There are just so many choices!
2006-07-05 02:19:54 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Computers & Internet ➔ Security
I use a disk scrubber that meets U.S. Department of Defense specification DoD 5220-22M. Then if I am being really paranoid I will put a large magnet to it. If you do the above you are probably safe from everyone but the NSA.
2006-07-05 02:26:32 · answer #1 · answered by sfavorite711 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
To Completely Wipe your Hard-drive clean use the following.
Recommended by the University of Harvard Computer Science Division.
"Darik's Boot and Nuke (CDR/CDRW Version) - [2006-03-19 | Freeware | 1.9 Mb | DOS | 7914 | 4.87 ]
Securely wipes the hard disks of most computers."
The direct link is currently at:
http://www.majorgeeks.com/Dariks_Boot_and_Nuke_CDRCDRW_Version_d4596.html
USE EXTREME CAUTION and label this disk! Only insert in a PC you want to wipe clean of ALL DATA!
NOTE:
Most Hard-drives are shielded from external magnetism so unless you crack open the case and rub an extremely powerful magnet on the disk, that wont do any good. Floppy disks are unshielded and you can erase them with a magnet, but not a shielded Hard-drive.
Re-Formatting your Hard-drive will NOT erase any information. it only clears the FAT File Allocation Table, it does not erase ANY files as most people think.
Give me a hard-drive that has just been formatted and I can get EVERYTHING off it and copy to a NEW drive with NO PROBLEM at all.
2006-07-06 04:39:29 · answer #2 · answered by space_man_stitch 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'd have to agree with "oddball" about Eraser being a good choice. I've used it before and it really does the job. First time I used it I tried recovering my files with commerically available file recovery software. I tried the top five recommended..... none of them could recover anything off the hard drive.
2006-07-05 09:43:45 · answer #3 · answered by Angry C 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Eraser is good, but I prefer DBAN. It is simple to use. Just download the disk image, create a bootable floppy or CD, and boot off of it. Then walk throught the menu's to erase the disk.
DBAN uses U.S. Military approved procedures for wiping a disk. I have used it for a while. It works great.
2006-07-05 13:26:26 · answer #4 · answered by Brian C 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Eraser is Free and probably the best disk cleaner out there. This is the disk cleaner you want if your selling your computer to someone.
http://www.heidi.ie/eraser/
2006-07-05 09:37:04 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
take all the info you want to save, burn it or put on another drive, and reformat the drive. If it is the one drive with your Windows partition, don't do anything..Try and take it to someone who knows how to do all that. and then sell it with th information that the hard drive has been reformetted.
2006-07-05 12:32:46 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try to download portable partition magic. It can solve all of your problems about hard drives.
It can format and wipe out your har drive.
2006-07-05 09:27:41 · answer #7 · answered by mpenza77 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A Powerful Magnet is the safest way.
2006-07-06 00:31:07 · answer #8 · answered by vivek283 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if your using a DELL when the Logo appears press and hold ctrl and F8 and the setup will do the rest (Please dont try to download stuff [EX: hard drive whipes] it will not delete everthing)
2006-07-05 12:56:25 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
first completly completly fill it!
secundary format it.
I tell first fill it. becouse in this case windows or dos must format drives cimpletly not guick format
2006-07-05 12:26:18 · answer #10 · answered by MahPA 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋