What happens to the data on a hard drive after an RMA?

[psteng19]

I've got some pretty personal files on my hard drive that just happened to take a crap on me.
I know the platters are still good so the data is still there, but the motor wasn't spinning up.

Being that it was a relatively new and large drive, I couldn't eat the loss (WD 250 SE).
So I RMA'd it and they sent me a new drive.



What does WD do with my data?

 

[Reel]

Forwarded to USSS.

 

[Kyteland]

They add it to their company database and use it to blackmail you.

Not that I would know...

:shifteyes;

 

[Bootprint]

Put it up on a secret FTP site.


Nothing happens to it, I doubt they have the time to go looking at every RMAed drive.


From WD faq,
Q: What happens to the data on the drive I sent in for replacement and how can I retrieve it?

A: The data on a drive that is sent in for replacement is completely erased from the drive. When the drive is received, it is put through a rigorous testing process for analysis. During this process, the data is completely wiped out from the drive. Unfortunately, once the data as been wiped out, you can no longer retrieve it.

 

[FoBoT]

the hard drive company doesn't want to get sued because a worker stole your CC # , so they have a process to wipe it out to protect themselves

 

[mpitts]

Don't worry, they will delete your porn.

 

[Viper GTS]

If you were really that worried (read: the data was that important) it would be worth the cost of the drive to not RMA it.

Viper GTS

 

[trmiv]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
the hard drive company doesn't want to get sued because a worker stole your CC # , so they have a process to wipe it out to protect themselves

Yea but first they copy all the porn.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: psteng19
What does WD do with my data?

They report you to the FBI's division on child pornography....

 

[anxi80]

Originally posted by: trmiv

Originally posted by: FoBoT
the hard drive company doesn't want to get sued because a worker stole your CC # , so they have a process to wipe it out to protect themselves

Yea but first they copy all the porn.

...and send you a new drive with a post-it attached saying: 'heres the new drive... donkey lover.'

 

[spaceman]

lemme pull up a chair and tell ya about the birds and the bees.

 

[Papagayo]

They probably reuse the good parts.. I've gotten refurb drives from western digital and it had data on it..

jk..

I did receive refurb drives before..

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: trmiv

Originally posted by: FoBoT
the hard drive company doesn't want to get sued because a worker stole your CC # , so they have a process to wipe it out to protect themselves

Yea but first they copy all the porn.

Well that goes without saying. P2P networks aren't what they used to be you know.

 

I may be immoral but everytime a drive craps out on me and I have to RMA it I plug it in until it spins up them wrap it hard enough on the floor to crash the heads completely without noticeably damaging the unit.

Just because they legally can't rifle through your stuff, trust me, the minimum wage hacks on the RMA line are looking at your pr0n.

 

[Kalvin00]

Originally posted by: dwell
I may be immoral but everytime a drive craps out on me and I have to RMA it I plug it in until it spins up them wrap it hard enough on the floor to crash the heads completely without noticeably damaging the unit.

Just because they legally can't rifle through your stuff, trust me, the minimum wage hacks on the RMA line are looking at your pr0n.

Wouldn't that break the shock sensor thingy, voiding your warranty?

 

Originally posted by: Kalvin00
Wouldn't that break the shock sensor thingy, voiding your warranty?

Not that hard. Plus half the time my heads are already crashed. A wrap from about two feet of the ground does the trick.

 

[sygyzy]

What a silly question. Though there might be a chance that someone checks out your data briefly, if they are scanning through dozens of HD's a day, your nudie pics of yourself are not going to interest anyone. They'll wipe it and move on. I mean, who really cares?

 

[spaceman]

Originally posted by: Kalvin00

Originally posted by: dwell
I may be immoral but everytime a drive craps out on me and I have to RMA it I plug it in until it spins up them wrap it hard enough on the floor to crash the heads completely without noticeably damaging the unit.

Just because they legally can't rifle through your stuff, trust me, the minimum wage hacks on the RMA line are looking at your pr0n.

Wouldn't that break the shock sensor thingy, voiding your warranty?

do you really think with the amount of drives they have to process they actually run them through diagnostics.
i can just seeing them being tossed into a bin and parted out.
if you were the guy handling the rmas?would you check every single drive to see if it meets rma requirements? i sure as hell wouldnt...
more like:
drive 557 of the day///ya looks dead to me!

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
If you were really that worried (read: the data was that important) it would be worth the cost of the drive to not RMA it.

Viper GTS

We'll have none of that logic sh!t here, damn you!! :|

 

[fs5]

Originally posted by: anxi80

Originally posted by: trmiv

Originally posted by: FoBoT
the hard drive company doesn't want to get sued because a worker stole your CC # , so they have a process to wipe it out to protect themselves

Yea but first they copy all the porn.

...and send you a new drive with a post-it attached saying: 'heres the new drive... donkey lover.'

HAHAHAHAHAHA

 

[joecool]

Originally posted by: mpitts
Don't worry, they will delete your porn.

LOL

 

[DaFinn]

Originally posted by: psteng19
I've got some pretty personal files on my hard drive that just happened to take a crap on me.
I know the platters are still good so the data is still there, but the motor wasn't spinning up.

Being that it was a relatively new and large drive, I couldn't eat the loss (WD 250 SE).
So I RMA'd it and they sent me a new drive.



What does WD do with my data?

Phew,

Man, with that data we cannot do anything. The animalpr0n files you have are just discusting. I showed them to my dog, and it threw up. And the conversations you been having in Adult chat sites... man, thats just pathetic. No way you're gonna get laid... EVER! Your Mom doesn't look that bad, but I don't think she appreciates you putting a webcam to your toilet??? Having a picture of your penis as backround on all your emails is... well prolly not a very good idea!

As for your question, all data on your HDD is immediately destroyed by putting your drive through some very vigorous test. There is no way for YOU to recover the data, ever.

Your Friendly WD RMA team!

 

[tyim]

Originally posted by: mpitts
Don't worry, they will delete your porn.