Help needed, please...

[angelicminx]

It appears that I may have to pull my stories and unregister my account. If I do that, will I ever be able to use Angelicminx again?

Also, I need to know what steps to take to wipe out my hard drive, so that even the FBI can't recover anything.

 

[minsue]

I have no answers on either count, though I'm sure a PM to Laurel can help with the first.

I'm just here to offer *HUGS* since I think it's a fair guess this doesn't involve anything good.

 

[neonlyte]

Minx, I'm really sorry to hear this.

1) PM Laural, explain briefly the position, ask he to remove your stories and your account and to keep your account for re-activation. Agree a Password with her, so she knows it is you.

2) Copy your stories onto a disc and send the disc to someone you can trust.

3) Re-format your hard-drive using a programme which overwrites the drive, it will destroy all the information on the drive. I'm sure someone cleverer than me will give you a programme name.

Best of luck.

 

[matriarch]

For the second, I've been told that even reformatting your hard drive won;t eliminate ghosts, so my suggestion would be to replace your hard drive with a brand new one.........copy everything you want from your current one onto cd's keeping them safe, and then destroy it.

 

[ABSTRUSE]

For the second, I've been told that even reformatting your hard drive won;t eliminate ghosts, so my suggestion would be to replace your hard drive with a brand new one.........copy everything you want from your current one onto cd's keeping them safe, and then destroy it.

Yes, what she said.

PM if you need.

 

[Alex De Kok]

Minx, I'm really sorry to hear this.


3) Re-format your hard-drive using a programme which overwrites the drive, it will destroy all the information on the drive. I'm sure someone cleverer than me will give you a programme name.

Best of luck.

Not enough! If you want to be really, absolutely, certain, copy anything you want to save to another drive, and then take a BIG hammer - preferably a sledge hammer - to the guilty drive until it is in any tiny pieces.

Alex

 

[Liar]

Minx, for your third question on the hard drive: http://www.killdisk.com/

I used it on old drives at work to make sure trade secrets were not leaking. Plug it in as a secondary drive in another computer and wipe it with that software.

Good luck w everything.

Not enough! If you want to be really, absolutely, certain, copy anything you want to save to another drive, and then take a BIG hammer - preferably a sledge hammer - to the guilty drive until it is in any tiny pieces.

Yeah, that'll work. Then toast the fucker in the oven for an hour. And hurl it in a woodchipper. And spread it over seven states.

 

[imalickin]

Not enough! If you want to be really, absolutely, certain, copy anything you want to save to another drive, and then take a BIG hammer - preferably a sledge hammer - to the guilty drive until it is in any tiny pieces.

Alex

And once you get the little metal disks out of the drive run a really strong magnet over them so they can't just be put in another drive and read.

 

[rgraham666]

Not enough! If you want to be really, absolutely, certain, copy anything you want to save to another drive, and then take a BIG hammer - preferably a sledge hammer - to the guilty drive until it is in any tiny pieces.

Alex

Burn the pieces as well. Just to be sure.

 

[AchtungNight]

I'm not sure exactly what's going on here, but I send you my deepest prayers and blessings with whatever it is you have to do. Hope you don't end up leaving us forever, friend.

 

[Guest]

I don't know much about computers, but just wanted to let you know you are in my thoughts and prayers. And just remember, cops, even the FBI lie. Don't believe a word they tell you and agree upon a code word with loved ones so that they know something that is said actually comes from you or to you from them. God Bless you Minx.

 

[MissBri]

 

[Selena_Kitt]

I'm sorry Minx... I have a feeling I know what it's vaguely about... *sigh*

Been there done that... everyone has offered great advice... take it... and don't hide anything where they can find it, and that includes a friend's house or safety deposit boxes. A lawyer has privilege. Anything you don't want them to have, give it to your lawyer.

 

[angelicminx]

I have no answers on either count, though I'm sure a PM to Laurel can help with the first.

I'm just here to offer *HUGS* since I think it's a fair guess this doesn't involve anything good.

*Hugs* back atcha. No, it doesn't involve anything that is in the remotest way good. Yes, I'm sure a PM to Laurel can answer my questions. I was hoping that someone here would know and I wouldn't have to bother her until I absolutely had no choice.

Minx, I'm really sorry to hear this.

1) PM Laural, explain briefly the position, ask her to remove your stories and your account and to keep your account for re-activation. Agree a Password with her, so she knows it is you.

2) Copy your stories onto a disc and send the disc to someone you can trust.

3) Re-format your hard-drive using a programme which overwrites the drive, it will destroy all the information on the drive. I'm sure someone cleverer than me will give you a programme name.

Best of luck.

*Hug* Neon. I'm sorry to lay this on all of y'all, even as obscure as I have to be at the moment. Lit and the AH is my main source of support, so I hope you will all forgive me.

1) Good idea, and one that I didn't think about. This gives me hope that I will be able to return to the site as Angelicminx, in the event that I am truly forced to take the drastic measure of removing myself.

2) Trust is something I have in short supply at the moment. I've been betrayed at every turn by RL people I trusted with my life, including family. Copying everything onto disc isn't a problem, but my quandry is who do I send it to?

3) Yes, this is what I intended, but I also didn't know the name of any programs. Gathering, from the rest of the thread, that it's not enough however. *Sigh*

For the second, I've been told that even reformatting your hard drive won;t eliminate ghosts, so my suggestion would be to replace your hard drive with a brand new one.........copy everything you want from your current one onto cd's keeping them safe, and then destroy it.

I knew that reformatting wouldn't eliminate ghosts. Even with my limited knowledge I've been able to recover a few things after a format. Any clue right off hand what a new hard drive costs? Not that it matters, it has to be done, but if it's too much money right now I won't be able to write anything at all. I have 3 computers and they all have files that would have to be destroyed. *Hug*

Yes, what she said.

PM if you need.

I will, ABS. *Hug*

Not enough! If you want to be really, absolutely, certain, copy anything you want to save to another drive, and then take a BIG hammer - preferably a sledge hammer - to the guilty drive until it is in any tiny pieces.

Alex

That would certainly give me an outlet for my intense anger, wouldn't it? *Grin*

Minx, for your third question on the hard drive: http://www.killdisk.com/

I used it on old drives at work to make sure trade secrets were not leaking. Plug it in as a secondary drive in another computer and wipe it with that software.

Good luck w everything.


Yeah, that'll work. Then toast the fucker in the oven for an hour. And hurl it in a woodchipper. And spread it over seven states.

Thank you, Liar. The question becomes, is that enough? Also, if I overwrite the drive, or replace it all together, does it render my recovery discs useless? Will I have to purchase an operating system and the other programs that came with the computer?

And once you get the little metal disks out of the drive run a really strong magnet over them so they can't just be put in another drive and read.

Forgot that part of the mess, lol. I have a magnet available for just that purpose. *Grin*

Burn the pieces as well. Just to be sure.

*Grin*

I'm not sure exactly what's going on here, but I send you my deepest prayers and blessings with whatever it is you have to do. Hope you don't end up leaving us forever, friend.

Thank you, and welcome to the AH. Sorry your debut came within this asinine mess. I appreciate the prayers and blessings, I'm going to need them, even if I'm not forced to leave. If I do have to leave, it won't be forever. I will be back, even if it's under a new identity, from a secure location.

I don't know much about computers, but just wanted to let you know you are in my thoughts and prayers. And just remember, cops, even the FBI lie. Don't believe a word they tell you and agree upon a code word with loved ones so that they know something that is said actually comes from you or to you from them. God Bless you Minx.

Thank you, Danielle. Good idea, the code word. Things have already gotten so twisted it's insane. Yes, prior to the last 12 months I had complete faith in the legal system. Now I have no faith. Lying, backstabbing thieves, the whole lot of them. *Hug*

Whatever's going on, good luck.

Thanks, Jett. I appreciate it. *Hug*

I'm sorry Minx... I have a feeling I know what it's vaguely about... *sigh*

Been there done that... everyone has offered great advice... take it... and don't hide anything where they can find it, and that includes a friend's house or safety deposit boxes. A lawyer has privilege. Anything you don't want them to have, give it to your lawyer.

Sparked my curiosity there. You don't know how bad I want to shout from the rooftops what is happening, but I can't. As to sending things to my lawyer... I wonder what his reaction would be to a box of adult toys? LMAO. Yes, they have to go too. *Crying* *hugs*

 

[Antfarmer77]

I know this probably too little too late, but there's a program called Windows Washer http://www.webroot.com/consumer/products/windowwasher?rc=4929&ac=5190443
And it has a free trial version. Good Luck with all your stuff.

 

[CrimsonMaiden]

Or this program might help: Eraser. It overwrites data including deleted stuff.

 

[Aurora Black]

Good luck, Minx. I'm thinking of you.

 

[moonlight elf]

I don't have any new advise but I just wanted you to know you have my support.
PM if ya need anything.
*hugs* Minx

 

[JRaven]

First the legal stuff: It may be illegal to destroy your harddrive. Destruction of evidence is unlawful.
Now let me give you my two cents on how.

Or this program might help: Eraser. It overwrites data including deleted stuff.

Eraser is good. I've used it at work to completely wipe out hard drives on PCs we got rid of at work. It makes it so that only a team of professionals in a lab would be able to get anything off of the hard drive. Norton also makes software that will do this that you can buy at any computer store.

Ergo, On Track does quite a good business recovering data. www.ontrack.com
The drive doesn't even have to be working for them to recover the data. And, they can recover data that's been written over. In the short version of how... When the drive writes a new 1 bit ontop of an old 1 bit, it will be just a little stronger signal than if it had been written ontop of an old 0 bit. And it works vice versa. So they can analyze the differences in signal strength and get the data. I've used them once to recover a network share that had been reformatted. It cost $10,000. But that's a fairly easy recovery compared to if it had been wiped with Eraser. That would probably be in the $20,000 range. But, possible. On the other hand, the Feds have an even better lab than On Track. And, they won't charge themselves much.

The most secure way of destroying the data is complete and utter destruction of the hard drive. Drilling it full of many, many holes is good. If you can open the hard drive, bust out the shiney platters. Again, a drill can make a few holes to let you use a screwdriver to peel back the cover. (Careful of sharp edges!) Break the platters into really tiny pieces. Even if you just break them in half, they can glue it back together. Don't throw them all away in the same place.
(thinking of the size of the pieces of mulch in my garden, I don't think a wood chipper would get them small enough)

Good luck, Minx.

Jenny

 

[angelicminx]

First the legal stuff: It may be illegal to destroy your harddrive. Destruction of evidence is unlawful.
Now let me give you my two cents on how.

Eraser is good. I've used it at work to completely wipe out hard drives on PCs we got rid of at work. It makes it so that only a team of professionals in a lab would be able to get anything off of the hard drive. Norton also makes software that will do this that you can buy at any computer store.

Ergo, On Track does quite a good business recovering data. www.ontrack.com
The drive doesn't even have to be working for them to recover the data. And, they can recover data that's been written over. In the short version of how... When the drive writes a new 1 bit ontop of an old 1 bit, it will be just a little stronger signal than if it had been written ontop of an old 0 bit. And it works vice versa. So they can analyze the differences in signal strength and get the data. I've used them once to recover a network share that had been reformatted. It cost $10,000. But that's a fairly easy recovery compared to if it had been wiped with Eraser. That would probably be in the $20,000 range. But, possible. On the other hand, the Feds have an even better lab than On Track. And, they won't charge themselves much.

The most secure way of destroying the data is complete and utter destruction of the hard drive. Drilling it full of many, many holes is good. If you can open the hard drive, bust out the shiney platters. Again, a drill can make a few holes to let you use a screwdriver to peel back the cover. (Careful of sharp edges!) Break the platters into really tiny pieces. Even if you just break them in half, they can glue it back together. Don't throw them all away in the same place.
(thinking of the size of the pieces of mulch in my garden, I don't think a wood chipper would get them small enough)

Good luck, Minx.

Jenny

Thanks for the info, Jenny. It's not evidence, yet, so I have no legal issue there. I pray I'm just being paranoid, but the possibility that I'm not is there, so...

 

[Pure]

i'd suggest the 'zilla data nuker', which can overwrite files or drives.

http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/Utilities/File_Cleanup_Utilities/Zilla_Data_Nuker.html


you can google for 'file shredder.' remember 'deletion' is not sufficient. you need multiple OVERWRITES to destroy data.

i think there are encryption schemes which will thwart all but the CIA, like PGP (pretty good privacy).

There are also remote storage sites, where you can upload all your stuff.

as a number have said, the hard drive is not a big item. you can yank it out and smash it with a hammer.

it's important to be realistic here. unless Rumsfeld or the CIA is after you, no one is going to spend 10,000 dollars to analyze your story posting activity or harddrive.

as to re entry. if 'angelicminx' cannot be re assumed, just change a tiny part, and wel'll know ya --like 'angelicminxx'

---
incidentally, you should delete all personal identifiers from your profiles at Lit. make sure all the email addies are non informative--i.e., without your name. use hotmaiil addresses, where the hotmail accounts themselves lack your true name and address and state.

 

[S-Des]

Hard drives are not overly expensive (in the vicinity of $100 depending on what you want to buy). The people who are suggesting overwriting programs are onto the safest idea (besides the sledgehammer one and Rob's of burning the pieces). When the data is physically overwritten, it's unrecoverable. The trick is trusting that it's gone because it's almost impossible to verify.

If you know anyone who builds computers privately, they could take your reformatted hard drive and trade you a replacement one of similar size (then it's long gone because it would be put into a new computer . . . good luck on someone trying to track down that needle in a haystack). That would be the least expensive option to make it go away (if you know a computer guy). Mine does trades with me all the time when I want to do an upgrade. If money is a big issue, this would work really well.

Like SK, I have an uncomfortable suspicion about what your situation is and wish you all the best. It's difficult when you lose your trust in those around you. Been there, done that, don't have any wish to go back. Along with everyone else, you have my support and can PM me if there's anything you can think of that I could do to help. Good luck.

 

[R. Richard]

Hard drives are not overly expensive (in the vicinity of $100 depending on what you want to buy). The people who are suggesting overwriting programs are onto the safest idea (besides the sledgehammer one and Rob's of burning the pieces). When the data is physically overwritten, it's unrecoverable. The trick is trusting that it's gone because it's almost impossible to verify.

Overwriting is good, but must be done several times to really wipe out all the datas. Even then it MIGHT be possible to recover a hard disk if the government REALLY wants to.

If you know anyone who builds computers privately, they could take your reformatted hard drive and trade you a replacement one of similar size (then it's long gone because it would be put into a new computer . . . good luck on someone trying to track down that needle in a haystack). That would be the least expensive option to make it go away (if you know a computer guy). Mine does trades with me all the time when I want to do an upgrade. If money is a big issue, this would work really well.

In your town there are small, independent computer stores. Some of them will take used hard disks in trade. They then use the used hard disk, mainly as replacements for other people's damaged hard disks. Few reputable computer stores will do this last, so you are dealing with very shifty people. Before you take a hard disk to such a computer store, wipe out all the data with an overwrite program.

If you do not have system CDs, you are going to have to buy a new system. You can get most of the application programs as free downloads. Check out OpenOffice for word processor, spreadsheet and database. By the way, if you try to "sneak" a copy of some's sytem programs and you use your computer on the 'Net, it is possible for the system program seller to detect that you have ripped them off. They can make nasty threats, but they do not sue individual users, as it is too expensive.

Good luck.

 

[peppermintcrisp]

Hi, this is what my friend says:

"To overwrite a hard disk, choose a large video file and duplicate it until you have nearly filled the disk. Then find smaller files to fill the disk so there is less than 1kb left (the disk's capacity is finite). I don't see how any of your information could be retrieved after this. Once full, throw out the duplicate filler files. Presto - a fresh hard disk.
*I do not advise performing this on your boot disk, prepare another boot disk if necessary." Hope this helps!

 

[peppermintcrisp]

Good luck Minx, and take care.