sony SUCKS

[ieatramen]

Yup, always shred the drive.

The quick format on most PS3's won't completely erase all of that info, you would need to do a full hard format which takes about an hour to four hours at worst to do.

Thats what I have done, format, go in check it afterwards, then a quick format just to put it back as "new"

I don't understand how Sony isn't liable for an obviously faulty formatting system. If you formatted that sucker with whatever formatting utilities the ps3 offers and someone still got your info then Sony screwed up. They should liable for not having a "powerful" enough formatting system available on the ps3.

[Niode]

Yup, always shred the drive.

The quick format on most PS3's won't completely erase all of that info, you would need to do a full hard format which takes about an hour to four hours at worst to do.

Thats what I have done, format, go in check it afterwards, then a quick format just to put it back as "new"

I still don't think you understand. Formatting, either long or quick, does not zero all of the data on the drive. AFAIK the PS3 software does not support zeroing of data. You must remove the drive from the PS3, connect it to a SATA compatible motherboard and zero the data there. Unfortunately, I don't know of any free software that can do this to 100% untraceable for Windows, but I know my Mac can do it for free, it's even built into the operating system and you can secure delete any file from the trash can at any time. Unless you zero the data (this essentially changes every single Bit of data back to 0) data is still traceable. I've recovered data from 'long formatted' drives a few times, with readily available, free tools on windows. This type of operation is trivial to anyone who knows just a small amount of things about computers.

[Mod_Man_Extreme]

Yup, always shred the drive.

The quick format on most PS3's won't completely erase all of that info, you would need to do a full hard format which takes about an hour to four hours at worst to do.

Thats what I have done, format, go in check it afterwards, then a quick format just to put it back as "new"

I still don't think you understand. Formatting, either long or quick, does not zero all of the data on the drive. AFAIK the PS3 software does not support zeroing of data. You must remove the drive from the PS3, connect it to a SATA compatible motherboard and zero the data there. Unfortunately, I don't know of any free software that can do this to 100% untraceable for Windows, but I know my Mac can do it for free, it's even built into the operating system and you can secure delete any file from the trash can at any time. Unless you zero the data (this essentially changes every single Bit of data back to 0) data is still traceable. I've recovered data from 'long formatted' drives a few times, with readily available, free tools on windows. This type of operation is trivial to anyone who knows just a small amount of things about computers.

A good program for Windows is SwissKnife, or you know the good old stand by of a can of Thermite never ceases to be a useful destruction agent.

[lost_within]

I love how some of you are talking to me like I am a stupid shit. I DO understand that its possible for information to be stored DEEP in a harddrive that can NOT be just removed. All I was doing was letting people on here know that their IS a fault and some people apparently know how to get to it. Thats all I am saying. Reguardless though...I am not going to change my opinion of sony, my opinion is based on the phone call.

I know htat sounds rude, but I am not trying tobe, all I want is for you guys to understand that YES I KNOW, information can be stored deep in the database of a harddrive. THe thing is...by using the tools SONY PUTS ON THEIR CONSOLE, you are STILL liable to be screwed. I just wanted to let everyone on here know. I know I have seen a couple ps3s up forsale besides my own...I jsut want you guys to be safe...thats all.

[Niode]

In that case WE are JUST pointing out that in order to make up for Sony's ineptitude (seriously, has this company done anything right in the last 3 years?) extra measures are required to protect oneself if they choose to sell on their console. Calm down.

[Mod_Man_Extreme]

I'm not trying to be mean/stupid or anything like that.

I would be in a righteous fury if anything like this would have happened to me.

[lost_within]

In that case WE are JUST pointing out that in order to make up for Sony's ineptitude (seriously, has this company done anything right in the last 3 years?) extra measures are required to protect oneself if they choose to sell on their console. Calm down.

Agreed.

@mod man, thats why I am still being pissy...the way sony is handling this is more or less..."to bad so sad" its sad that my bank has to file a claim vs sony for this to be taken care of, and for me to have to wait on a new card

[Hobie-wan]

Not that this helps you now, and I promise I'm not piling on either, just giving info for others.

I use Darik's Boot And Nuke for drive wiping. At work there were usually lots of parts floating around and the occasional hard drive that could have customer's sensitive information that we'd used at some point. Anytime someone new dug through my desk to borrow something they'd usually ask why I had a floppy labeled DBAN with a skull drawn on it.

[itsmattxp]

Sorry to hear about your troubles, glad that you got it sorted out.

[Mod_Man_Extreme]

Not that this helps you now, and I promise I'm not piling on either, just giving info for others.

I use Darik's Boot And Nuke for drive wiping. At work there were usually lots of parts floating around and the occasional hard drive that could have customer's sensitive information that we'd used at some point. Anytime someone new dug through my desk to borrow something they'd usually ask why I had a floppy labeled DBAN with a skull drawn on it.

But it's five megs!

That won't fit on a Floppy, that won't fit on a floppy at all you madman!