Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2006/09/02
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Back in the good 'ol days when real men used real computers that cost a half million each, IBM used a term that made a lot of sense - "VTOC" for Volume Table of Contents. Since a disk drive was a "Volume" it made sense that the VTOC referenced the data that was out there on the hard drive, just like the table of contents in a book references the chapters. Since the disk magnetic pick-up arm spent most of its time over the VTOC, ready to reference the next program data request, that was where it was most likely to have a problem. A "crash" was when the mag head, actually "flying" barely above the disk surface, would accidentally touch the surface. Also the VTOC could become corrupted by a few scrambled bits and become unreadable. In both cases, since the "door" to your data was the VTOC, an unreadable VTOC meant that you could not get to your data. But the data was still out there on the hard drive - log files, deleted files that had not been overwritten, and current data. Recovery labs have special software that identifies the data without having to go through the VTOC. Today on PC's the disk table of contents is called the FAT for File Allocation Table - a stupid name that barely describes how much really happens there. That name along with a lot of other idiocy is what happened when the kids took over computers, writing a compact operating system that would allow them to play computer games on old 4k memory DEC PDP-8's that were sitting in the corner. That small OS become DOS, which became Windows. One fellow programmer years ago said that building applications on a Microsoft operating system was like constructing the Taj Mahal on a foundation of toothpicks. So Frank - easiest "proper" disposal of your ST225 - use that high tech tool called a sledge hammer. Software tools can do it, too, but cost more than old drives are worth and take a lot of time, too. Gary Todoroff At 01:42 PM 09/02/06, you wrote: >The rumor or truth from the IT world is that MS was asked to make >Windows act this way, just in case it was needed for some law >enforcement need. > >Anyway, learn your lesson for others... Computers are no place to >hide info you do not want found. > >BTW, What do you do with your old Hard Disks? I have every one back >to my ST225 in my closet, awaiting proper disposal... if only >I could figure that one out...... > >Frank Filippone >red735i@earthlink.net > > >Morale: if you have something to hide, do not hide it on your computer. > > > >_______________________________________________ >Leica Users Group. >See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information