So, the computer at the shop finally crashed taking all of our AllData shop manuals with it. We bought a new one instead of repairing our old Windows 98 512k laptop for obvious reasons. We searched and searched for the CDs of the AllData stuff and finally found them... under the desk and damaged way beyond repair. I called AllData and they were completely unsympathetic, saying we would have to buy a new one or pay almost as much for a "re-keying" and wait 6 weeks for a replacement packet.
I found a way to download it on a Torrent. Technically its probably not legal, right? Morally I have no problem with it - we paid for it and we have the license.
Is using Torrents safe as far as internet security, or are they dirty?
Is it possible that the AllData police will come take me away?
no first hand knowledge... but word has it, that yeah they're often dirty to the point of throwing away the hd....
well not quite that bad, but i've heard that there usually is some kind of virus that comes with their use.... YMMV
Torrents are just a way of distributing files. They're not inherently "dirty". But like any files, you should probably only get them from a trusted source. For example, the Top Gear rips found on Final Gear are clean. Teen porn found on SuperPirateTorrenSeach.ru is probably not.
Well, as far as AllData is concerned, as far as I know you are generally allowed to back up something you bought and since you no longer have a usable copy, the copy would leave you with one.
Concerning torrents. Generally they are clean. Kind of depends on what you are downloading, something like that is more likely to be clean (popular games would probably be the most tricky). Just do a virus scan to be safe. Some sites will give reviews on the torrent to let you know if anyone has had any issues.
Stupid question but have you tried pulling the hard drive out of the dead laptop and putting it into an external housing to try to get the data off it or clone it to a good drive? Oftentimes a Linux setup (even a "live" distro on a CD) works well in those situations - I was able to save a couple gigs of photos that way when I had an old Windoze system crash.
pigeon wrote:
Stupid question but have you tried pulling the hard drive out of the dead laptop and putting it into an external housing to try to get the data off it or clone it to a good drive?
Tried that. No spin. I'd have to take the stacks out and put them in another drive which is beyond my ability.
It has been acting up for a while - trojan, virus, whatever, but the HDD was running almost all the time. My guess is the motor just burned up. You can also hear the stacks moving around in it which means it probably broke the spindle.
pigeon wrote:
Stupid question but have you tried pulling the hard drive out of the dead laptop and putting it into an external housing to try to get the data off it or clone it to a good drive? Oftentimes a Linux setup (even a "live" distro on a CD) works well in those situations - I was able to save a couple gigs of photos that way when I had an old Windoze system crash.
+10000
Using a burnable DVD and this tutorial might save your data
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/use-ubuntu-live-cd-to-backup-files-from-your-dead-windows-computer/
It definitely worked for me
http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/off-topic-discussion/recovering-data-from-a-locked-hard-drive/33960/page1/
I use utorrent to dl torrent files, shows you a list of ALL files in the torrent file, allows you to deselect anything you think is sketchy.
btjunkie is my preferred source for torrents, most everything I've gotten off there has been flawless.
just use common sense when downloading, only download stuff with plenty of seeding and comments verifying that it works and has no nasty surprises included.
Torrent files are usually covered by copyright and therefore are being distributed illegally. I never download torrents, but if I did, I would use Vuze and a peer blocker to make sure the powers that be will likely not see you. They put out bait for you to download so they can track your IP and give it to authorities. Programs like PeerBlock records them and makes sure you do not download from them. Its like letting you speed down the street and forcing you to take routes that the police are not watching. Weather you download programs that are legally shared or not, this is what you should do. Also, before you open the file, RUN AT LEAST ONE VIRUS SCAN.
I have never done, nor will I ever do this.
As long as you dowload the same version that you legally own you should be OK, at least that is my understanding.
Pull it down, runa virus scan on it and be sure to keep the damaged CDs.
(I am not a lawyer so do what you will with the above advice)
I've "heard" that you can download torrents for all kinds of stuff. I've also "heard" that downloading video game torrents is usually safe and I've "heard" that the person who did that never had one problem with it. Now, this is all "second hand" knowledge of course...
A good spyware detector will keep any dangerous stuff in a torrent from coming through... I've "heard".
Are you a business, did you buy Alldata on a one time deal or subscription, and how long ago did you get it?
If you are a business, having an info system is part of the cost of doing business. The $300 per month it costs me is far, far, far less than it would cost me to be guessing at E36 M3- at my shops door rate, if I waste 3 hours a month searching for info, I've already lost money.
The one time purchase seems like a good idea until it gets a couple years out of date, then you have to pony up the dough or have a useless system.
I am online, monthly payment. I don't think you can even buy it anymore as a package, since everybody needs to be up to date anyway.
Please don't take this wrong, but please pay for what you use, since it doesn't come free to the rest of us. I don't like paying for your free stuff.
Streetwiseguy wrote:
Please don't take this wrong, but please pay for what you use, since it doesn't come free to the rest of us. I don't like paying for your free stuff.
That's the thing - he DID pay for it, and has a legally-acquired, legit key for it.
IANAL, but IMO you're in the free and clear, provided you find a torrent of what you have on CD. All you're doing is acquiring your fair-use backup by a different means than making copies of the CDs that you already have.
Now, if you take advantage of this opportunity to sneak in an upgrade, then you're committing piracy.
But to just get what you already have? S'all good, man. 
mndsm
SuperDork
9/12/11 4:39 p.m.
Most of the trackers that are out there are only tracking people who are uploading anyhow. I've seen where people have downloaded many many things and never got busted, but upload one video and the fuzz is knocking at your door. Legitimately it is legal for you to back up your own media, they cannot stop you from that. Unauthorized distribution (IE- uploading it for sharing) is not legal. Ethically, i'd say if the people you bought the program from were all FUUUU, I'd go ahead and do it. If you can prove ownership of said program and they won't help you replace it, screw them.
When I was working at the computer shop, one of our clients was a body shop that had an account with AllData. Their hard drive crashed and had to be replaced. Even with the CDs and key, it was a pain to get running on the computer. I ended up having to call tech support and have them issue a new key, which was somewhat more painful than pulling my own teeth.
