DriveImageXML is a FULL drive LOGICAL backup. You back up a logical partition (or more than one) and have to have a partition to restore to of equal or greater size as the source, but then it just drops ALL the backed up LOGICAL partition data to the new partition. it does NOT set a partition as bootable though. You have to manually do that.

Define what you mean by "clone".

 

I mean exactly what norton ghost does, if we have a drive failing we use ghost to copy all the data from the bad drive to the new one. It doesn't copy free space though.

 

if ghost works, use it.

DIXML is a backup solution and is really good at making an "image" for re-installing, etc. lot's of tools out there to do the same tasks.

In the world of Ransomware, I use DIXML to make a monthly image of important machines in case something happens to the machine. I backup regularly, but the backups are to USB drives that remain connected and thus can be compromised by the ransomware. You could Ghost the drive monthly, too, or use any one of a hundred other tools to do the same thing.

 

20TB wiped and ready for re-use... :phew:

 

Though the process of wiping them took 2 years off their life

 

where in the world did you hear that? All I am doing is writing to the drive...

If that were true, filling a drive to near capacity with your movies/music/photos would also take two years off their life.

 

Ok so for the past week I've been at a lawyers office plugging in flash drives decrypting them with truecrypt or veracrypt. All sorts of fun stuff.

Currently I have a CD that looks like data is written to it when you look at the bottom of it. Stick it in the drive and it shows up in Windows and says 393mb free of 702mb, however when I open it no files appear (yes show hidden files is on). What gives? How can I get that back?

 

How old is the CD?

They don't actually last very long before they become corrupt and unreadable (consumer grade ones). You may be in some stage of that corruption.

Try it in a few machines, if it doesn't work in any of them, it is kaput.

 

I asked and they said it goes back to about 2011

 

As I said, if three or four machines won't read it, trash it.

 

I have several consumer grade CDs (that I burned) that are 10-15 years old and they read just fine...

 

And that's the point. Some will work for 15 years, and others may fail at 3 years.

Depends a LOT on:
1. quality of original blank media
2. method used to burn data
3. conditions media stored in/handled

 

one last thing to try is to try to mount the volume in Truecrypt. You can take a look at the drive data in something like Autopsy (linked to previously) and see if there is actually data there. If so, see if you can identify the header for an encrypted container file, etc. Then use that container file creating program to access the disc.

 

Ok I'll give that shot however this disc is part of a series of discs that contain similar data and they arent encrypted since it was pre HIPPA days.

 

OK, makes sense. See if Autopsy can see data on the physical device. If you want to let me look, set up a VPN connection and I can check for you. I need to be able to access the drive locally here though to be able to see it.

 

I think this should be called "The Thread". Bunch of nerds in here.



I have no idea what y'all are talking about really, but I guess I can appreciate it. This is why I will always claim to be a hardware engineer even though I mostly write code for a living.

 

 

It's dead now right? Or was that taken in a clean room? Or is the that clean room story a myth so they can jack up the price!?

 

I was teaching some foreign nationals how to correctly cover their tracks...

 

^^^^ You're now on the no-fly list. Say good bye to your guns as well

 

That thing is really clean for having been thrown in a lake.

 

That should just about do it...

 

Isn't just beating the shit out of them with a hammer enough?

 

When I've pulled server drives for the retail market that have sensitive info, I had to drill them (usually 4 holes through the case) before shipping them back and then they are mechanically shredded...

 

Probably, but this makes me feel better...

I wish I had a way to shred them.

I could hit them with a blow torch for a few!

 

What do you know about certificates generated after wiping a drive? I downloaded Active@ KillDisk since it supports UEFI secure boot wiping and supposedly has a bunch of drivers for various raid controllers.

Anyways I saw this option about creating a PDF cert after wiping the drive I guess to officially say that the drive has been wiped using X method and here's the serial # and our company logo to show that it's the right drive and from us. Is that required for HIPAA or FINRA?