I'm pleased I do all my own
repairs
ooooo dont give me this
ive just sent my lappy back to get fixed under warranty.
theres a lot of legally dubious software on it (i.e. the OS).
They demanded to know my passwords to get on to my desktop and in the end I caved (giving them a false one). I had put a bios password on and
obviously my windows login password to hinder them.
But now im convinced theyve removed my hdd and just done a file recovery because the disk itself isnt encrypted 
My paranoia is enhanced by the fact I sent it in to have the tab key replaced and it took 3 weeks
I have a mate who used to work in a PC repair place. I won't mention names for obvious reasons. He was constantly sending out links 'Look
what I found on a client's machine'. Usually pics of their wife/girfriend/significant other.
I'm sure they all do it. Probably safest just to buy a new PC when it breaks, or take it to a mate that you trust.
Chris
Years ago I used to work for a large high-street computer company, and we used to look through customers data, etc. We did it mostly because we were
bored.
Until we had Gary Glitter's laptop in for repair anyway - and the rest is history!
I looked at one where the customer wanted me to replace his laptops TFT and send it straight back without even testing it. I instantly knew there was
something on there he didn't want anyone else to see. So I looked and he had set his desktop image to a young asian girl pleasuring a horse with
her mouth! There were hundreds of images along a similar style all over his laptop!
shocking reports, but come one, we all would, wouldn't we? 
oh noooo!
as long as they dont shop me im not bothered if they spotted the entire back catalogue of house and greys anatomy.
please dont let them shop me!
also how do you get on to peoples computers so easily?
[Edited on 23/7/09 by cd.thomson]
Sound as trustworthy as garage mechanics. I recently recovered (thanks to those on here) all my accidentally deleted holiday photos. If someone’s got
access to your hard drive, they seem to be able to recover and copy every file that’s ever been saved to it.
then they basically have a clone of your machine
[Edited on 23/7/09 by Mr Whippy]
Far too easy to access just about any info on a HD. So either encrypt the whole disk or a logical volume where you store your personal files.
One method I use is to encrypt an OS such as Windows XP using Truecrypt but run the OS within a Virtual PC environment(go Google it if your not
familiar). The advantage is complete security of my files, easy to backup by just copying the Virtual PC files plus easy to hide from prying eyes.
Running virtual PCs does require a certain minimum spec of you PC but nothing special by todays standards.
Personally, I'd keep any data you don't want getting into the wrong hands on a USB stick. That way you can just pull it out. Job done!
Chris
quote:
Originally posted by ChrisW
Personally, I'd keep any data you don't want getting into the wrong hands on a USB stick. That way you can just pull it out. Job done!
Chris
quote:
Originally posted by ChrisW
Personally, I'd keep any data you don't want getting into the wrong hands on a USB stick. That way you can just pull it out. Job done!
Chris
I prefer to fix my own PC...
(but I do have a reasonable idea of what I'm doing... )
I used to work for a PC shop and yes, we used to look through customers photo's ... but only the photo's (as if that makes me a better
person 
)
i own a computer shop and i wish i had time to look at he photos and documents.
we do back up the docs but only in case we lose anything, if i found anyone looking at customers docs i'd sack them.
If my PC goes wrong then Paradoxia0 is who I get to repair it. But I am always looking over his shoulder saying 'Er, no don't look in that
file, its err, got nothing in it'
Wonder what's in this folder ? I think the title "Big T!ts" is a bit of a clue it must be birds and wildlife
I used to repair all manner of things for a very large high street retailer including camcorders when they first came on the scene. They were only
bought by rich pervs at the time and it was surprising what was on the tapes that were jammed in!!
One marked "Tash Edit" was not about their little Natasha!!
I once got disciplined for repairing my own PC....I wouldn't let the other engineer near it, he was crap!!
i wouldnt know where to start when it comes to fixing pc's
luckily o dont use my pc for anything important