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Thread: I am sending my computer to be "Cleaned" are my files safe ??

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    Featured Member Sindi's Avatar
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    Default I am sending my computer to be "Cleaned" are my files safe ??

    Ok so I know that people are suppose to be professional but you know if I was a celeb or a celeb friend/photog that my files would be at risk . I have to send my computer out to be cleaned up because it so bad right now I can not even load pictures onto photobucket . Anyhoo I have alot of pictures on there that I dont need some geek drooling over and then smirking at me when I come in to pick my computer up .....ya know ??? Am I over worrying ? You do hear things like this happening , photos getting leaked etc ? Is there someway I can prevent this with out putting all the pictures on a disc and then erasing them myself ????
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    Banned Katrine's Avatar
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    Default Re: I am sending my computer to be "Cleaned" are my files safe ??

    Why do you need to send this to someone? Do it yourself. There are a million online tutorials on how to wipe your drive and re-install your OS. If you can surf the web easliy enough, look it up @ the library, print out the instructions, and voila, you save money and possible shame.

    "Have you ever been to American wedding? Where is the vodka, where's marinated herring?" - GB
    "And do the cats give a shit? No, they do not. Why? Because they're cats."-from The Onion

    Quote Originally Posted by Mia M
    If a cupcake was tossed at me... well, I'd only be upset if it missed my mouth

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    Featured Member Sindi's Avatar
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    Default Re: I am sending my computer to be "Cleaned" are my files safe ??

    I have tried two different ones and the first one actually made everything 50xs worse and this new one I have Auslogic ? I do not notice any difference at all . I can surf the web , I can google my butt off and I can edit photos but when it comes to tech stuff I am really lost so unless its point and click I dont wanna risk it a 3rd time ya know ???
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    God/dess Casual Observer's Avatar
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    Default Re: I am sending my computer to be "Cleaned" are my files safe ??

    What are you cleaning in your computer?

    If it's just spyware, you can do it yourself without compromising your data; check out PCTools' Spyware Doctor 5.5. It's the best removal tool available and it's good for one year.

    Bringing your machine to BestBuy or any other computer shop is just asking for trouble. Check out this story that made national headlines about Geek Squad stealing people's data.
    Idealism is fine, but as it approaches reality, the costs become prohibitive.

    William F. Buckley, Jr.

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    Featured Member Sindi's Avatar
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    Default Re: I am sending my computer to be "Cleaned" are my files safe ??

    I dont know what I am cleaning , my computer doesnt work right anymore . Its only like 2.5 yrs old . It has gotten crazy slow , pages freeze on me , I am getting this pop ups that freeze themselves then shut down my web page . I cant edit pictures fine and my IMs are usually pretty good . I dont know much about computers . I have done those online things and they messed my computer up worse . Things are so bad today that I can not send files with my emails ......I work from home , online so its my bread and butter , ya know ? I was going to take it to this place down the street that someone I know has used and liked , just a small place with good online reviews .....
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    God/dess Casual Observer's Avatar
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    Default Re: I am sending my computer to be "Cleaned" are my files safe ??

    ^ Run Spyware Doctor first (you can download it to run a trial scan on your system) and see what it picks up. If your list of infections is bad, just buy the $35 license and keep it on your system. This would clear up things like pop-ups, browser locks, resource hogging hidden applications, etc.
    Idealism is fine, but as it approaches reality, the costs become prohibitive.

    William F. Buckley, Jr.

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    Featured Member Sindi's Avatar
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    Default Re: I am sending my computer to be "Cleaned" are my files safe ??

    Quote Originally Posted by Casual Observer View Post
    ^ Run Spyware Doctor first (you can download it to run a trial scan on your system) and see what it picks up. If your list of infections is bad, just buy the $35 license and keep it on your system. This would clear up things like pop-ups, browser locks, resource hogging hidden applications, etc.

    From what I have said you think that this would take care of my problem ? Sure $ 35 isnt bad but if its not enough then I have to take it somewhere and all together I am out almost 100 .......I appreciate your help , by further probing is just to make sure xoxo
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    Default Re: I am sending my computer to be "Cleaned" are my files safe ??

    copy all your pictures, videos to dvd and delete them on your hard disk. I'm guessing your computer came with cd or dvd burner.

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    Featured Member Sindi's Avatar
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    Default Re: I am sending my computer to be "Cleaned" are my files safe ??

    Quote Originally Posted by space_Cadet_28 View Post
    copy all your pictures, videos to dvd and delete them on your hard disk. I'm guessing your computer came with cd or dvd burner.

    That was the one thing I said I didnt want to do , lol , that would be the obvious thing ...............
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    Featured Member Sindi's Avatar
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    Default Re: I am sending my computer to be "Cleaned" are my files safe ??

    Actually ya know what else I have been trouble with lately is viewing pictures on people sites , like myspace , if I click on the picture my computer just does nothing .....its been so frustrating !!
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    Banned Katrine's Avatar
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    Default Re: I am sending my computer to be "Cleaned" are my files safe ??

    Quote Originally Posted by Sindi View Post
    That was the one thing I said I didnt want to do , lol , that would be the obvious thing ...............
    Why won't you do this? Does some evil demon pop out of your computer and beat you up if you try?

    "Have you ever been to American wedding? Where is the vodka, where's marinated herring?" - GB
    "And do the cats give a shit? No, they do not. Why? Because they're cats."-from The Onion

    Quote Originally Posted by Mia M
    If a cupcake was tossed at me... well, I'd only be upset if it missed my mouth

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    Featured Member Sindi's Avatar
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    Default Re: I am sending my computer to be "Cleaned" are my files safe ??

    Quote Originally Posted by Katrine View Post
    Why won't you do this? Does some evil demon pop out of your computer and beat you up if you try?

    Eeew , first of all I have a TON of pictures and things on my computer ,secondly I dont even have discs to burn and have never even tried doing and THIRD I was just asking IF my files would be safe , maybe someone has had good or bad experiances etc ........I wasnt being rude and espeically not to you so your comment was a little uncalled for dontcha think ? Ya know having issues with your computer can be very stressful , its not really the right time to be a snot .......thanks for being so supportive .
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    Featured Member thechaosfairy's Avatar
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    Default Re: I am sending my computer to be "Cleaned" are my files safe ??

    Your files are likely fine. Anyone who works in IT sees porn all the time and won't bat an eye at it. They certainly don't want to paw through it.

    However, if they need to reinstall Windows, you will lose all your files -- they'll be erased. So back them up! Everyone should do it! It's a basic measure -- like, oh, putting money in your bank account or at least storing it at home instead of carrying around your life savings in your purse all the time.
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    i think people like going to parties and clubs and looking like douchebags.

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    Default Re: I am sending my computer to be "Cleaned" are my files safe ??

    Owning a computer has responsibilities that go along with it. Its not just a magic box that does your bidding. Do you have to fuel your car, change the oil, take it in for maintenance schedule? Of course, and your computer has some requirements too.

    Its super easy to learn how to move your files onto a CD and back them up. Like, ridiculously easy. If you aren't going to do it, the guys at the computer store will have to do it in order to save your data. Then, they are GUARANTEED to see your naughty photos.

    BTW, I worked in a computer store myself some years back, and we saw all kinds of dirty photos. And yes, we showed each other ones that were particularly interesting. And we did laugh. FYI, whatever you don't want them to see, they WILL see.

    Do it yourself, get the program that CO recommended. There is no magical fairy that makes your computer like new again.

    "Have you ever been to American wedding? Where is the vodka, where's marinated herring?" - GB
    "And do the cats give a shit? No, they do not. Why? Because they're cats."-from The Onion

    Quote Originally Posted by Mia M
    If a cupcake was tossed at me... well, I'd only be upset if it missed my mouth

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    Featured Member Sindi's Avatar
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    Default Re: I am sending my computer to be "Cleaned" are my files safe ??

    Quote Originally Posted by thechaosfairy View Post
    Your files are likely fine. Anyone who works in IT sees porn all the time and won't bat an eye at it. They certainly don't want to paw through it.

    However, if they need to reinstall Windows, you will lose all your files -- they'll be erased. So back them up! Everyone should do it! It's a basic measure -- like, oh, putting money in your bank account or at least storing it at home instead of carrying around your life savings in your purse all the time.
    Lol , thats always been a worrying poking at the back of my mind , back up your files it screams at me . I guess will go out and buy some cds and burn my pictures then , I am not going to erase them though .......I dont suppose they will go through all my pictures anyways , I dont have videos or anything just snap shots ......Thanks so much ox
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    AudreyLeigh
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    Default Re: I am sending my computer to be "Cleaned" are my files safe ??

    Buy an external hard drive to keep all your photos on. It will clear up space (which helps your computer run faster). When you need a photo you just hook the USB up and you can get them and do whatever you want to do. I had to do this because photos were taking up my entire hard drive.

    You can get a nice sized external hard drive for around $50. Its a lot easier than CD and it will hold ALL your pics rather than needing 5 billion CDs.

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    Default Re: I am sending my computer to be "Cleaned" are my files safe ??

    If its just still photos, I bet they will fit on a small USB stick drive. Just stick it into your USB port, drag and drop.

    "Have you ever been to American wedding? Where is the vodka, where's marinated herring?" - GB
    "And do the cats give a shit? No, they do not. Why? Because they're cats."-from The Onion

    Quote Originally Posted by Mia M
    If a cupcake was tossed at me... well, I'd only be upset if it missed my mouth

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    Default Re: I am sending my computer to be "Cleaned" are my files safe ??

    There are several things you could do to improve performance of your computer by yourself.

    For getting rid of spy- and malvare use and both are free and easy to use.
    Then you could use to remove unused files and leftovers from uninstalled programs.
    And finally run defragmentor which organises files on your harddrive more effeciently which alone should improve your computers performance if you haven't ever done it.

    But if you rather take your computer to expert you could buy external harddrive and move sensitive files there. External harddrives have plenty of space and they are just as easy to as computers internal harddrives. Just plug them to usb port in computer and they work like internal harddrive.

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    Featured Member Sindi's Avatar
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    Default Re: I am sending my computer to be "Cleaned" are my files safe ??

    Quote Originally Posted by Ook View Post
    Deleting them isn't enough. It's amazingly simple to recover "deleted" files. After your data backup, you should either format or "data nuke" the disk if you're that concerned with what's on the drive.

    Your files on your computer will be looked at, period. If you don't want that to happen, and you still want a third party to re-install your operating system, you'll need to raise the difficulty level to the point where the average "Geek Squad" twerp won't bother. Even then, a decent forensic specialist would probably have no problem re-creating them, but that's beyond the expertise of the average undertrained perv, er, computer repair technician. (The US Treasury Department and the NSA eat disk wipes for breakfast.)

    "Good Enough" tools for raising the bar:
    Darik's Boot and Nuke
    Eraser
    ummmm when I decode this post I will answer it ....lol ,I am just teasing , I dont have anything that bad to hide , just some naughty pictures and I guess I was just worried that I might be embarrassed returning to the same guys .....but .....anyways I really appreciate all the "good" advice so thanks so much . I am going to download the one CO suggested when my credit card gets home and keep my fingers crossed !! My other Anti-virus things ran out recently so I guess thats why I have been having trouble with them xoxoox
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    AudreyLeigh
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    Default Re: I am sending my computer to be "Cleaned" are my files safe ??

    Quote Originally Posted by Katrine View Post
    If its just still photos, I bet they will fit on a small USB stick drive. Just stick it into your USB port, drag and drop.
    Depends on how many pics she has. I had well over 50,000 and theyre very large files but shit - if theyll fit on a stick do that- theyre like $5 at walmart.

    External HD is the same as a USB stick just larger - drag and drop and unplug. Easy, same thing, holds a billion times more stuff. It holds anything - games, etc.

    I keep everything on it so it doesnt clog up my computers HD and make my computer sloooooooooooow. I lost my last computer to that. Too many files - slow - I got mad and punched the screen. Thats when I had a 1 year SW break...

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    Featured Member Sindi's Avatar
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    Default Re: I am sending my computer to be "Cleaned" are my files safe ??

    Quote Originally Posted by AudreyLeigh View Post
    Buy an external hard drive to keep all your photos on. It will clear up space (which helps your computer run faster). When you need a photo you just hook the USB up and you can get them and do whatever you want to do. I had to do this because photos were taking up my entire hard drive.

    You can get a nice sized external hard drive for around $50. Its a lot easier than CD and it will hold ALL your pics rather than needing 5 billion CDs.

    OMg I feel like I need to take a class or something , I am seriously overwhelmed reading these posts . SO an External hard drive hmmmmmm this is the first time I have heard of this .....I feel like Carrie in Sex in the city when her computer crashed Ok so I am gunna check that out for sure ! Thanks so much .
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    Featured Member Sindi's Avatar
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    Default Re: I am sending my computer to be "Cleaned" are my files safe ??

    Quote Originally Posted by AudreyLeigh View Post
    Depends on how many pics she has. I had well over 50,000 and theyre very large files but shit - if theyll fit on a stick do that- theyre like $5 at walmart.

    External HD is the same as a USB stick just larger - drag and drop and unplug. Easy, same thing, holds a billion times more stuff.

    I have maybe like 300 .....could be more , it never seems there is as many as there is really are . I just put like 170 more picture on my computer last night before I started having more trouble ............grrrrr

    So now there is this stick business huh ?? Whatsa that all about ? lol
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    Featured Member Sindi's Avatar
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    Default Re: I am sending my computer to be "Cleaned" are my files safe ??

    Can u run too many cleaners on your computer ?? I just ran Auslogic today and it has the Disc defragmentation and 3 other things i cant remember , something about a boost ......ummm but what I am wondering is should I get rid of that one before I add another or does that not matter ???

    I think one of those free ones some one just suggested is the one that screwed me up in the first place

    I totally need a class
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  24. #24
    AudreyLeigh
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    Default Re: I am sending my computer to be "Cleaned" are my files safe ??

    All your files are on your hard drive.

    You can buy an extra hard-drive . Its just a little box that holds all your stuff just like a CD would but it holds a LOT more. You can get ones that hold different amounts depending on your needs.

    You hook it to your computer by USB cord (just like a printer)

    Then you can drag and drop everything from your computer like pics, files, games, etc into that drive to empty your computer. Unplug it when you dont need those files then hook it back up when you do. Since I dont sit around and look at my pics all day I rarely have it hooked up but I know all my stuff is safe on there and my computer isnt fill of stuff.


    For that few pics just put them on a CD or USB stick!

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    Featured Member Sindi's Avatar
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    Default Re: I am sending my computer to be "Cleaned" are my files safe ??

    Ooooooooooooooh , see thats makes wonderful sense . With a toddler around I am nervous about CDs , most of mine have been attacked by her at some point so this would take care of that too ......gee thanks so much !!
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