Data Security on HDD being returned RMA

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stuzz

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#99541 21-Mar-2012 12:34

I have a Samsung HDD in my Synology NAS that has been reported as failed.

Luckily it still has 2 mths of warranty left so can be returned.

My question is can I protect any data that still can possibly be read. It probably can't be if faulty, but was just wondering "what if"

The drive will be returned directly to supplier, so I guess it should be ok.

stevenz

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#598175 21-Mar-2012 12:54

If it's a hardware failure, then unless the data is important enough to pay for a professional data recovery, then you can forget about it.

If it's only "mostly dead" then you might be able to use something like "Active@ recovery" to dump something off of it.

If it's the data itself that you don't want risk them having access to, then again, unless it'd be important enough for someone to want to do a forensic recovery, it's not likely to happen.

It would be interesting to know exactly how dead drives are disposed of though, for those cases where they MIGHT actually have data worth retrieving.

@KnightNZ

stuzz

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#598178 21-Mar-2012 13:03

Thanks

There is nothing really important on it, but it was more your last point that interested me.

It is mostly filled with movies & music but was just interested. The retailer couldn't really tell me either when I called to ask. I found that a little interesting. I guess most wouldn't care.

Ragnor

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#598197 21-Mar-2012 13:28

I'd assume during testing/rma process they will would wipe the drive in the process of fixing it, or send you a new different drive as a replacement.

Personally I would get a copy of the data off it first and send it in blank, but since it was in a NAS presumably in RAID 1 or 5 then is would just be partial data and not any whole data anyway?

Have you taken the drive out of the NAS and checked it in a PC with the manufacturers disk tools?

stuzz

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#598209 21-Mar-2012 13:54

Ragnor: I'd assume during testing/rma process they will would wipe the drive in the process of fixing it, or send you a new different drive as a replacement.

Personally I would get a copy of the data off it first and send it in blank, but since it was in a NAS presumably in RAID 1 or 5 then is would just be partial data and not any whole data anyway?

Have you taken the drive out of the NAS and checked it in a PC with the manufacturers disk tools?

I haven't removed from NAS yet, but I was thinking of doing so. Was in RAID 1

xpd

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#598215 21-Mar-2012 14:03

Most places will restore the faulty units (no matter it is) to factory default - so very good chance you'll lose any data on it.

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

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trig42

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#598218 21-Mar-2012 14:06

At least in RAID 1 you have a backup of the data.
The shop should have told you that if you are sending it away for RMA, you won't get it back with any data on it (99% sure it will just be replaced with a new one).

I do not know how they dispose of the dead ones though.

Ragnor

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#598231 21-Mar-2012 14:25

stuzz:

I haven't removed from NAS yet, but I was thinking of doing so. Was in RAID 1

May not even been an actual issue with the drive physically, could have dropped out of the array for some reason etc.

Take it out and check it with the manufacturers disk tools imo

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stuzz

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#598238 21-Mar-2012 14:40

Ragnor:
stuzz:

I haven't removed from NAS yet, but I was thinking of doing so. Was in RAID 1

May not even been an actual issue with the drive physically, could have dropped out of the array for some reason etc.

Take it out and check it with the manufacturers disk tools imo

I will. Was in no rush until I realised it was still under warranty.

Ragnor

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#598239 21-Mar-2012 14:45

How many drives in your NAS, just two? You'll want to get a working 2nd drive back in there ASAP so you have redundancy in case the worst happens to the other drive that's fine at the moment.

trig42

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#598246 21-Mar-2012 15:03

Ragnor: How many drives in your NAS, just two? You'll want to get a working 2nd drive back in there ASAP so you have redundancy in case the worst happens to the other drive that's fine at the moment.

+1 - especially if both the drives are identical and bought at the same time.

stuzz

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#598258 21-Mar-2012 15:27

Ragnor: How many drives in your NAS, just two? You'll want to get a working 2nd drive back in there ASAP so you have redundancy in case the worst happens to the other drive that's fine at the moment.

Yeah. I have powered it down until I can get it done