Q. I understand that normal delete operations only delete the file identification information, but not the file contents itself. I'm talking, though, of writing all zero's or all ones on a disk on an extreme low level format. Some disk forensics can still read data. How can that happen?
A. If you use software to scrub your drive (writes over everything), the data is not recoverable.
People CLAIM that you can recover stuff based on the idea that the write head will not be perfectly aligned with the tracks each time - over yonder on the other edge of the track are some residual patterns you can read with special hardware.
This was partly true in the early 1990's and earlier when drive mechanics and electronics were big and sloppy (relatively speaking). The legend lives on.
But it just isn't going to happen with new stuff. The track-track spacing and precision required is too tight. If you write over the bits, the data is gone, never to be recovered by any tool.
If a 'forensics tool' recovers any data, it is because it was not erased. Period.
The usual recovery process is about scanning unused sectors, temp files, and residue in file slack space. To ensure your plans for world domination are secure, you need to do a low level format and a high level format afterwards.
People CLAIM that you can recover stuff based on the idea that the write head will not be perfectly aligned with the tracks each time - over yonder on the other edge of the track are some residual patterns you can read with special hardware.
This was partly true in the early 1990's and earlier when drive mechanics and electronics were big and sloppy (relatively speaking). The legend lives on.
But it just isn't going to happen with new stuff. The track-track spacing and precision required is too tight. If you write over the bits, the data is gone, never to be recovered by any tool.
If a 'forensics tool' recovers any data, it is because it was not erased. Period.
The usual recovery process is about scanning unused sectors, temp files, and residue in file slack space. To ensure your plans for world domination are secure, you need to do a low level format and a high level format afterwards.
Is it possible to completely reset a computer?
Q. I've forgotten the administrator password for so long. I just want to be able to use internet. It wont let me. Is it possible to completely wipe everything from the computers memory or something like that, so then i can reinstall another software?
A. YES.
If your Windows PC desktop was built by you or another person or entity from individual components purchased from places like Newegg, Amazon, Tiger Direct, CompUSA, Geeks.com, etc, you will need the genuine Microsoft Retail or OEM full install DVD, with a valid COA and activation key for whatever Windows OS version you have. In case you lost it or never had it, you will need to buy another full install Retail or OEM Windows DVD of your choice, making sure your hardware configuration will support that particular version.
The same applies for almost all custom ordered Windows PC desktop or laptop computers, from places like AVADirect, Alienware/Dell, iBuyPower, CyberPowerPC, Puget Systems, etc.
You do not need to read any further, as none of the details described here will apply for your computer.
If like most people, you purchased a brand manufacturer (Acer, Asus, Dell, Fujitsu, HP, Lenovo-IBM, Toshiba, Sony Vaio, etc) Windows PC desktop, laptop (notebook) or netbook from a retail or online store, and it came with any version of Windows operating system (OS) factory installed by the manufacturer, read this.
How to properly factory restore a Windows PC or Laptop that was purchased with the Windows OS pre-installed by the manufacturer:
There are 2 ways to restore a Windows PC desktop computer or Laptop to factory settings (basically re-install the Windows operating system):
1. THE BEST WAY, also the safest:
You were supposed to create and burn the factory restore disks (one or more disks, depending on your model PC) immediately after purchase.
Unfortunately, most people don't know about this or are to cocky and dumb to even care.
If you didn't create the restore disks you have to buy them, either from the manufacturer (expensive - $60 to over $150 depending on manufacturer and model) or from a 3rd party vendor such as these guys:
http://restoredisks.com/
http://recovery-disks.com/
They sell most restore disks sets for $30 or more.
To order from either one you need the exact model of your computer, as restore disks are made for just that particular model and would not work otherwise.
Completely wipe all data from your hard drive first, with either the disk cleanup tool from the $50 Acronis True Image CD or the free DBAN (Darik's Boot and Nuke).
This will ensure that any self replicating virus is completely destroyed.
http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/trueimage/
http://www.dban.org/download
After the hard drive is wiped, boot from the restore disk #1 and re-install your Windows OS (restore to factory settings). Just follow the prompts and insert subsequent disks as requested.
2. The easiest but not so safe way - it's hid and miss if your system is messed up.
NOTE: This may either fail to restore altogether if your system is corrupted due to virus infection, or if it does work, you might end up copying the virus over to the new installation and re-infecting your computer.
Restore to factory settings via your Fx** key during boot screen. Your operating system will be restored from the hidden copy located on the restore partition on your hard drive.
** Fx could be F8 or F10 or F12 or other combination of keys depending on your model, just watch for it during the boot splash screen.
FINAL NOTE:
For both ways, you will nedd to manually re-install all Windows system updates, all antivirus or any other after market software and programs and also all drivers for after market added hardware.
Good luck.
If your Windows PC desktop was built by you or another person or entity from individual components purchased from places like Newegg, Amazon, Tiger Direct, CompUSA, Geeks.com, etc, you will need the genuine Microsoft Retail or OEM full install DVD, with a valid COA and activation key for whatever Windows OS version you have. In case you lost it or never had it, you will need to buy another full install Retail or OEM Windows DVD of your choice, making sure your hardware configuration will support that particular version.
The same applies for almost all custom ordered Windows PC desktop or laptop computers, from places like AVADirect, Alienware/Dell, iBuyPower, CyberPowerPC, Puget Systems, etc.
You do not need to read any further, as none of the details described here will apply for your computer.
If like most people, you purchased a brand manufacturer (Acer, Asus, Dell, Fujitsu, HP, Lenovo-IBM, Toshiba, Sony Vaio, etc) Windows PC desktop, laptop (notebook) or netbook from a retail or online store, and it came with any version of Windows operating system (OS) factory installed by the manufacturer, read this.
How to properly factory restore a Windows PC or Laptop that was purchased with the Windows OS pre-installed by the manufacturer:
There are 2 ways to restore a Windows PC desktop computer or Laptop to factory settings (basically re-install the Windows operating system):
1. THE BEST WAY, also the safest:
You were supposed to create and burn the factory restore disks (one or more disks, depending on your model PC) immediately after purchase.
Unfortunately, most people don't know about this or are to cocky and dumb to even care.
If you didn't create the restore disks you have to buy them, either from the manufacturer (expensive - $60 to over $150 depending on manufacturer and model) or from a 3rd party vendor such as these guys:
http://restoredisks.com/
http://recovery-disks.com/
They sell most restore disks sets for $30 or more.
To order from either one you need the exact model of your computer, as restore disks are made for just that particular model and would not work otherwise.
Completely wipe all data from your hard drive first, with either the disk cleanup tool from the $50 Acronis True Image CD or the free DBAN (Darik's Boot and Nuke).
This will ensure that any self replicating virus is completely destroyed.
http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/trueimage/
http://www.dban.org/download
After the hard drive is wiped, boot from the restore disk #1 and re-install your Windows OS (restore to factory settings). Just follow the prompts and insert subsequent disks as requested.
2. The easiest but not so safe way - it's hid and miss if your system is messed up.
NOTE: This may either fail to restore altogether if your system is corrupted due to virus infection, or if it does work, you might end up copying the virus over to the new installation and re-infecting your computer.
Restore to factory settings via your Fx** key during boot screen. Your operating system will be restored from the hidden copy located on the restore partition on your hard drive.
** Fx could be F8 or F10 or F12 or other combination of keys depending on your model, just watch for it during the boot splash screen.
FINAL NOTE:
For both ways, you will nedd to manually re-install all Windows system updates, all antivirus or any other after market software and programs and also all drivers for after market added hardware.
Good luck.
Why is my computer asking me to reformat my SD card?
Q. My laptop uses Windows 7, and its asking me to reformat my SD card. Its a 4GB Kingston SDHC card. I haven't had this with any of my other SD cards, so I have no idea what to do. All I know is that if I reformat it, it will delete all of the data I have on that card.
A. SD cards contain data, but also data that you can't see.
It's data of the SD card itself, this often gets corrupted somehow.
What you could try is backup all the data from your SD card to you computer.
Then indeed format it, but before you do that you might want to check for hardware errors first.
Right-click the SD Card's drive, then left-click properties. Then click the 'Tools' tab and choose for the option 'Error-checking'.
Now when you click 'Check now...' another window will pop-up.
Check both tik boxes, so both Auto fix and Scan and attempt recovery are enabled and hit the Start button to start the process.
This can take a while depending on the size and data transfer speed of your SD Card.
Afterwards format it. And put your backupped data back on the SD Card.
Good luck!
P.S Choose this as best answer if it helped you.
Thank you very much in advance.
It's data of the SD card itself, this often gets corrupted somehow.
What you could try is backup all the data from your SD card to you computer.
Then indeed format it, but before you do that you might want to check for hardware errors first.
Right-click the SD Card's drive, then left-click properties. Then click the 'Tools' tab and choose for the option 'Error-checking'.
Now when you click 'Check now...' another window will pop-up.
Check both tik boxes, so both Auto fix and Scan and attempt recovery are enabled and hit the Start button to start the process.
This can take a while depending on the size and data transfer speed of your SD Card.
Afterwards format it. And put your backupped data back on the SD Card.
Good luck!
P.S Choose this as best answer if it helped you.
Thank you very much in advance.
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