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View Full Version : Looking for a way to wipe a hard drive completely clean of all data.

Airbrushkid
08-27-08, 12:45 AM
I know that formating a hard drive does not get rid of your data. So how or what program should I use to clean my hard drive of sensitive data so no one can ever read it and I mean no one?
ViN86
08-27-08, 12:49 AM
write zeros to the drive. that will eliminate all data. most hard drive manufacturers have programs that allow you to do that. i dont know any third party apps, but im sure theyre out there.

you can usually get these apps from the manufacturer's website.
supra
08-27-08, 12:52 AM
low level format or zero fill i think vin86 is referring to
AthlonXP1800
08-27-08, 02:17 AM
I use DBAN to wipe clean data on old hard drive.

http://www.dban.org/
Airbrushkid
08-27-08, 02:22 AM
I thought about DBAN but I am trying to do some hard drives connected thru USB. Using my main computer. And it looks like DBAN is done thru boot up.

I use DBAN to wipe clean data on old hard drive.

http://www.dban.org/
nekrosoft13
08-27-08, 09:22 AM
i use killdisk, but that also is done from boot-up.
nekrosoft13
08-27-08, 09:24 AM
oh wait killdisk got windows app as well ;)

http://www.killdisk.com/images/win_screenkill.gif
saturnotaku
08-27-08, 09:42 AM
KillDisk works well, but you have to pay to get all formatting options. I prefer Eraser (http://www.heidi.ie/node/6) because it's free and has native 64-bit support.
nekrosoft13
08-27-08, 10:26 AM
i bought killdisk dos version long long time ago, it is probably few versions behind. made an iso out of it and use that any time it is required.

their new windows app look interesting

btw that Eraser has nice Features, will try that next time
Tr1cK
08-27-08, 10:31 AM
Hammers, axes and bullets all seem to work well. I think a fire would also do the trick.
saturnotaku
08-27-08, 10:34 AM
btw that Eraser has nice Features, will try that next time

I like how you can securely erase what's in the recycle bin, and the 64-bit version performs that task pretty quickly.
nekrosoft13
08-27-08, 10:34 AM
Tr1cK, no nuke required?
XDanger
08-27-08, 02:51 PM
I like the analogy comparing writing 0's to a drive to painting a checkerboard wall with 1 coat of white paint.
Please don't highlight words from that sentence
I have one half of a striped array, Do I need to clean it before I sell it?
Butter Bandit
08-27-08, 03:05 PM
I like the analogy comparing writing 0's to a drive to painting a checkerboard wall with 1 coat of white paint.
Please don't highlight words from that sentence
I have one half of a striped array, Do I need to clean it before I sell it?

Striped, as in RAID 0? I wouldn't think you'd be able to recover any data from half of a RAID 0 Array.
stncttr908
08-28-08, 01:35 PM
Striped, as in RAID 0? I wouldn't think you'd be able to recover any data from half of a RAID 0 Array.
You'd still be able to piece together parts of files, but probably nothing worth the effort it would take.