Amiga.org

Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: stanlong on December 12, 2008, 04:07:48 AM

Title: ethics
Post by: stanlong on December 12, 2008, 04:07:48 AM
On the A2000HD I recently acquired there are over 100 persoal files
should I read them befor i delete them?
should I try and contact the file writer who was not the vendor?

Title: Re: ethics
Post by: redrumloa on December 12, 2008, 04:12:52 AM
Happens to me all the time, I just format the hard drive.

Don't contact anyone, that would be stalkeresque :insane:
Title: Re: ethics
Post by: AmigaHeretic on December 12, 2008, 04:20:08 AM
Quote

stanlong wrote:
On the A2000HD I recently acquired there are over 100 persoal files
should I read them befor i delete them?
should I try and contact the file writer who was not the vendor?



Hmmm.... could be the lost source code to version of AmigaOS long forgotten....:-o

Or secrets to Cold Fusion....:-o

Untold knowledge the human race could use to better it self...:-o



 
Title: Re: ethics
Post by: Fingers on December 12, 2008, 04:53:52 AM
Delete them.

PZ.
Title: Re: ethics
Post by: Tension on December 12, 2008, 05:05:25 AM
Read them, obviously.

Maybe over a nice cup of tea and a joint.
Title: Re: ethics
Post by: Damion on December 12, 2008, 05:29:05 AM
Quote

Tension wrote:
Read them, obviously.

Maybe over a nice cup of tea and a joint.


...and make sure to post the juicy bits. ;-)

Title: Re: ethics
Post by: terminator4 on December 12, 2008, 05:37:17 AM
Format the hard disk and reinstall.  If you read it don't tell anyone you read it or post it (thats what i do).  doing it otherwise, promotes selling systems without hard disks and that obviously is a s*** for a new amiga user who has to reinstall it all.  
Title: Re: ethics
Post by: Dandy on December 12, 2008, 09:19:32 AM
Quote

terminator4 wrote:

...
promotes selling systems without hard disks and that obviously is a s*** for a new amiga user who has to reinstall it all.  



That's the wrong mental attitude.
Every new user of this ancient system should be glad and proud to get the opportunity to learn how to prepare and install an Amiga harddrive...
 :-P
Title: Re: ethics
Post by: Speelgoedmannetje on December 12, 2008, 09:26:05 AM
Quote

Fingers wrote:
Delete them.

PZ.
NOO!! Vintage 80s pr0n looks real good in HAM6, as I found out when I bought my second hand A500 (though I immediately cleaned the keyboard after I found out)....
Title: Re: ethics
Post by: AmigaMance on December 12, 2008, 10:12:50 AM
Read the personal files, don't delete them, blackmail him and earn some money. :afro:
Title: Re: ethics
Post by: bloodline on December 12, 2008, 11:00:15 AM
Back up the files, give them a quick look over, an try and contact the original owner!

I know I am happy to be ale to look back at my old files, I would be upset to lose them.

If there is anything cool (which I doubt, most is probably just a letter to Grandma thanking her for the socks she sent him for Christmas)... Then post it here :-D  
Title: Re: ethics
Post by: HopperJF on December 12, 2008, 12:55:38 PM
Read first, delete later
They sold you the machine with the files so its their problem they weren't deleted
Title: Re: ethics
Post by: Ilwrath on December 12, 2008, 01:06:57 PM
Ethically, I'd say either go with just delete/format or examine only enough to try to find the original author.  

Personally, I'd love to know what happened to some of my old CNet and Image BBS pfiles (doors) I wrote/modded way back when.  I gave those disks away back when I first sold my C64 stuff and went to Amiga.  It would be interesting if someone came across them in a collection somewhere.

Quote
They sold you the machine with the files so its their problem they weren't deleted


That's kind of a bad stance... What if the machine was stolen, years ago?  What if it's a drive that was supposed to have been disposed of, but somehow made it's way through the resale chain with no disposal?  There's all sorts of ways that data could be left on the drive that AREN'T the original author's "problem".
Title: Re: ethics
Post by: Argo on December 12, 2008, 01:28:46 PM
Where are you located? How did you aquire the 2000HD?


Read and delete. The files are likely too old to be of any real value to the previous owner.

Though part of me is curious to know who it is.
Title: Re: ethics
Post by: Cass on December 12, 2008, 02:55:51 PM
You may find something like this (http://www.amiga.org/gallery/index.php?n=1827) !
Title: Re: ethics
Post by: dbrads on December 12, 2008, 05:04:24 PM
Delete them, the Amiga community is a trustworthy, reliable and honorable group of people.







don't forget to post the juicy bits!!
Title: Re: ethics
Post by: Darth_X on December 12, 2008, 05:41:46 PM
Quote

the Amiga community is a trustworthy, reliable and honorable group of people.

 :crazy:
Title: Re: ethics
Post by: persia on December 12, 2008, 06:35:08 PM
Post 'em on your blog, the original owner may be able to find them then,,,
Title: Re: ethics
Post by: ChuckT on December 12, 2008, 08:23:28 PM
If the computer belonged to someone in the Commodore organization, it could be lost history.  If it belonged to Al Inc., then we all want to know ;)

Title: Re: ethics
Post by: stanlong on December 12, 2008, 10:32:50 PM
any body read Polish
Title: Re: ethics
Post by: recidivist on December 13, 2008, 12:49:35 AM


 The question is analogous to what would you do if you found a packet of someone's letters or tax returns.

 Programs and technical files ,I'd keep.

 Contacting someone about long-forgotten personal letters or financial info could stir up trouble for everyone.

 I've found tax returns ,personal letters,and adult porn on used computers;I've found the DELETE command useful in those cases.

 
Title: Re: ethics
Post by: JimS on December 13, 2008, 12:59:32 AM
I found the peecee I'm using now at the side of the road on trashday.... still had personal files and a ton of crappy mp3 files on the HD. In my haste to clean it up, I formatted the HD before I knew it needed win98SE to work properly. ;-/

People are so careless....

Title: Re: ethics
Post by: terminator4 on December 15, 2008, 06:51:06 AM
@Dandy

Of course thats optional.:-D
Title: Re: ethics
Post by: odin on December 15, 2008, 07:13:59 AM
Google Translate reads Polish.
Title: Re: ethics
Post by: Dandy on January 13, 2009, 11:42:46 AM
Hey - I like your avatar!
Isn't that Cheech Marin?

I love all the Cheech & Chong "Up in smoke" movies - nearly died from laughing when I saw them first...
 :-D
Title: Re: ethics
Post by: steve30 on January 13, 2009, 01:03:00 PM
Carefully find all their personal details from the computer a steal their identity.

Then go and buy more Amigas with their bank details, and hope that these new amigas will have even more bank details on them.
Title: Re: ethics
Post by: ffastback on January 13, 2009, 02:28:44 PM
Quote

stanlong wrote:
any body read Polish


The user Opi on amigaworld.net can.
Title: Re: ethics
Post by: mike- on January 13, 2009, 03:08:55 PM
I'd say contact the seller as he/she might have forgotten all about it, keep all source code and other things useful, delete all the kinky stuff ;)
Title: Re: ethics
Post by: r0jaws on January 13, 2009, 06:36:13 PM
The 2000 I recently sold had a few articles and files from the original owner, who, back in the day was a jobbing writer for AUI.
When I told him he was happy for me to leave them on there and even have a browse through as it was all out of date stuff that he was no longer interested in.
It was a nice bit of history so I told the new owner as well.

I also picked up a libretto 50ct from its owner at a car boot sale about 3 years ago and it turned out to be a cash-point service computer!
It had loads of 'interesting' software, contact details & Passwords!
Needless to say I formatted the drive and securely disposed of the discs, passwords and associated equipment.
I eventually resold that (after playing with it for over a year), but not before I securely erased the hard disc again and re-installed windows.

I have also picked up numerous hard discs which have turned out to be jam packed with all sorts of personal and financial details.

Personally the thought of sending any system of mine to any of these 'service' centres would be the last thing I would ever do.

No hard drive has ever left my possession without having sensitive information securely erased, I don't think my sanity could take it.  :-)
Title: Re: ethics
Post by: HopperJF on January 13, 2009, 07:56:25 PM
Quote

stanlong wrote:
any body read Polish


More and more these days sadly, but I can't understand a word of it  :-)
Title: Re: ethics
Post by: DoogUK on January 13, 2009, 08:39:44 PM
I'd have to browse through and read it...then delete it....something i've done on many a used peecee and amiga.
Title: Re: ethics
Post by: terminator4 on January 13, 2009, 08:50:34 PM
yes i can read Polish. German too.
Title: Re: ethics
Post by: A6000 on January 13, 2009, 10:24:26 PM
Whether you read the files or not, you may regret contacting the original owner if the machine turns out to be stolen, not only would you lose the machine and the money you paid for it, but you might also come under suspicion of stealing it as well as any other offences committed during the burglary/theft.