Need help with my laptop please!

D_Anne_T_Freeze

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I'm putting it in the shop next week to have the keyboard replaced and the whole thing given a general overhaul. I've googled this question but found no suitable answers. Is there a way i can password protect my picture files so the guys in the shop can't view them? Thanks in advance for any replies.
Lovingit
 

invisibleman

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I'm putting it in the shop next week to have the keyboard replaced and the whole thing given a general overhaul. I've googled this question but found no suitable answers. Is there a way i can password protect my picture files so the guys in the shop can't view them? Thanks in advance for any replies.
Lovingit

Well, you could use a USB keyboard and an external hard drive to get your sensitive files off of your laptop into proper storage before you get your laptop serviced. Once you have all the files stored on the external hard drive...you can delete your files on your laptop.

And when you get your laptop back...you don't have to reload your files...you can view them from your external hard drive.

 

tbrguy

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I still recommend removing the hard disk.

If you're not comfortable doing it yourself, ask the IT guy who's doing the keyboard to do it for you, and you keep the HDD in your possession until the job's done.
 

JF

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I think i'm going to remove my picture folder and put it on a USB drive thanks folks! Cheers very much for all the replies! xx

Deleting files from the disk (even if you empty the Recycle Bin afterwards) doesn't really remove the data completely. The data will still be on disk, it is just that the index to where it is on the disk will have been removed, thus making it appear to be gone. Browsing in 'My Computer' / Explorer won't show the files, but a determined / knowledgeable geek could easily get them back with programs freely available from 'teh interwebz'.

If you are really concerned about privacy, tbrguy's suggestion to remove the disk is a good one. If you can spare the time, stay with the laptop whilst they replace the keyboard - it should take no more than 15 minutes to do so and carry out an operational check afterwards.
 

pcghabsy

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JF is right, but there are ways to do a force clean. The easiest way is to use CCleaner, it can wipe out all free space of any traces.
 
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Or you could always ask JF to do it! I'm sure he wouldn't dream of perving.. I mean perusing thru your hard drive. :)
 

LittleButt

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I suggest cut, copy and pasting them to Dropbox. I will take about a minute and you can move them back in seconds. Totally free and you can access them anywhere in the world. Also, you can access your files on iPhone and iPads as well.
 

b.c.

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I guess it depends on how sensitive the files are. Transferring them, deleting them, storing them in clouds and even cleaning, reformatting will not absolutely guarantee your privacy from those determined and knowledgeable enough to dig through your "stuff".

Best suggestion above: remove the hard disk.
 

ConanTheBarber

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After replacing the keyboard and overhauling everything, will the technician have to check things by using the laptop a bit?
Maybe he at least needs an operating system.
I dunno. Completely ignorant about 'puters here.
 

Frodo46888

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The best thing is not to store "sensitive" files on your hard drive at all! I save all that stuff on flash drives.
 

luka82

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Deleting files from the disk (even if you empty the Recycle Bin afterwards) doesn't really remove the data completely. The data will still be on disk, it is just that the index to where it is on the disk will have been removed, thus making it appear to be gone. Browsing in 'My Computer' / Explorer won't show the files, but a determined / knowledgeable geek could easily get them back with programs freely available from 'teh interwebz'.

If you are really concerned about privacy, tbrguy's suggestion to remove the disk is a good one. If you can spare the time, stay with the laptop whilst they replace the keyboard - it should take no more than 15 minutes to do so and carry out an operational check afterwards.
You give my willy a woody when you talk like this! :redface:
 
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Put all info from your existing hardrive to an external then format the existing, twice. Or throw it away, smash it. Have the guys install a new one. Download what you want later onto the new. An external hardrive won't go astray.
 
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Well, you could use a USB keyboard and an external hard drive to get your sensitive files off of your laptop into proper storage before you get your laptop serviced. Once you have all the files stored on the external hard drive...you can delete your files on your laptop.

And when you get your laptop back...you don't have to reload your files...you can view them from your external hard drive.

I should have read previous posts. Must have been invisible before.