What would you do?

[ancients]

I repaire computers in the winter time, because I am laid off. And a buddy of mine brought over some old hard drives he had dug up from somewheres, garbage I think(he's a pack rat), to see if I could use them... Most seemed normal so I deleted and wiped zeros to the drive. But one of them had photos of scans on it, so curiosly I took a look. Turn out I had went to school with this person some thirty years prior. also it had personal data, sos #, birth, ect. I was amazed as to why anyone would store this information on thiere computer, but any way, I called a phone # on the resume I had found within the data and Explained who I was, and would she like her data back. Of course she said, but how the hell did I get her # she asked,I told her from her resume within her documets, she thought the hard drive was junk thats why it was thrown out. She and her husband (whom I also went to school with) came buy that evening to pick up her files and hard drive. I explained that the drive had a power surge and fried the on board controller chip and that I had repaired it. Then I burned all her files to disk then gave her the disk and drive. She could'nt that me enough for rescueing her files and being honest enough to return her data and drive.
 I explained to her and her husband that they were lucky to have had me find it and not someone else, for what was on it. She explained that he threw it out for it was no good...so I told them next time simply smash the drive with a hammer before they throw it away, or it things might have had a differet out come... So my question is what would you do?

[Just17]

I explained that the drive had a power surge and fried the on board controller chip and that I had repaired it.

I wouldn't have bothered to repair it in the first place.

If I had, I would have wiped it without going through the files.

If it had fallen to me she would not have recovered her files.

[Wildman]

I explained that the drive had a power surge and fried the on board controller chip and that I had repaired it.

I wouldn't have bothered to repair it in the first place.

If I had, I would have wiped it without going through the files.

If it had fallen to me she would not have recovered her files.

Ditto the above,..in this country, way to many ways to get sued jut for trying to help...there is little to no trust left here..

[Rudge]

I explained that the drive had a power surge and fried the on board controller chip and that I had repaired it.

I wouldn't have bothered to repair it in the first place.

If I had, I would have wiped it without going through the files.

If it had fallen to me she would not have recovered her files.

Ditto the above,..in this country, way to many ways to get sued jut for trying to help...there is little to no trust left here..

I have to +1 the above.

I would have just said to myself "oh crap,, somebody's data is still here" and immediately wiped it without ever looking through it.

[Archie]

@ancients, let's just hope your goodness to this people is repaid in goodness as well. Though I'm sure we understand your good intentions, there are people in this world looking to hit on anyone so great care should be considered. Though your advise to break the HD with a hammer is sound advice, they may or may not know that already. You did mention that they were old schoolmates ... keep your fingers crossed that they don't take you to court for your possession of their information.

Like the above, I wouldn't have returned their data and would have just wiped the drive clean. Those people already "lost" those files; let it remain lost.

[MGBguy]

Heck, I know that I'm dense; but how is this act of kindness any different than returning a person's lost wallet, credit cards, or other personal identification?

BTW I was a Boy Scout. That "do a good deed" stuff kinda stuck. 

[joechimp]

A very slippery slope.
Still I might have done the same thing.

[Rudge]

Heck, I know that I'm dense; but how is this act of kindness any different than returning a person's lost wallet, credit cards, or other personal identification?

BTW I was a Boy Scout. That "do a good deed" stuff kinda stuck.  

I was a scout as well and I would have assumed that the "wallet and it's contents" were thrown out on purpose.

My "good deed" would have been to make sure it was never recovered, as the owner intended when they threw it out.

I guess it depends on how you look at it.  


I tried to throw a garbage can away once, the trash guy kept returning it. 

[ppiklapp]

Heck, I know that I'm dense; but how is this act of kindness any different than returning a person's lost wallet, credit cards, or other personal identification?

BTW I was a Boy Scout. That "do a good deed" stuff kinda stuck.  

I was a scout as well and I would have assumed that the "wallet and it's contents" were thrown out on purpose.

My "good deed" would have been to make sure it was never recovered, as the owner intended when they threw it out.

I guess it depends on how you look at it.  


I tried to throw a garbage can away once, the trash guy kept returning it. 

As a former scout myself, no I would not of returned the information or the drive, as it was thrown away to begin with.  Most people just don't think about what they throw out.  My g/f is one of them.  She keeps trashing things before I get a chance to see if they are salvagable.  She once threw out a box of computer parts I was saving for experimentation/backup purposes.  A week later, the mouse on the computer broke down, so I went looking for my spares.  When I could not find them, I finally asked if she had seen them.  She admitted to throwing them out and I told her that because she trashed the box without asking, we were going to not be able to use the computer until my next paycheck, which was a week away.  She whined the whole week, but learned not to dispose of stuff without consulting me again. 

What really irked me, was that there was a sound card in there that I paid good money for and still worked. 

[gesata]

Heck, I know that I'm dense; but how is this act of kindness any different than returning a person's lost wallet, credit cards, or other personal identification?

BTW I was a Boy Scout. That "do a good deed" stuff kinda stuck. 

There's a difference the wallet is an item that one expects not to lose, an accidental incident. Returning it a necessity (just try replacing a lost Driver's License).
The HDD was trashed, a chosen incident that which was on it,(however ignorantly) thought to be gone, inaccessible IIRC. The information IMO no longer significant to them.  For their protection I'd wipe the the HDD.
People in general don't think like those of us who know about computers. Your buddies, I'm assuming, are in the general people category.  It is common for such folk to think that if they can't access it neither can anyone else.

[aguila]

In this very special case, i.e. actually knowing the former owners, I guess I would have done the same.

They may spread the word about how easily someone could recover their data and how important it is to backup (which they obviously hadn't done) your files. They may even recommend you and give you some business that way.

I don't think that the world is as bad as described by some here. We're always only presented the bad news.

I would not fear to be sued for anything in this special case. Of course and as always YMMV.

[Lucky Blue]

Hello XX
Returning your hard drive.  
You probably threw it out as faulty.
I got it as junk.
I have repaired it and found your name and address in a file.
I have not kept any of your data.
The charge for the repair and return is $x
which you can pay as a contribution to any charity.  
Yours
Anon.

[aguila]

Hello XX
Returning your hard drive.  
You probably threw it out as faulty.
I got it as junk.
I have repaired it and found your name and address in a file.
I have not kept any of your data.
The charge for the repair and return is $x
which you can pay as a contribution to any charity.  
Yours
Anon.

Only if I was totally broke.

I don't think ancients would have done it if he hadn't known them. I wouldn't.

[ZX80Man]

If it was a close friend, I could surely trust, otherwise I would be gun shy.
 

[ppiklapp]

If it was a close friend, I could surely trust, otherwise I would be gun shy.
 

You and I are very different, and it goes back to the way I was raised.  I have never been shy about guns and there are Jehovah Witnesses that can testify about that.