Kuzano

Am constantly reminded that poor technique or frequency on data backups is often confounded by having passwords on your Windows Operating system or Programs.

It is extremely difficult to counter this problem

1) you have a passworded profile on your computer
2) your computer fails or corrupts, either hardware or OS.
3) you are irregular in frequency on your backups.

If the problem requires obtaining your data from from a hard drive NOT running on it's own OS, your data may be rendered unobtainable by hooking it into an operating computer as an external drive, even if YOU KNOW the password.

A very savvy tech, with the right tools may be able to save your data. Don't ask the price... you don't want to know.

Why are you passwording your computer anyway? Use one of the services that reports the location of your computer if it is stolen and shows up on the internet.

This comes up as today, I ran into a client computer with Windows XP. The computer will not boot up. Many unreadable sectors. No recent backup. Passworded. I can hook it up to my Windows 7 computer and roam the drive. I can see all the data folder, but no way to use the password to access them.

Running a daylong scan, but anticipate many more hours of work or research to get to those locked out folders.

Iffy then.

If the password had not been in place, I would have had the data downloaded to a thumb drive before lunch today...

Just a little story about how my day is going and what a PITA passwords on a computer are.

If you have to password the computer, don't password the hard drive or software. Password the BIOS and write it down in a secure location.

At least a bios password can be shorted out of the machine (as any thief of course knows). Or you can put the hard drive on a separate machine because the HD is not passworded if you do the BIOS instead.

Passwords are not security for hackers and thieves, they are to deter honest people.

Which raised the question..... Why do 7-11 stores invest in locks on the doors..... for 24 and 7 hours????

OH...BTW. The client is a church. I mentioned the "power of prayer"

Mr PC Loc: Austin, TX

I'm a computer guy, professionally recovering data for over 20 years and unless the hard drive is encrypted, I've never had a problem getting data from a drive by mounting it as a slave (more politically correct these days to call it a secondary drive!). Data recovery from a corrupted drive is very expensive, true. Bit not so much for a drive that is intact, password or not. My 2 cents. Good luck with your current project.

DGStinner Loc: New Jersey

I've been doing computer forensics for over 10 years and have never had a problem recovering files from a hard drive that could still spin up and was not encrypted. Just because there's a login password does not mean it has encryption, especially if it's any version of Windows prior to 7. There have been many clients that asked if we needed their passwords to recover their files or forensically image their hard drives, and were surprised when we'd say 'no'.

Kuzano

Yes, and I agree... also with the corrupted part. This drive is running scandisk and a couple of other tools. So far, innumerable unreadable sectors.

About the same time in the biz, and constantly challenged to win over these problems. I'll write off a lot of time before I give up on this. I want to show these church people that I am more powerful than GOD!!!

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Good luck....

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

And how's that working out?

Kuzano

It's actually a perception of self image, and I am doing better than most.

being a devout atheist helps immensely.

:mrgreen:

Mr PC Loc: Austin, TX

You might try Spinrite from GRC.com. It's worked miracles before for me, but then again I'm a believer and lay hands on every keyboard before I start. Prayer might be a good thing even if you don't believe and there happens to be a God who cares ;-) Either way, good luck and Happy New year!

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

OK. I will make no further comment.