recoverable data

[firemonkey]

Ok, I am curious, who else is sick of the media scareing the general public? I am mostly talking about, when a reporter will go to a goodwill and but some computer, then take it to a place on-track and pay $1000 of dollars to have info removed from the drive then claim how easy it is to remove the data. Granted I do know how to remove the data with some software that I have, but still its not allways the most easy thing in the world to do. I work for a tech bench that deals with the public allot, and I see allot of conerns with this. Honestly do you think that the average person buying a used computer has the knowlage or finances to get data recovered?
It is at times to the point where we could sell HD cleanings (zero out all data 10 times) for $90. and there are people who wold pay it.

am I way off base or is this a real concern?

thanks

[Cleetus]

I don't think about what I don't ever think about

But on the other hand, if you think you can pull in some extra cash, then don't just think about it, do it

Think about it.

[kato2274]

It's really not that difficult to pull data off a drive as long as it's mechanically sound. there has recently been a few links posted here for freeware programs that do the job and a very nice job at that. and they are simple to use.

there may indeed be a market for hard drive cleaning, though I'm not sure someone would want to pay $90 to be able to donate a computer to goodwill though.......maybe though especially if it's a small business that can write off both the expense of "cleaning" and get the tax deduction for the donation.

[Rellik]

It's getting to the point that if somebody is that scared of that kind of stuff, they should either buy a new drive or a used drive and slap it into the machine and remove the old drive before they get rid of that computer. and keep the old drive for other uses.

[opiate]

this is a stupid thread, think about that....

[Ya_know]

Originally posted by Cleetus
I don't think about what I don't ever think about

But on the other hand, if you think you can pull in some extra cash, then don't just think about it, do it

Think about it.

I think Cleetus is on to something here. firemonkey, do you have several customers calling you or coming in with this concern? That sounds like a great opportunity to provide an extended service. $90 is allot to charge, but you have to look at this as an opportunity, should it be knocking...I would try to evaluate a way to market this, but try to be subtle or you might just scare people off. If you can devise an adequate solution, charging a ¾ hour or one full to provide a legitimate service. I like it...