Computer Forensics & Data Recovery

I am periodically asked by friends and family, “Should I repair my old computer, that just broke, or but a new one?”

That is obviously a question with alot of different variables.  My first question would be how old is your computer, how much is it worth, and do you have the money/need/desire to buy a new one? 

The key is to compare the cost of the repair, with how much the computer is worth. If the cost of the repair approaches the value of the computer or the cost to buy a new one, I would not have it repaired. If all you afford is to have it repaired, I would try to locate a friend who is good with computers or repair shop who will quote you a flat rate for labor plus parts.

If you decide not to repair the computer, consider donating it to a charity that repairs computers.  These charities generally are aimed at bridging the “digital divide” by giving these repaired computer to low income families.  The charity generally serves the dual purpose of training kids in computer repair.

 If you have the money to repair the computer, but still really want a new computer; I would consider fixing the old computer.  I would then use it as a kids computer, storage server, or “always on” internet appliance for checking you email without having to boot up your new computer.

Of course the storage server suggestion, is another article in itself.  If you search the internet, you can find “how to” articles on the subject.

One last comment, and sorta a pet peeve of mine, just because “Windows” is broken; it does not mean the computer is broken.  The hardware could be just fine.  Often when people think their computer is “broken,” all they really need is a fresh install of “Windows.”  (Course I think you should at least look at Linux….but that is a whole different article also)

Also, don’t fix the computer, just to get the data.  The hard drive can be removed and the data recovered for $100 to $200 dollars, just as long as the hard drive is not what is broken.

Hope this helps.  (If you live in Gainesville, FL and have that broken computer http://www.datatriangle.com/services .  That is my shameless plug. )

My hard drive crashed! I lost my data, Word documents, and pictures. Can you get my data back?

This is something of how my calls for help usually go. The short answer is “yes,” most probably. It depends on who you talk to in the data recovery and computer forensics business, but the recovery rate is probably over 90%. Now this is including software and hardware recovery techniques.

Now what I am calling hardware recovery, is that the drive itself has stopped functioning reliably or at all. This can be a mechanical failure, such as the motor that makes the disk spin has stopped working. A key symptom of a mechanical failure is the drive making strange noises. Loud clicking, up and down loud humming, or a grinding sound. If your drive is making a grinding sound….that is REAL bad. If you want ANY chance of getting your data back, pull the power and seek professional help!

As a consumer, you are usually not real interested in my detailed description of what I believe the cause of the problem or failure is….. As my wife will say when she has a computer problem, “Just make it WORKKKK!” Oh yeah….banging on your keyboard and hitting the computer generally doesn’t solve your problem either.

Of course the other thing the consumer wants to know is, how much will it cost? This is a reasonable question. As a person or a business you have to make a decision of whether or not your data is worth that much money to get back. Data Recovery is a new enough field that I can’t give you a great answer on how much you should pay. I will give you some guidelines and thoughts.

If you are the average consumer, no RAID drive configuration and you data is not in some super encryption format, it should be a pretty standard cost. Whoever is doing the work should be able to give you a rate on how much they will charge. For a software only recovery, you should pay between $150 and $400 dollars. If it is a mechanical failure it is a lot more specialized repair, requiring more equipment. A ball park price should be $500 to $1400 dollars. I realize that last one is a real wide range, but so are the prices companies charge for those kinds of repairs.

I hope you are never in the position to have to read this article for more that personal knowledge enrichment!

I am based in Gainesville, Florida and can be reached by phone or email for individual advice. http:www.datatriangle.com/services

I occasionally have someone find my site; looking for my wife for online counseling.  Here is a synopsis of what she and her site are about.

Dr-Is-In was created to provide online counseling to people in the convenience of their own homes. E-therapy or online counseling is not appropriate for everyone. Due to the fact that your e-therapist is unable to see you and do an adequate mental status exam, it is only ethical to do online counseling with people who are experiencing mild or moderate depression, anxiety, grief or addictions. Many people claim to be online therapists, but I encourage you to check their credentials to make sure they are licensed in their state or certified by the National Board for Certified Counselors or a similar counseling organization. Online counseling comes in many different forms as well: email, individual chat and group chat and asynchronous forums. Many people feel more comfortable talking openly in e-therapy than they do in traditional counseling. It is also cheaper–No travel expenses, no babysitter and your online counselor can offer services for less per hour because their overhead is significantly less. Online counseling with an licensed/certified professional is a medical expense and is therefore tax-deductible.

I have been providing online counseling and education online, face-to-face and via telephone for over a decade. During which time I have found that, although every patient is a bit different, there are certain basic principles that remain the same. . .
People are not going to be compliant with treatment (and won’t get better) if you use an approach that does not match their personality.

A small change in your way of thinking, way of feeling, social interactions, environment, physical activities and/or eating and sleeping habits will have big effects to help you get on your way. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Neither were your problems. Change will be gradual, but Hope goes a long way.

You can do one or two things really well or do a lot of things half-way. What we are after is quality change, not quantity. Work with your e-therapist to identify one or two interventions at a time. You will probably see that a lot of things change anyway. For example, when people start making a conscious effort not to hold on to anger and resentment, they usually find that they physically feel better, have more energy and start sleeping better which helps them have more patience, improved relationships (and support) and reduced anxiety and depression.

People choose the best/most rewarding course of action they can based on the tools they have at any point in time. This is the hardest part for most people to wrap their minds around, but it is the most basic principle of behavior modification. Even if, on the surface, the behavior seems counterproductive and hurtful, there are benefits. Until you identify those benefits and find other ways of reaping the same rewards, you will not change.

Most people find during their online counseling sessions that depression, anxiety, anger etc. revolves around six basic fears: loss of control, the unknown, rejection, isolation, failure (or success) and death. We do whatever we can to avoid these feelings and when we cannot avoid them, sometimes they consume us. Although you may not like to talk about feelings, we will talk about “triggers” for your problem and tools to deal with or eliminate them.

People see all the reasons why they “should” change, but often fail to take into account all the reasons they do not want to change. It goes back to that reward. What is the benefit of this behavior or feeling? What is it protecting me from or getting for me? If you try to take away that behavior and replace it with something that does not meet the same need with the same intensity, you will FAIL! It is kind of like replacing chocolate with celery when you go on a diet. It just doesn’t quite getcha there.

Please let me know about topics you would like to see added. I will respond to questions about e-therapy, mental health, parenting and wellness as quickly as possible. You are free to ask questions, but remember, the forums are not therapy and they are public. Be smart about protecting your identity etc. Additionally, I offer free online counseling whenever I am online. Visit our services page for more information.

All that being said, I look forward to a very productive relationship.
~Dr. Snipes

I have just started looking for a new notebook computer for my field work. My current one is a couple years old. It is getting a little underpowered for what is available today.

In looking around for what to buy as an upgrade, I found the Durabook (http://www.durabook.com/index.jsp). It is drop resistant, spill resistant, and shock resistant. All this and a Core Duo version is selling for 1400 dollars at Newegg. I have not bought it yet. I wanted to let others know it is out there.

Quoted from their site:

DURABOOK is tough enough to meet Military 810F rugged specifications and also built for road warriors, mobile professionals, gamers, and everyone on the go who needs to run memory intensive applications and high speed wireless technology. The Twinhead DURABOOK incorporates added protection against drop, vibration, and liquid spills while remaining competitively priced with plastic case commercial notebooks that lack structural protection. With pricing up to 50% less than fully rugged notebook systems, the DURABOOK models offer you the essential rugged features that are needed to lower the risk of damage from normal everyday use while still providing high performance capabilities at a competitive price.

DURABOOK Rugged Standard

All DURABOOK systems pass US Military and European Committee rugged feature standards to ensure their durability. These standard test measurements include:

• DROP TEST - Magnesium alloy case - 20 times stronger than ABS plastic, offering higher survival rate after drops and bumps. Compliant with Military Standard 810F.
• VIBRATION TEST - MIL STD 810F, Method 514.4, Procedure I, Category 10, Fig 16&17/ASTM 4169, Truck Transport 11.5.2 Random test, Assurance Level II.
• SPILL PROOF TEST - European Committee for Electro Technical Standardization of IP31.

The Gainesville Police Department just had an officer involved shooting.

http://www.gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070523/SUNFRONT/705230342/-1/newsIt is unfortunate that the individual was even out on the street to be involved in a confrontation with an officer.

I hope the City of Gainesville and Gainesville Police Department are supportive of the officer.  They have had a history in the past of not supporting their officers.  Hopefully, they have learned from that experience.