how do i completely remove everything from my harddrive?

Question

like completely dump my system to renew it?

Answer 1

There is a free program on the internet called DBAN - Darik's Boot and Nuke - this program can completely erase everything on your hard drive so that no one can recover it unless they are the government type and even then they may have to wait for new technology before they can access the information.

There are other programs as well and Darik's site has a list of some.

To address some other comments - formatting and/or repartitioning doesn't do anything to make the data really unrecoverable. Even overwriting the existing data once or twice may not be sufficient (read the info on Darik's site and help files).

Magnets need to be REALLY powerful - I mean like lift a car powerful. You don't buy these at the corner hobby shop, so unless you work in a junk yard or have a friend that does, forget this idea - and even then the proper tools can probably still recover the data.

The truly TOP SECRET stuff the government NEVER gets rid of - again, just because it's not possible today doesn't mean it won't be tomorrow.

For simply reinstalling your computer a format is sufficient. See my sources for some links.

Answer 2

When you install the new operating system, at some point it should ask you whether you want to preserve the harddrive, or petition and reformat. Reformat the drive, and it will be wiped clean.

However, even after it's formatted, the data is still mostly there, and can be recovered with the proper tools. If you really need to WIPE it, so that the data can't be recovered, there are some tools that will write 0's or junk over every sector of the drive. You could run one of those first, then install the new OS. People claim that even then, the NSA could still recover the data. I'm not sure I agree, but unless you're a terrorist or something similar, I doubt you'd have much to worry about.

Answer 3

To renew it? As in a reinstallation? Put in a windows installation disk, boot from the disk when it asks you to press any key, fully format the hard drive, reinstall windows.

Answer 4

save the wanted files to somewhere
use windows bootable floppy to format:
insert the floppy, and restart the system
(if your system not going to dos command mode, go to setup and activate first boot device as floppy drive)
when it comes to A:\ , type format c: and enter.
type yes when ask.
wait untill the drve formats
follow the same steps for the other drives

then escape escape escape

type fdisk and enter

select activate c and escape

put your windows installaion cd and restart

install windows

enjoy....

Answer 5

Download a software by the name of "Hard disk cleaner" it will clean all of your disk and also remove the partitions.

Answer 6

too many viruses and adware and spyware and hackers just build up sometimes. Just go to a computer repairman and he will do it for pretty cheap. It is a fast process

Answer 7

A disk called Wipe Drive does it. Done it once and it works.

Answer 8

high powered magnet. you can try overwriting the HDD with one and zeros. you can buy some soft ware that will eerase the data. did u want to reuse it or dispose of it?

Answer 9

there is an option called "clean disc" in the start menu...
select that and choose the programes u want to remove....
happy cleaning

Answer 10

There are CD-ROMs specifically for that purpose. You can even customize the amount of data that is terminated. "WipeDrive" is one such CD-ROM. Be careful. Once it's gone it's gone.