... that you might want to double-check *how* the data will be returned as far as compared to the original structure of the disk.

Many places will simply recover all available data and save it to some randomly generated directory structure, completely and madly devoid of any and all sense of order that a typical directory structure imposes via an operating-system like Windows. I hate Windows and all things MS but one thing I know is that when I sit down at a win32 computer I can quite literally close my eyes, jump to a command prompt and navigate around the drive, opening and closing files with ease. The directory structure is that rigid. It doesn't have to be, but 99.99% of users and system builders do not change the norm as per MS' spec.

Doesn't sound like a big deal until you consider how long it would take to literally go through every file and directory of ... say 200 gigs of data files. In these cases it is advisable to sock in many, many cases of ones favorite liquid refreshment because it is going to be a long time before you see daylight.

I am forever an optimist. Thanks for putting a realistic spin on it.

"I am forever an optimist. Thanks for putting a realistic spin on it."

I'm just fairly cynical these days concerning the "biz" that I made my vocation nearly 20 years ago. Used to be people got into computers because they were geeks and really into the technology. They'd help you out and bend over backwards to fix something, and all they wanted was fair compensation. And even with that, sometimes problems were so strange and random and frankly, wonderfully interesting they'd spend hours and hours figuring it out. And they'd never charge for all the extra time. It was a learning experience for everyone involved.

Now, it's a corporate-driven business. Full of all the hype, lies, and general bullshit you'd expect from a profit driven enterprise. Someone mentioned the GeekSquad earlier in this OT sub-thread. I haven't met many of their techs who are worth much of anything.

IMO it is the biggest scam Bill Gates and crew (meaning Steve Jobs, Wozniak, Ballmer, etc) pulled over on people. Convincing the world's computer users that they didn't need to know anything about a system, just point-n-click your way to happiness.

What a racket ...

Convincing the world's computer users that they didn't need to know anything about a system, just point-n-click your way to happiness.

with all due respect, that's overstating it a bit. there's no reason why everyone who wants or needs to use a computer needs to know about the underlying system. computers will be appliances and appliances will be computerized. nothing inherently wrong with either scenario.

uh, btw, i might as well fess up. as an IT mgr i had to pony up $1500 to repair a harddrive back in the mid 90s after a bonehead mistake. tho I can't recall what i did wrong...

Thanks, KB4Hire. The drive spins up, but isn't recognized by the BIOS (and therefore anything else). I've tried the cables, even tried moving it to a machine where I knew the cables were good, it isn't the cables or cable seating this time. It doesn't sound like a head crash (no odd noises). I found some software that bypasses the BIOS, it sees the drive and its cylinder layout. I have a cable problem now -- there is a native SATA controller on the motherboard, no regular IDE cables at all and no slots (actually just one, an AGP for the graphics controller, which I need to see the screen), and the software has trouble with SATA and USB mounted drives. I did get some quotes that offered to go in and fix electrical and/or logical problems and return the drive intact so I could image it, but most companies want to image stuff onto DVD's or CD's. I do have some backups, but currently have no way to get to them, and they are out of date. The irony is that I didn't buy the backup software a couple of months ago because it was too expensive.

I had originally asked because I'm way out of my element on disk recovery companies and don't know which one to trust, and was hoping someone had used such services around here. Now I am very thankful, I have contacted some of the contacts people have given, but I'm somewhat embarrassed that I derailed a thread on a super important topic.

Are Democrats human?

Inertia ain't on our side. "The time to guard against corruption and tyranny, is before they shall have gotten hold of us. It is better to keep the wolf out of the fold than to trust to drawing his teeth and claws after he shall entered." Jefferson

Everybody knew DC was corrupt but a cave-dwelling terrorist provided the final push to tyranny. Fools that declare and agree to "a war on terror" provide enemies the evidence and confidence to the effectiveness of their tactic.

I declare an end to the war on terror--terror won--fear defeated reason.

"with all due respect, that's overstating it a bit. there's no reason why everyone who wants or needs to use a computer needs to know about the underlying system. computers will be appliances and appliances will be computerized. nothing inherently wrong with either scenario."

Sorry but I have to disagree with you on this issue. I look at it this way. I don't know crap about cars for the most part, but I do know how to check the oil level, tire pressure, etc. Basic tasks that IMO are necessary for operating a car.

With computers I feel it is the same situation. People should know what a directory is, a data file versus a program file, what a file extension is and why it is important. Nearly all general users don't know these small and easily understood concepts.

People don't need to know about memory architecture, or CPU internals, or what a bus is and the different types of busses there are in a typical system. But the same way I can look into my car's engine compartment and know where the battery is at, the radiator, etc, people should know some basic fundamental info about the computer.

The day I try and put the gas hose into the tail pipe will be the day I consider myself a typical computer user automobile owner.

You're an IT Manager? Well, that does kind of explain why you feel differently. After all you're the one who gets to explain to the other non-IT managers how this software update or that new program is going to really energize and change the paradigm the company is working under.

(sorry but I couldn't resist that last paragraph :-)