I'm in Thornton. If you would like me to take a crack at it, I'm game.
How many times did the Geek Squad guys preach at you about backing up your data? It is true, but not very useful after the drive has bought the farm.
I have no clue. They told me that when they connected it to their machine to test it, it locked up their machine. Whatever "machine" they were talking about. My PC would just give a message about needing a Boot CD, or something like that. Computers ain't my thing.
And Geek Squad can kiss my ass. They charged me 50 bucks to replace the drive, which the guy did in under 1 minute while I watched. Then it took another week to load the recovery disc that came with the PC. I can't even tell ya how many times the lying bastards said they'd call me when it was ready, or how many times they said it would be ready in "about another hour".
I'm so disgusted I haven't even hooked it back up yet.
Byte Stryke
12-22-2010, 20:01
PM Sent
cfortune
12-22-2010, 23:11
Geek Squad is awful.
I've heard sticking hard drives in the freezer can bring them back to life. I haven't tried myself but I know we have a few sitting in our freezer at work (I'm a systems admin, the desk side support people put them in there though, curious to see if it works).
Like someone above said, there are ways to recover data from a bad hard drive. It's not something I've ever attempted though. We do however do the opposite with our drives at work, wipe them using a program that makes the data completely unrecoverable. That way when we ship them off we don't have to worry about people using recovery tools that will dig up our data.
Geek Squad is awful.
I've heard sticking hard drives in the freezer can bring them back to life. I haven't tried myself but I know we have a few sitting in our freezer at work (I'm a systems admin, the desk side support people put them in there though, curious to see if it works).
Like someone above said, there are ways to recover data from a bad hard drive. It's not something I've ever attempted though. We do however do the opposite with our drives at work, wipe them using a program that makes the data completely unrecoverable. That way when we ship them off we don't have to worry about people using recovery tools that will dig up our data.
I normally use DBAN for sanitizing disks. Slow, but free and effective. I use an old machine to do my drive wiping. Data recovery quickly goes from the cheap and simple, EnCase, FTK, Autopsy, to the probitively expensive, clean rooms and drive disassembly.
Byte Stryke
12-23-2010, 10:00
Geek Squad is awful.
I've heard sticking hard drives in the freezer can bring them back to life. I haven't tried myself but I know we have a few sitting in our freezer at work (I'm a systems admin, the desk side support people put them in there though, curious to see if it works).
Like someone above said, there are ways to recover data from a bad hard drive. It's not something I've ever attempted though. We do however do the opposite with our drives at work, wipe them using a program that makes the data completely unrecoverable. That way when we ship them off we don't have to worry about people using recovery tools that will dig up our data.
thing is, with evolving technology, what was unrecoverable yesterday is recoverable today.
To "wipe" a drive I have friends with a Plasma cutter
Nothing says "Wiped" Like a puddle on the floor.
True so true, At work they have a air punch (yea I know) to take the plate out but if its good enough for the Gov right. lol
Thank you, Byte Stryke, for the pm and the offer! I'll be getting with you after the holiday chaos.
If I can get my stuff off this drive, I'll be "wiping" it later with some .30-06 A/P rounds. [Rant1]
Finally got the PC back from the Dork Squad, and it won't even start. They put in a new hard drive, reloaded Windows Vista from the recovery disk that came with the PC, and Windows won't even start! How can they fuck that up? [Rant1]
theGinsue
12-27-2010, 14:04
NEVER underestimate the ingenuity and skill of the unskilled and clueless.
Finally got the PC back from the Dork Squad, and it won't even start. They put in a new hard drive, reloaded Windows Vista from the recovery disk that came with the PC, and Windows won't even start! How can they fuck that up? [Rant1]
There's several people on this forum who do PC consulting, myself included. Just find one that's near you & contact them to make arrangements to take your machine(s) to them. You'll probably pay half as much, get better work & support a fellow forum member. That's just my biased advice.
There's several people on this forum who do PC consulting, myself included. Just find one that's near you & contact them to make arrangements to take your machine(s) to them. You'll probably pay half as much, get better work & support a fellow forum member. That's just my biased advice.
I have no problem doing that. I've been PM'ing with Byte Stryke about that very thing, but he's nowhere near Parker. Is there anybody here near Parker that diddles with computers? I'm sick of the Dick Squad, I swear they set up computers with built-in timed failures to generate more sales.
Sure seems funny that my hard drive fried and my Windows Vista is non-functional, now that Windows 7 is out.
Byte Stryke
12-27-2010, 15:23
Just did a full Data recovery and OS reinstall on Snipers Dell.
>24hrs turn around with all drivers, Anti-Virus and Updates.
I would be more than happy to drive down and get it if that would be more convenient.
and I guarantee my work
Fixed or Free
:)
DeadElephant
12-27-2010, 15:43
I'm off of Parker and Arapahoe. I primarily do support work for businesses but absolutely willing to help members here.
I've had to clean up a lot of messes left by the "Squad".
I drive a pickup rather than a bug hopefully that's not a problem!
Just shoot me a PM.
Rex
The Nerd Herd can lick my left gonad. I'm no MSE, but I've had to clean up more of their messes than I can count. Usually there's one guy per store that has some clue what he's doing, the rest are even more inept than I am.
Just did a full Data recovery and OS reinstall on Snipers Dell.
>24hrs turn around with all drivers, Anti-Virus and Updates.
I would be more than happy to drive down and get it if that would be more convenient.
and I guarantee my work
Fixed or Free
:)
You're still top o' the list. I work in Downtown Denver so that cuts 25 miles off right there. I can meet ya pretty easy from there.
Related question - since my hard drive is new and empty, and Vista seems "damaged", is Windows 7 worth upgrading to? I think I'd like to try to get the turd running first as-is, then upgrade later maybe.
Byte Stryke
12-27-2010, 19:52
You're still top o' the list. I work in Downtown Denver so that cuts 25 miles off right there. I can meet ya pretty easy from there.
Related question - since my hard drive is new and empty, and Vista seems "damaged", is Windows 7 worth upgrading to? I think I'd like to try to get the turd running first as-is, then upgrade later maybe.
*IF* you decide to move to Win7. Do a full Move. Do NOT do the "Upgrade".
We can get you an OEM Copy (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116758&cm_sp=DailyDeal-_-32-116-758-_-Homepage) (legal) for $120
This is a full copy.
Took the PC back to Geek Squad, and of course it fired right up and smiled happily at me.[Mad]
Geek asked me, "did you have anything else connected to it when you tried to start it?" Well, uh, yeah....the printer and scanner. "The new hard drive doesn't have the software for those on it, so it was probably conflicted because it was seeing those but couldn't identify them or talk to them. Try starting it with just the power, mouse, keyboard and monitor connected."
Yep, started right up.
Boy, do I feel like a dumbass. This is something that I should have known. Maybe I can get it back to normal now after all, I'm surfing on it now.
But I still need to talk to you Guy, about recovering the stuff off the old drive.
It's hell being a computard in this day and age.
cfortune
12-29-2010, 01:03
I normally use DBAN for sanitizing disks. Slow, but free and effective. I use an old machine to do my drive wiping. Data recovery quickly goes from the cheap and simple, EnCase, FTK, Autopsy, to the probitively expensive, clean rooms and drive disassembly.
We use DBAN as well, usually several passes of the DOD wipe. Takes usually around 20-30 hours. We sell our old equipment to a reseller so shooting the drives isn't an option (though punching some .308 or some slugs through the drives would be my personal preference).
68Charger
12-29-2010, 01:26
We use DBAN as well, usually several passes of the DOD wipe. Takes usually around 20-30 hours. We sell our old equipment to a reseller so shooting the drives isn't an option (though punching some .308 or some slugs through the drives would be my personal preference).
LOL, reminds me of personal experience...
company policy is very clear on procedures for wiping HDD's before disposing- our department no longer had a desktop that could read an IDE drive, didn't have a degaussing coil, etc... interpreting the company policy, and deciding that their forcing me to use my own resources to perform this (since our dept. didn't own a drill, etc) required some level of commentary, I fired three 7.62 rounds from my 1964 SKS and a Mosin Nagant (I was amused by the age of the rifle doing the damage, and the Mosin was the oldest rifle I had)
I got an amused look by the IT folks when turning in the HDD, but they agreed that no data would be recovered (I measured the hole at over 1/2", with the platter splayed out through the casing on the backside... I should have taken pics... it was really messed up, the bullet hit the hub & tumbled) Part of me was hoping that we were going to make a stink about it- with the company's anti policies... [Rant2]
DeadElephant
12-29-2010, 09:19
I use DBAN and Acronis when forced. I typically prefer an 8lb sledge. Don't shoot them anymore as its a pain to pick up all the little pieces.[Beer]
I've done the double bag, sledge hammer thing. It is effective. Since I moved to Colorado I began doing a little work with a church non-profit computer ministry; http://www.lifebyte.org/
After wiping the drives and reloading licensed copies of WinXP along with some open source software, they are given to organizations and individuals who have a need for computers. One of the groups that get these machines is an after-school center where kids can go to do some homework and play some games while staying off the street and waiting from someone to be at home when they arrive.
I wouldn't shoot at anything smaller than a 40 GB drive. They can still be put to good use somewhere.
DeadElephant
12-29-2010, 13:58
CSTONE
Thanks for the idea. I've worked with someone who sends things to Africa. Has always made me a bit nervous. There are enough geeks with guns on this site that starting a thread on donating computer gear might get some attention. I'd prefer something that is local.
ChadAmberg
12-29-2010, 17:13
I've done the double bag, sledge hammer thing. It is effective. Since I moved to Colorado I began doing a little work with a church non-profit computer ministry; http://www.lifebyte.org/
After wiping the drives and reloading licensed copies of WinXP along with some open source software, they are given to organizations and individuals who have a need for computers. One of the groups that get these machines is an after-school center where kids can go to do some homework and play some games while staying off the street and waiting from someone to be at home when they arrive.
I wouldn't shoot at anything smaller than a 40 GB drive. They can still be put to good use somewhere.
I'd like to see you guys come down to the Springs with a big truck and some publicity. I've got a bunch of stuff I'd personally like to donate, and with so many folks getting new computers in the last week, it's a great time to get on the news about being in a parking lot somewhere to donate your used equipment.
Byte Stryke
12-29-2010, 21:03
I've done the double bag, sledge hammer thing. It is effective. Since I moved to Colorado I began doing a little work with a church non-profit computer ministry; http://www.lifebyte.org/
After wiping the drives and reloading licensed copies of WinXP along with some open source software, they are given to organizations and individuals who have a need for computers. One of the groups that get these machines is an after-school center where kids can go to do some homework and play some games while staying off the street and waiting from someone to be at home when they arrive.
I wouldn't shoot at anything smaller than a 40 GB drive. They can still be put to good use somewhere.
I Sent them an email.. I'd like to get on and do some work with them
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