Exactly, if you have a computer with data on it and you park it somewhere for so long that you can't even remember the password, I would presume that you don't really need whatever is still on it. That might not always be true, but it is a reasonable assumption.  If I were about to park an old computer that had data that I needed, or might need in the not too distant future, I would transfer it to the computer I was currently using before I parked it.  That's all I meant by that, not that the data would disappear.  The drive might not work so hot depending on how long it sat around, but I've never had excess computer power that I could leave unused for so long as to test that theory.



Russ Poffenberger <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>Venkat,
>
>It is possible that a disk lying around for a long time might not spin up
>because the bearings get stuck. But I also think he might be indicating that
>if the disk has been lying dormant this long, any data on it is obsolete and
>can't be of much use to him since it has been ignored for so long.
>
>Of course, it may have old financial or tax records he might need all of a
>sudden :-(
>
>Russ Poffenberger
>[log in to unmask]
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: PCBUILD - Personal Computer Hardware discussion List
>[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Venkat Viswanathan
>Sent: Thursday, September 15, 2005 7:50 AM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: [PCBUILD] Gaining access to my old computer
>
>
>joseph marty's post (clipped)
>
><<<< Presumably, if you've left the old one sitting around for so long that
>you don't remember the password, there is no data still on it that you want
>to recover>>>>
>
> Does this mean that if a hdd with data remains unused for say 2/3
>years(properly packed or sitting inside the computer) one is likely to loose
>all the data and the hdd is toast?
>
> it will be interesting to know about this.
>
> good day to all ---- Venkat Viswanathan
>
>

__________________________________________________________________
Switch to Netscape Internet Service.
As low as $9.95 a month -- Sign up today at http://isp.netscape.com/register

Netscape. Just the Net You Need.

New! Netscape Toolbar for Internet Explorer
Search from anywhere on the Web and block those annoying pop-ups.
Download now at http://channels.netscape.com/ns/search/install.jsp

              The NOSPIN Group is now offering Free PC Tech
                     support at our newest website:
                          http://freepctech.com