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northoftheborder

(7,639 posts)

36. A total tech dummy here has a dumb question:

Mon Apr 1, 2013, 07:23 PM

Apr 2013

The last time I got rid of an old computer (I had already transferred some data off, it wasn't completely dead, just nearly) I used a huge magnet which I repeatedly ran across and up and down the outside of the drive, hoping to completely ruin any data which might be gotten off of it. I had also already supposedly deleted manually stuff off there. Did the magnet trick work?

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The Adventure of My Defunct Hard Drive: Apple Wants Your Money or Your Life [View all] HiPointDem Apr 2013 OP

Apple sees its customers coming with their eyes closed and money in their hands. hobbit709 Apr 2013 #1

Funny, I'm an Apple customer and if something goes wrong with my drive justiceischeap Apr 2013 #2

You're in the minority there. hobbit709 Apr 2013 #3

as i understand it you have to give up the old one when you get the new one. HiPointDem Apr 2013 #4

Not if I replace it myself. justiceischeap Apr 2013 #7

in that case, no. i thought you meant the free replacement from apple. HiPointDem Apr 2013 #8

A lot of people are desperately afraid Warpy Apr 2013 #27

I don't know about Apples but ... Ganja Ninja Apr 2013 #5

The original drive in the OP was toast - the laptop was OK csziggy Apr 2013 #10

The hard drive in the Apple looks like a standard HD Mnpaul Apr 2013 #13

Possibly - I've done that a few times csziggy Apr 2013 #15

The box I had in the early 00's was named the Antichrist Warpy Apr 2013 #31

Wasn't that the period when the mobos had the problem with the capacitors? csziggy Apr 2013 #37

I didn't notice anything, to tell the truth. Warpy Apr 2013 #39

Some computers ran for a long time with bad capacitors csziggy Apr 2013 #40

The only symptom mine ever had was borked Windows Warpy Apr 2013 #45

Maybe it was toast and maybe not. Ganja Ninja Apr 2013 #16

Since I've never taken a computer to a commercial IT guy csziggy Apr 2013 #18

first mistake was obviously buying a mac RedstDem Apr 2013 #6

Wow 3 drives failed Mnpaul Apr 2013 #14

He should have just done this. UnrepentantLiberal Apr 2013 #9

Customers = money to Apple and that's it. Apophis Apr 2013 #11

Do customers equal anything else to any other computer manufacturer? KittyWampus Apr 2013 #46

No. Apophis Apr 2013 #49

This is standard Sgent Apr 2013 #12

I find no acceptable excuse for not backing up vital info. L0oniX Apr 2013 #17

You're right--backing up the data would have protected the author's confidential sources Orrex Apr 2013 #20

Placing confidential sources "only" on a flash drive is an option. n/t L0oniX Apr 2013 #21

If you're hoping to minimize data security, sure Orrex Apr 2013 #23

we use Bitlocker to encrypt jump drives in the Windows world frylock Apr 2013 #25

That's nice and still largely irrelevant Orrex Apr 2013 #30

i never said that. i merely addressed your concerns regarding data security on portable drives.. frylock Apr 2013 #32

Whoops--sorry. Conflated two separate DUers there! Orrex Apr 2013 #35

the times I've ever had things replaced by manufacturer's always meant handing over the dead item KittyWampus Apr 2013 #33

That's lovely hindsight Orrex Apr 2013 #34

his lack of back-up discipline isn't a hardware company's problem. KG Apr 2013 #19

I guess the no-backup is a security measure? sofa king Apr 2013 #22

Indeed. I just bought three 16 GB USB MineralMan Apr 2013 #48

yep scams abound. Phillip McCleod Apr 2013 #24

Hey, Phil, they were referring to a process that requires a clean room. Occulus Apr 2013 #28

i'm just saying that not every tech is the same. Phillip McCleod Apr 2013 #29

He had click of death. politicat Apr 2013 #44

Buy a 1TB external hard drive for backups. Do a full backup once a month. Crisis solved. Initech Apr 2013 #26

External hard drives are great for backing up hard disks. Art_from_Ark Apr 2013 #41

A total tech dummy here has a dumb question: northoftheborder Apr 2013 #36

Well, I am a writer too. I always have MineralMan Apr 2013 #38

That is disturbing. I'm a loyal Apple customer, but ... Hekate Apr 2013 #42

Sorry about the data loss (truly) but... It was warranty service. politicat Apr 2013 #43

Nonsense Apple Bash. Why would you expect to keep the old drive? DirkGently Apr 2013 #47