decommissioning Meridian 61c hard drive wipe 2

[BLamm]

Hello and thank you.. I have found lots of info on unpluging and/or systematicly bringing down the shelves and cabinets. However, I have a client who wants to remove all user data from the PBX and mermail hard drives (HIPA law) before the equipment is sold.. is it possible to do this with out wiping the base software needed to set up the PBX in a new location? If I have to wipe the whole drive is there a way to access it with out removing it? or is it better to resell the equipment with the drives totaly blank or removed??

I am also looking for Meridian 1 emulator to train on.. is there a way to set up a fake Meridian 1 on a computer for training purposes??

Bill

 

[Firebird Scrambler]

It's a small world!. I helped a customer last weekend with the same request. The Option 81 was already powered down and I did remove the 2 CPU disks. Had the system been in a powered state, then I would have rebooted them with the install software and have used the default image option to overwrite the data. I would have also used the repartition command that is useful if you know the password!.

I think I had recovered two 25 gig "laptop" size disks. I'm now suggesting that the customer uses e.g. a USB to small IDE cable to reformat, or (as the disks are so old!) break them up with a hammer etc.

As for the Meridian Mail hard disk, I've taken that with the intent to reuse it as they are becomming quite hard to source these days.

Finally, it's wise to format any removable media such as floppy disks / CF cards etc.

Data security is very important whether it be on a computer or phone system. It's not difficult to gain knowledge via access to a phone system configuration such as names, speed call entries and network locations etc.

It's much better to sell or pass on kit that has data that is blank or has been removed.

I hope this helps?.

All the best

Firebird Scrambler
Meridian 1 / Succession and BCM / Norstar Programmer in the UK

http://www.linkedin.com/in/davidbromley

If it's working, then leave it alone!.

 

[BLamm]

Thanks for the fast response. If I hear you correctly, I can reboot with the install software and use the default image option to overwrite the data then use the repartition command to wipe the user info but leave the drive ready for the new owner..

if my client is more paranoid then the PBX drives and the mermail drives can be totaly wiped and the new owner will reinstall the software.. the PBX drives could be smashed at no big loss but the mermail drive is rare??

 

[Firebird Scrambler]

Hello BLamm

Yes, you can repartition the hard disk in which case there is no need to do anything else, or just use the default database option.

In my experience most large option 51 - 81 systems have been around for a while now and the hardware will probably be old. It's a case of finding out what is worth reusing and what the probability is of using some of the kit again and of course how much would anyone be prepared to part with any cash.

If the customer has the Meridian Mail still working, along with the installation tape then he can also reload it again as default to be sure it's OK. It's just a case of time, cost and level of security involved etc.

All the best

Firebird Scrambler
Meridian 1 / Succession and BCM / Norstar Programmer in the UK

http://www.linkedin.com/in/davidbromley

If it's working, then leave it alone!.

 

[BLamm]

Kewl.. Thanks

 

[BLamm]

and to however sent me the email.. yes I already cought the tip to power off at the back of the column, thank you for reminding me.