The Lost Bitcoin Hard Drive Saga: Lawsuit for $646 Million

[Z-tight]

Question - would you ever give up so much wealth no matter how much it seems at times that you are trying to do the impossible? I think that most people would never give up - because this is in a way a personal search for a hidden treasure.

I know that it is hard to give up on something like this, but if i see that it is becoming near impossible and taking its toll on my mental health, i might give up and enjoy the little treasures life has left in my possession.

Some new information is still in JH's favor, because I read that the former manager of the landfill took his side and gave him information about where the disk could be located, which could significantly reduce the scope of the search. Given that technology advances every day, it is possible that something will appear that could enable the safe excavation of that waste without endangering the environment and people.

That does not still mean that they are going to approve the excavation, the chances are just too slim, though i wish him goodluck in all of this.

[Stompix]

Some new information is still in JH's favor, because I read that the former manager of the landfill took his side and gave him information about where the disk could be located, which could significantly reduce the scope of the search. Given that technology advances every day, it is possible that something will appear that could enable the safe excavation of that waste without endangering the environment and people.

The technology for excavation exists, and the technology for recovering data exists the problem is that there is no technology that would reverse damages that would have been done to that disk.
It's been already 11 years, eleven years of that drive sitting in a landfill (if it hasn't been recycled) in a wet environment, full of every single kind of chemical and the chances of the data being anywhere readable are closer to minus 1 than to zero! 

Besides, there is also the possibility that the drive didn't make it to the landfill, maybe someone scavenged it before dumping it and either took it apart or used it, or sold it!

[Lucius]

@Stompix, technology that would enable completely safe digging through tons of garbage without affecting people and the environment? People from the council persistently claim that they do not give permission precisely because no one can guarantee that it can be done in a safe way.

I'm not an expert in such things and I don't know how long a disk can last in such an environment, but it seems to me that even if it is found one day, it's unlikely that any data will be saved from it. However, as you say yourself, maybe the disk never even got to the destination - although someone would have admitted by now that he took it - unless he's been trying to brute force the password all these years

[Stompix]

@Stompix, technology that would enable completely safe digging through tons of garbage without affecting people and the environment? People from the council persistently claim that they do not give permission precisely because no one can guarantee that it can be done in a safe way.

We're able to excavate nuclear waste now, digging a hole through garbage is nothing
https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/radioactive-nuclear-waste-burial-ground-armstrong-county-parks-township/

Since it's a communal garbage dump the only gas there is methane, that can be burned, the rest is solid garbage and the leachate at the bottom can be pumped out, it's not about being impossible, it's about the costs and they don't want to do it for obvious reasons.

[Z-tight]

it's not about being impossible, it's about the costs and they don't want to do it for obvious reasons.

Isn't the 'obvious reason' the danger it poses to those living in the community? The cost is one thing, but i am sure the authorities in control wouldn't want to face lawsuits if they approve this, because i am sure people will take legal action because of the danger they would be exposed to by such excavation, even if it didn't directly impact them.