This is true; I can see how specialized hardware can recover some data that has been "formatted" say 30 times. At what point though does the recovered data still have any usability? When I do recoveries, I only charge for USABLE Megs of information as well as a standard fee. Nothing outrageous, more for time and trouble. It is a painstakingly slow process regardless of what you use, whether software or hardware based. At what point is it worth destroying? I never toss hard drives that are still working. Fortunately I don't have to deal with Government procedures for sanitizing. I am picky about what I use to do recoveries though, Easy Recovery from Ontrack is pretty useless, as well as Norton's. NT Recovery, CTK, and Encase do everything I have ever needed them to do.
Chris Chandler A+, Network +, MCSE NT4/2000 Network Security Consultant http://www.wilykiote.com -----Original Message----- From: Tim Donahue [mailto:TDonahue@;haynesconstruction.com] Sent: Thursday, October 31, 2002 1:15 PM To: 'Chris Chandler'; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; 'Dave Adams'; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: Interesting One You are using software to try and recover information. If you can recover files after filling the platter with zeros 4 or 5 times and recover it without a direct attack on the platters (ie,using a SEM), then why is it so hard to believe that specialized HARDWARE can recover it after 30 times? At this point, I think it has been determined that the best way (and possibly the only way in the near future) to prevent the recovery of information is the complete and total destruction of the drive. Here is a good question for you though, at what point is it worth just destroying the drive? My guess would be we are at that point now, because we have to use so many resources to be reasonably sure that the data is unrecoverable, that is is cost effective to just destroy the drive and purchase a replacement for it. Tim Donahue
