OT - Blatant Fanpost Abuse/Computer Emergency/NERD Alert
by victor frankenstein on Oct 26, 2009 6:31 PM PDT
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PrintI'm sorry, I'm pulling out all the stops here.
I recently reinstalled my desktop's OS. (Remember the audio problem? Here's something much more formidable)
I transferred files I wished to keep to an external hard drive, in this case a Buffalo 1TB monster. Of course it asked me to set up an encryption password and of course I complied.
Now, when I finally get up the set to reinstall said files, it's not recognizing my password.
Now, I'm one of those billions of idiots who uses either the same password or some close derivative of it, so I'm at a loss here. I called Buffalo who told me they had no solution(!) but gave me two numbers for data recovery corporations.
The first one quoted me $899 "...after your 10% Buffalo discount."
That conversation ended rather abruptly. I have not called the other number.
None of the unretrievable information I can't live without. It's just stolen music, my resume (rewriteable of course), and every picture I've taken in the last four years (NOT rewriteable.)
That's the part that hurts.
So if you have a constructive idea around this little massive problem I'm some ears. I'm offering double the usual Frankenfrancs for a successful recovery and if you're in town I dunno, I'll buy you a beer or six.
This FanPost is reader-generated, and it does not necessarily reflect the views of McCovey Chronicles. If the author uses filler to achieve the minimum word requirement, a moderator may edit the FanPost for his or her own amusement.
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I can't help you with hacking in
But, I would get more aggressive with Buffalo; if they have a deal with some company, this has obviously happened to them before. From the sounds of it, it’s a problem with their service, so you shouldn’t have to be the one who suffers for it.
It might be useful to google the problem to see if others have had it, and whether they’ve had success?
Oh, and good luck!
More quotes = good. I know someone that went through this process, tell them some other company quoted you way cheaper and they’ll probably match it (or at least come close). These guys just throw random numbers out there to see if you’ll pay it. It’s still going to be expensive, though, so a different solution would be better…
Is it possible you have the caps lock key on and that the password is caps sensitive? That’s happened to me before.
The Buffalo Terastation models use the 128-bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) algorithm technology set forth by the government’s National Institute of Standards and Technology. Difficult to crack but not impossible.
Not that I would reccomend anything in the gray areas, but there are certain sites where software tools can be obtained. Most of the data recovery centers use similar tools.
My adopted son Matt Downs . Ranked as the 24th best prospect in the Giants farm system by Baseball America !!
by nvsfg on Oct 26, 2009 8:03 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
for example...
http://hackaday.com/2009/09/10/cain-and-abel-windows-password-recovery-utility/
http://ophcrack.sourceforge.net/
My adopted son Matt Downs . Ranked as the 24th best prospect in the Giants farm system by Baseball America !!
Also..
Buffalo lists this as a complete reset that restores the original settings.
This looks like a work-around for password resets
http://www.buffalotech.com/knowledgebase/users/kb.php?id=10012&category_id=0&sid2=
Plus the Buffalo tech page
http://www.buffalotech.com/knowledgebase/users/kb.php?id=10012&category_id=0&sid2=
My adopted son Matt Downs . Ranked as the 24th best prospect in the Giants farm system by Baseball America !!
nvsfg
most interesting nerd in the world :)
Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti. "I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."
Nobody puts Bengie in a corner!
by natteringnabob on Oct 26, 2009 9:35 PM PDT up reply actions
Yes , look at him go.
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Oct 26, 2009 11:34 PM PDT up reply actions
From the Buffalo tech page
1. Look for the Init button on back of device.
My addendum to that page:
2. Resist pitching device out the window when you discover it has no Init button.
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Oct 27, 2009 12:23 AM PDT up reply actions
He is from Nevada…
/Twilight Zone Music
I R 5
by say hey nation on Oct 27, 2009 6:41 AM PDT up reply actions
Not from Nevada by choice, relocated here by employer.
/ I heard Twilight Zone Music when I got here.
// was relieved I didn’t hear Dueling Banjos
My adopted son Matt Downs . Ranked as the 24th best prospect in the Giants farm system by Baseball America !!
OMG…you confirmed my suspicions…you work at area 51!
I R 5
by say hey nation on Oct 27, 2009 8:10 AM PDT up reply actions
Stay Nerdy My Friends :-)
My adopted son Matt Downs . Ranked as the 24th best prospect in the Giants farm system by Baseball America !!
I know what zero expertise looks like.
There it is , right there in that mirror.
They ought to have you take a competency test before you buy these things.
23. Are you intelligent enough to write down your passwords?
Thanks , all. I knew I could count on you folk for guidance.
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Oct 26, 2009 11:38 PM PDT up reply actions
Did you use the Secure Lock-Ware software that’s often on Buffalo drives to encrypt it? If so, that’s a problem. SLW uses AES, which is approved by the NSA for usage for government files. It’s not unhackable, but it’s close.
You need to figure out the password. Check caps, perhaps just for the first letter (or letters, if it’s multiple words)? Are there possibly spaces? Numbers at the start or end? Try the likely mistypes (transposing letters? Missing a letter?)
Sorry, dude, I wish I could do more for you.
"The knowledge of the game is inversely proportional to the price of the seat." ---Bill Veeck. •Now you can follow SFDugout.com on Twitter and Facebook!•
by BruteSentiment on Oct 26, 2009 10:29 PM PDT reply actions
Did you use the Secure Lock-Ware software that’s often on Buffalo drives to encrypt it?
You mean Memeo?
It’s not unhackable, but it’s close.
/cries softly
What’s funny is that Buffalo’s internal search doesn’t recognize the model I have.
Wheee!
Yes, BS, there be possibly numbers Four numerals. And the password itself has nine letters. Sometimes I split the four numerals in half but not often.
Oh, I have time on my hands to run through the possibilities.
By threes, then the unit aborts the program.
/Sighs, unplugs/reconnects USB cable for the umpteenth time
Carreon, and thank you.
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Oct 27, 2009 12:14 AM PDT up reply actions
Wait, the software is Memeo?
What’s the full name of the program that did the password/encryption?
Transferring files shouldn’t, in of itself, cause a password…but I’m a Mac guy. Not trying to rip windows, but I just wouldn’t see a reason for a password for just a copy.
That said…maybe this is a different horse. Was the drive new or not? Did it ever belong to someone else?
"The knowledge of the game is inversely proportional to the price of the seat." ---Bill Veeck. •Now you can follow SFDugout.com on Twitter and Facebook!•
by BruteSentiment on Oct 27, 2009 12:22 AM PDT up reply actions
It's new, unless PEW PEW PEW is selling secondhand merchandise.
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Oct 27, 2009 12:27 AM PDT up reply actions
not to muck everything up
but I seem to recall stories on that very subject…
Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti. "I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."
Nobody puts Bengie in a corner!
by natteringnabob on Oct 28, 2009 7:55 AM PDT up reply actions
I noticed this also. Windows is trying to be too secure. I think the password is completely optional, I’ve done a complete backup without being asked for one.
Out of curiosity, what OS is it victor?
Insanity is just a state of mind.
XP Pro.
Question to the assembled: when tax refunds are once again (if ever again!) issued and I take my sweaty handful of money and spring for that coveted laptop do I go Mac? Can I successfully transfer files from Windows to …whatever OS Macs run on? (Yes, that dumb.)
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Oct 27, 2009 2:33 AM PDT up reply actions
Now I’m confused Vic. Is the entire drive locked ?
Is this a windows generated backup file or a Memeo generated file that is password locked on the drive ?
If it is a windows generated file (XP backup) is is possible to recover the password files from XP’s HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Policy files. There are quite a few free tools/hacks/cracks for that. Examples:
http://www.nirsoft.net/password_recovery_tools.html
My adopted son Matt Downs . Ranked as the 24th best prospect in the Giants farm system by Baseball America !!
Nothing's locked.
It wasn’t a Windows generated nothin’, it was an external hard drive.
Separate piece of both hardware and software.
I downloaded my pictures and music onto it before I reinstalled the XP Pro on my desktop.
Sorry for the confusion.
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Oct 27, 2009 10:10 AM PDT up reply actions
I don’t know nothing about your problem, Mr. Merope might, but hopefully by the time I see him tonight you will have resolved the problem already!
As for switching from windows to mac…. There are good things about both systems, and things that will drive you crazy on both systems… My pc is running ‘98 and I have a macbook. When I’m manipulating sound files, I prefer the pc, itunes drives me bonkers.
If you get a mac don’t buy into the “it’s more intuitive” hype - it isn’t it’s just different. Well either that or Mr. Merope and I have some strange intuitions.
See picture below.
Problem solved , and I thank you.
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Oct 27, 2009 1:10 PM PDT up reply actions
Once you go Mac, you never go back
I should know; I married a Mac woman
"We're in this thing!" My adopted Giant: "Raptor Jesus" Guzman, "Sweet Jesus" Guzman and Jesus H. Guzman.
Mac users obviously make the best dancers.
I don't know anything about minor league players, so I adopted the Coke Bottle, and it's totally grown on me.
'The longer I do this the smarter I get' --Brian Sabean
by ringleader3 on Oct 27, 2009 12:24 PM PDT up reply actions
Congrats on getting it fixed!
As for the PC → Mac transfer….in most cases, the answer is yes, although some files may need the comparable software purchased to do it. Media files (like photos, music, and videos) are mostly universal. PDF files are also fine. Microsoft Office documents need a piece of software (either Office for Mac, iWork, or other opensource options). Quicken and Quickbooks are more of an issue.
If you do decide to consider it, I suggest going through your computer and checking what programs each of those important files use, and have a list ready as you look at the options. I do suggest at least doing your looking at an Apple Store. Most people there know what they’re talking about. I particularly suggest the Apple Store in Palo Alto on University Ave. Not that I’d know anything about that store….
"The knowledge of the game is inversely proportional to the price of the seat." ---Bill Veeck. •Now you can follow SFDugout.com on Twitter and Facebook!•
by BruteSentiment on Oct 27, 2009 5:35 PM PDT up reply actions
Thank you for the information.
And I’m certain the Palo Alto Apple store appreciates the plug.
I am, however, 800 miles southeast of it…
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Oct 27, 2009 5:54 PM PDT up reply actions
Brute, I am going to be buying a 1TB Time Capsule very soon. I see that they recently revamped it. Any idea if this will fix the “My TC died in about 18 months” casualties?
Giant Dirtbags: John Bowker, Steve Hammond. MIA List: Todd Jennings, Brian Anderson
Jeremy Affeldt induces DP's
by Giant among Angels on Oct 27, 2009 7:24 PM PDT up reply actions
There’s no real reason to buy a Time Capsule unless you’ve got a total hard-on for the built-in AirPort. Otherwise just get a good external hard drive and let Time Machine write to it over an ethernet cable.
Fred Lewis can stand under my umbrella.
31 May 2007, 21:38 EST - the last time Matteh's career W-L wasn't below .500
We are at war with Los Angeles. We have always been at war with Los Angeles.
Lowering the Quality of Internet Discourse Since 1985™
by S.F. Giangst on Oct 27, 2009 10:22 PM PDT up reply actions
The automatic wireless back-up is probably the main reason why I want it. I already use a Airport Express that I will relocate to my living room to be able to use Airtunes there. I will keep shoppin’, but I am pretty set on the TC.
Giant Dirtbags: John Bowker, Steve Hammond. MIA List: Todd Jennings, Brian Anderson
Jeremy Affeldt induces DP's
by Giant among Angels on Oct 27, 2009 10:42 PM PDT up reply actions
The Time Capsule is one of the few Apple products I’m leery of based on prior performance, otherwise I’m an unabashed fanboi. If they’ve revamped it, there’s hope, but based on prior problems I’d be tempted to wait 18 months to see if there is a real improvement and letting other people take the damage if there isn’t.
Fred Lewis can stand under my umbrella.
31 May 2007, 21:38 EST - the last time Matteh's career W-L wasn't below .500
We are at war with Los Angeles. We have always been at war with Los Angeles.
Lowering the Quality of Internet Discourse Since 1985™
by S.F. Giangst on Oct 27, 2009 11:24 PM PDT up reply actions
did you include the silent ‘t’ ?
#1 threat to America: Pandas
Also, Tim Lincecum
Adopted Father: Tyler Graham
Official McPokeMaster
Registered Velezbian and supporter of Fredemption
by GrahamCrakalaka on Oct 26, 2009 10:29 PM PDT reply actions
Did the hard drive require you to enter your password twice? If so, the chances you made a typo when entering your password are slim, FWIW.
Also, rule #1: have you tried re-booting the hard drive?
I know, both pretty obvious things, just checking.
F. the Lewis.
This response courtesy of a rebooted (desktop) hard drive.
The issue (’scuse me) is an external HD. And yes , I do believe it did ask for it twice.
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Oct 27, 2009 12:30 AM PDT up reply actions
Hmmm...
…Memeo says I’m already in their database.
More as this develops…
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Oct 27, 2009 12:47 AM PDT up reply actions
I may be able to help. I have done logical data recovery on external hard drives before. I have also just lost a drive, with my pictures, recently. I have been conducting research on physical recovery and have a better idea what I am getting into.
Anyway, what you are describing is much more likely a logical drive issue. The $899 quote is because the drive is so big. I think you would end up paying less. In any case, if you have the right tools you could do it yourself.
First, you need to be willing and able to open the external drive enclosure in order to grab the drive from within. If this is doable, you then need a working computer in which you could install that drive.
Odds are the drive will still be locked if you try to access it through the OS, but if you get a data recovery program, such as Runtime GetDataBack, you will almost certainly be able to see what is on the drive and restore everything. The drive scan will take quite a while, depending on the speed of your processor. I’d look at over 10 hours.
Anyway, I hope this helps.
by positiveuphemism on Oct 27, 2009 12:02 AM PDT reply actions
I have that time.
I can’t even go after an available job call until I recertify my medical gas brazing certifications on Nov. 5 so I’m just riding my bike and cursing my stupidity.
Thanks, I’ll look into that.
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Oct 27, 2009 12:35 AM PDT up reply actions
What a coincidence.
I need someone who is willing to work under the table to install an N2O outlet in my room.
VAE PVTO DEVS FIO
I'll just sample my handiwork after.
Monkeys on keyboards, people.
Hmm…why is this light suddenly green?
Oh – what’s this? A menu!
And then – voila!
Really not sure I could get the universe to reenact those conditions. Thank you for your helpful suggestions.
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Oct 27, 2009 2:23 AM PDT up reply actions
Wait, what finally happened?
I don't know anything about minor league players, so I adopted the Coke Bottle, and it's totally grown on me.
'The longer I do this the smarter I get' --Brian Sabean
by ringleader3 on Oct 27, 2009 10:20 AM PDT up reply actions
You know , I'm not really sure. I think I just held my tongue the right way...
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Oct 27, 2009 10:25 AM PDT up reply actions
so you tried the same thing you had done over and over, and it worked finally? did you still need a password?
I don't know anything about minor league players, so I adopted the Coke Bottle, and it's totally grown on me.
'The longer I do this the smarter I get' --Brian Sabean
by ringleader3 on Oct 27, 2009 11:54 AM PDT up reply actions
I think I reformatted it , but honestly – I’m not sure.
I kept getting initialization menus but I thought “I already have a password!”
Then I said “What the hell” and reentered it…and lo and behold the unit’s light went green! So I plowed ahead, found a menu, found my files and transferred them.
This stuff is scary, though. Just like the rest of the unknown.
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Oct 27, 2009 1:17 PM PDT up reply actions
This all sounds way to complicated just to use an external drive
I don't know anything about minor league players, so I adopted the Coke Bottle, and it's totally grown on me.
'The longer I do this the smarter I get' --Brian Sabean
It was for file storage while I reinstalled my OS!
The complicated part was getting them back in.
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Oct 27, 2009 6:01 PM PDT up reply actions
My thought is that you should plug in your drive, and it looks like any other disk drive in your computer, no weird software needed.
I don't know anything about minor league players, so I adopted the Coke Bottle, and it's totally grown on me.
'The longer I do this the smarter I get' --Brian Sabean
Fuckitty fuck fuck.
Looks like I lost some files after all…the resume didn’t make the transfer. I can handle that…what I’m wrenched about is that apparently the hard drive didn’t download ALL my pictures…
…including the “Mophead” pic featuring Vic Jr.
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Oct 28, 2009 3:52 AM PDT up reply actions
If you posted it here then you can probably stkll get it. Locate it and save it to your desktop
Giant Dirtbags: John Bowker, Steve Hammond. MIA List: Todd Jennings, Brian Anderson
Jeremy Affeldt induces DP's
by Giant among Angels on Oct 28, 2009 6:30 AM PDT up reply actions
I found my lost love on Az. Snakepit!
And posted it down below because only posting half of this beauty is just doing the world a grave injustice…
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Oct 28, 2009 8:31 AM PDT up reply actions
My grammar was never this poor when a grade was on the line. :(
by positiveuphemism on Oct 27, 2009 1:51 AM PDT up reply actions
Hey , I'm damn near 50. You think I can just turn it OFF at any time?
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Oct 27, 2009 10:59 AM PDT up reply actions
Every time I scan the fanposts on the main page I read the word “NAKED” in this post title.
... null, void, invalid, iniquitous, unjust, damnable, reprobate, inane, empty of meaning and effect for all time
That’s probably because you are thinking of that. But I doubt you would want to see too many people here naked.
"All I know is right now, you comeback and do you dwell on that? I think you're man enough to take it, you're man enough to chew on it, to spit it out and you learn from it. ... I think winners let it go. I think losers dwell on it and talk about it all week and that screws you up for the next opportunity going forward." - Mike Singletary after the 49ers loss to the Vikings
not sure whether to post congratulations or not...
but at least you got somewhere. I still am curious how, but you probably are too.
I don’t know if I really trust external drives as long-term backup devices. I bought an IOMega for my wife a while back, and it managed to fry the drive because the power port was a little bent, and the cord would bend it a bit more each time it was plugged in, or unplugged.
As the capacity of thumb drives goes up I’m leaning towards using them. And backing up photos and such in several places. I suppose this is when one learns about RAID and does that, but I don’t wanna.
Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti. "I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."
Nobody puts Bengie in a corner!
I'm more wondering why all my pics weren't downloaded.
Supposing it was more seeryus stuff?
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Oct 28, 2009 8:35 AM PDT up reply actions
Hee hee!
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Oct 28, 2009 8:32 AM PDT reply actions
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