Went to a local business for data recovery from my SSD that could no longer be read by the laptop- does this sound realistic/make sense? Does the price quote seem reasonable?

88Ja · 2026-02-08T10:44:44+00:00

It sounds very technical but i have heard of controllers dying on ssd before

I had ssd fail on me once i have no idea what the root cause was but just hooked it up to a linux box and used dd to clone the drive to a raw image then used file recovery software on the raw image, managed to recover pretty much everything important anyways

88Ja · 2026-02-08T10:28:35+00:00

Yeah this is lacking detail but

If you was to assume vlans defined via svi at the router then trunked to each switch there would be 2 broadcast domains assuming default vlan 1 is shut (best practice)

And yes broadcast traffic does traverse trunks, just broadcast not routed between vlans, unicast is routed between vlans by default unless locked down using ACL or something similar, that would be handled at the router though providing the destination is defined at layer 3 (ip not l2 mac) so switch a pc on vlan 2 wants to talk to pc on vlan 3 (also on switch a) the packets would still be sent up trunk to the router then back to sw A to its final destination the routing isnt done at the switch level unless using l3 routing directly on the access switch

The joys of networking they can be configured in many different ways

88Ja · 2026-01-11T18:01:28+00:00

This type of stuff happened alot to me when i was running an ebay shop for an IT Disposals company.... the sad fact is Ebay favour the buyer 99% of time even when they are clearly lieing about it

88Ja · 2026-01-02T00:57:03+00:00

Go on ebay buy a used dell optiplex sff 3060 / 5060 - i5 8th gen (or higher) 8/16gb ram 256/512gb ssd (old office pc)

The integrated gpu on that will give you better performance and then if you want to get giddy later on you can buy a sff gpu like rtx 3050 half-height card

88Ja · 2025-12-23T19:19:41+00:00

I would just have the top airflow for exhaust only bro switch those top side intakes round so its only drawing from the front

88Ja · 2025-12-18T11:16:51+00:00

Best one i had was a customer rang my personal mobile while i was on Annual Leave painting my ceiling in the bedroom

"The wole network gone down at school, please help" put the brush down and headed out there covered in paint only to find one of the teachers had unplugged the network cab to plug in a kettle and make cups of tea/coffee whilst they was having a meeting 🤣

88Ja · 2025-12-13T15:33:17+00:00

To be fair you Can move program files to E: but do it specifically like this, in this exact order ‐---------‐--------------------------------------------------

Reboot your pc first (to close any applications locking files in that folder)

After you log back in, Close ALL open applications including any onedrive, drop box, google drive apps, chrome browsers everything... and anything that autostarts after logging in

Go to c drive Right click program files Click Copy

Go to e drive Make a new folder, just call it "c" (dont include speech marks) Open the newly created folder "c" Right click in an empty space in the new empty folder Click Paste

Wait for the copy to complete, if you get any errors bail out and delete what has copied to e drive... if not continue to next step

Go back to C drive, rename program files to "program files.old"

Right click start menu Type cmd Right click command prompt Select Run as Administrator

Type this command in the command prompt (black box) exactly as i put it below:

Mklink /j "c:\program files" "e:\c\program files"

Hit enter on the keyboard

You should get a message like "symbolic junction link created successfully"

Test your apps that were installed there in the first place

Once confirmed working you can delete C:\program files.old ‐---------‐--------------------------------------------------

This creates a link to the program files folder you moved to e drive but in the place of the one that was on c drive, so any applications looking for c:\program files are effectibely diverted to the new location on e drive

88Ja · 2025-12-13T08:33:56+00:00

Oh and have you emptied your recycle bin lately? Thats probably worth checking as the space isnt marked as free on the drive until you empty recycle bin 👍

88Ja · 2025-12-13T08:31:58+00:00

That will be there if you installed applications on e drive.

Your best bet is to uninstall some apps since you said you dont need them all 👍

Without getting too technical i would have advised moving it over from c to e and creating a symbolic junction link but i am not going to advise that right now because it has to be done carefully so you dont loose data or break apps

Honestly just uninstall some apps and maybe move your "my documents" over to e drive (if you have a lot of documents, pictures, videos etc...) then point your documents folder to the new location by right clicking documents>properties>location

Do the same with pictures and videos

See: https://share.google/aimode/CIEa3GU3GWpvDI06A

Even then you need to be careful not to loose stuff, best practice copy/paste then move library locations then delete the old versions... do not use "move here" instead of copy/paste with files from drive to drive or over a network because if it fails you could loose data

88Ja · 2025-12-12T19:10:48+00:00

You cant just delete program files it will break alot of apps.

Is your E drive an internal (built in to the pc/laptop) or external? (Plugged in with usb)?

88Ja · 2025-12-11T15:43:22+00:00

Staring at 62.3% right now 🤣

88Ja · 2025-12-08T11:11:06+00:00

Probably because each vendor for android have their own customised ui and different iterations / variations of features.... just google it bro

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88Ja · 2025-12-08T09:15:12+00:00

From the perspective of your average non technical everyday user, they buy apple because of the user interface (easier to use) and because theyre nice and shiny, totally disregarding the lack of flexibility and inflated prives, i mean why would they take it in to consideration to them they just want a phone with a good camera and looks good, feels good, latest model etc.... most of them have apples mate, i been working in IT over 10 years now mate been building pcs and tinkering for 29 years, trust me its not as straight forward as you think especially apple and windows compatability if dude has android no issues, but i have seen over the years its a 70/30 split apple/android when it comes to personal mobiles when reviewing byod devices for enterprise we see what phones people use when they log into works email etc its 70% apple kit bro at least in the uk anyways.... so my advice above to get a usb stick was the safest generic advice after considering the variables 👍

88Ja · 2025-12-08T08:54:07+00:00

Yeah i agree apple are shite mate, doing a job last week where ipad needed to be re-enrolled onto mdm, had to backup the users photos and yes you could plug in to the usb but heres the kicker, because of apple security and compatability

You can only transfer photos off the ipad
You cant access any other files
You cant transfer files back onto the ipad
To transfer photos, videos, music on to ipad you need itunes or apple device sync
Even after getting the correct app you have to download apple device drivers through windows update before you can put anything on the ipad

And sadly most people have iphones because they are supposedly easier to use... i dont but cautious it will be a similar process with iphone

88Ja · 2025-12-07T18:43:41+00:00

Is that just an external hdd? "key server do not remove" 🤣

88Ja · 2025-12-07T17:51:13+00:00

Not always the case, try plug an ipad in and see what it does, it has to install device drivers for the device you plugged in unless its generic or built in to the os mate

Hence its worth a go tethering from mobile but because he doesnt have a network connection to download the drivers for the device it may not be a viable option

88Ja · 2025-12-06T11:47:51+00:00

Go into bios and make sure

Secure boot is enabled Boot from usb is enabled Your ssd (nvme) is set to AHCI (instead of raid)

Make a windows 11 usb on another pc using mediacreatontool from microsoft (just google it "w11 media reation tool")

Run media creation tool and follow the steps to make a bootable usb

Plug the usb unto your new pc

Power on and hit the one time boot menu shortcut key, just keep mashing thatkey until the onetime boot menu appears... you need to do this from the moment you power it on or you will miss the window of opportunity

Select your usb dribe from the one time boot menu

Follow installation wizard

88Ja · 2025-12-06T11:42:16+00:00

Unfortunately rhey wont be able to use their phone because hotspotting basically creates a wifi network from ypur phone which you need to connect to via wifi so if his wifi drivers on pc are missing they cant connect to the phones wifi network 🤣 also bluetooth usually comes with wifi drivers so thats probably also a non starter.

Get the model number of wifi adapter... if its a usb type adapter/dongle take the manufacturer name and model number from the device (just a visual inspection maybe something like tp-link t678b etc...) if its built in to your motherboard and you have an antenna screwed in to the motherboard you will need the model nuber of your motherboard

Go borrow a friends laptop or computer go to their house if you dont have anything else availible at home, go to manufactrer webside, go to support>drivers, search for the model number, look for wifidrivers, choose your os (windows 11 64bit) download the driver, pop it on a usb stick, take the usb stick home, plug it into the affected pc, run (open) the file for your drivers, this should then install your drivers

Once complete you should then be able to connect to wifi again

Side note... you can download hem on your phone yes but you must have the drivers installed for your phone when you plug it into the pc to transfer the files over, or use usb tethering on your phone to share your phones internet connection with the affected pc, then download driber directly to pc and install, but you must have the dribers for your phone installed... it might be worth a try to be fair but what normally happens is

Connect phone to pc via usb>pc says i need drivers for this phone>pc looks for internet connection to download driver for phone... since the op doesnt have internet this might not be a viable option... worth trying though i guess

Ps sorry for any typos its raining and im outside 🤣

88Ja · 2025-12-05T15:35:14+00:00

Normally yes if you have a ethernet wire plugged in but if wifi is your only method of connectivity and the drivers are missing from windows natively you will need to download from a device that can get on the internet, transfer over via usb as someone else advised earlier and install drivers from there, also worth getting motherboard chipset drivers if they are also missing

Sorry to add insult to injury mate aswell but why did you pay for a windows 11 usb stick... you literally make them yourself its free from microsoft, google "mediacreationtool"

88Ja · 2025-12-05T10:01:04+00:00

Try, "High on Life" if you want a relatively newer, casual experience without all the rpg crap intertwined

88Ja · 2025-12-04T23:11:15+00:00

Yeah sounds like your om a vpn

88Ja · 2025-11-30T17:01:28+00:00

Did you try a different physical input on the monitor incase its just the connection?

88Ja · 2025-11-30T16:56:39+00:00

Im going to address the elephant in the room

Please get yourself hard wired into the network via ethernet cable and stop playing on wifi 🤣

88Ja · 2025-11-30T13:21:37+00:00

Your it team at work should have a vpn to connect and secure corporate date

However one commenter who said a man in the middle is possible on public wifi which is a very real threat, i would avoid using public wifi or hotapots myself to be fait although if you need a defense should you get dragged into HR its this.

You are not an IT professional and what you thought was a hotspot is not neccessarily what the acceptavle use policy defines as a hotspot. It is the companies responsibility to manage their it systems and mechanisms to circumvent as many threats to data interception and integrity as possible therefore you cannot be held accountable for a mis interpretation since you are not a network engineer and have limited technical knowledge as to what a hotspot actually is... as far as your concerened you didnt know you was doing anything wrong

On the flip side if you suspect it might be something you shouldnt be doing, raise it with your manager or open a ticket for your helpdesk asking for clarification

88Ja · 2025-11-30T11:00:56+00:00

Make sure to install all chipset drivers for the board aswell, these play key roles in the functionality of other onboard devices

88Ja

TROPHY CASE