sorry to hear tom. stick around, you don't need an X to be part of this gang...

fwiw, this to shall pass...

sorry to hear Tom. Best of luck to you. Stick around as some of us here are Ex-X owners..

That's bad news Tom but you're obviously doing as well as possible just by the sound of your post. Like everyone said, you are always welcome here and we'd ask you to stick around. In the meantime, keep your focus on the important stuff.

To answer your question, I can't speak for Macs but I'd think it's much the same as PC's but clearing cache, emptying your recycle bin, etc, are all good to keep the superficial snoop out but a full professional forensic examination will find all kinds of stuff you thought was long gone. Some might just be fragments but a good examiner can figure it out. The only sure way to destroy data on your HD is to incinerate it and then blow it up and scatter its remnants in the ocean. I have worked with some forensic computer investigators in the criminal context and that is what I have learned from dealing with them. They have even recovered data from a laptop that was burned to a crisp.

I'll explain FF if you need me to.

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like asawadude, been there done that (once), bought the t-shrit, next. It's one of the most stressful things to go through, but hang in there. With things do get better. I know this doesn't help you right now, but we all feel for you.

Sorry to hear th news Tom. Hope you'll stick around!

PNG is right about the data. You'd be shocked at what you think is erased that isn't really erased. When I am done with a hard drive, I drill 5 or 6 holes through the thing to make sure that it is unrecoverable.

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-'13 E93 M3 Cab, Interlagos Blue, Carbon Black leather, DCT, all options, and fun, endless fun!
-'13 X5 35i M-Sport, Carbon Black & Cinnamon, Dinan Stage 2!
-'15 Toyota Sienna Limited Premium AWD, Silver & Grey, Nav & BluRay, and less lame than the 2011 it replaced
-'07 Mini Cab S, Laser Blue, 6sp, endless fun that ended (sold)
-'04 X5 4.4i, loaded, loved, modded and sold

Sorry to hear about the breakup. Life goes on and time heals.

If they really need to recover the data, they will get it. It is expensive but very doable. It all boils down to, what they think the value of the information holds on the drive and how much they want it.

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Another lame attempt to get to 2000 posts
M i C k E Y

2017 Tesla Model X
2014 Porsche Panamera-S e-Hybrid (sold)
2012 Porsche Cayenne
2001 X5 3.0 (sold)
2003 Carrera 911 Cabrio (sold)

Sorry to hear that good luck with everything else In the future!

Dude, that's tough. Hang in there, things will get better. BTW, we have Admins here who no longer own X5s so you stick around.

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2003 3.0i White/Black 5 speed Manual.
Options: PP, SP, DSP, NAV, XENON.
Mods: Aluminum Running Boards, 4.6 Body Kit, 20" Style 132 Wheels, Eisenmann Sport Exhaust with Oval tips, Aluminum pedals, Xenonmatch Fogs, M3 Steering Wheel.

Can I have a sip of that HATERADE you're chuggin?

Tom - sorry to hear about this, but as wisely noted above, the more time that goes by the more you will find out that things have improved for the better. Hang in their, my friend, we are all pulling for you!

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