format hard drive?

Question

I've asked everyone I know about a complete format of my hard drive but I get a run around. What I want to know is what program will completely format my hard drive without any one being able to go back in and get any information off of it. I want a complete and total format of everthing. Im running windows xp.

Answer 1

There is no real way to insure that with just a format. If you are getting rid of it to give to someone else that you know doesn't have the ability to recapture deleted data (most people), formatting it should be fine. If you are disposing of it, put some powerful magnets on it for a while. That should render it useless.

Answer 2

Formatting a hard drive usually only builds a file allocation table of some sort. What kind of table depends on the type of file system, but that is another matter completely. If you don't want the feds to find your kiddie porn collection there are two choices; low level format your drive: you can do this from some BIOS configuration utilities (CMOS software you access by hitting a key sequence when your computer starts), or a utility provided by the drive manufacturer. or you can wipe the drive by writing over the whole drive with 0-f sequentially using a drive wiping utility. These can be obtained through many shareware/freeware web sites such at tucows or downloads.com . Both methods are very time consuming. Low level formatting may damage the drive. The DOD prefers the drive wiping method for cleaning classified data from their drives. CopyWipe is available free on cnet.com, but remember you get what you pay for.

Answer 3

if you have the xp cd use that
put in the cd and reboot
and then act like your installing xp for the first time
follow all the prompts
its going to tell you that there is already a version of xp insalled do you want to repair or install choose install and then youll get to a part that shows the partition that it is already on go ahead and delete that ( it verifys like 3 times that you really wanna delete) and then recreate it choose format ntfs and dont choose quick format choose the regular one
then windows will do the rest
that should do it
good luck

Answer 4

Try partition magic.It'll format all the contents of your Hard drive.All formatting programs will format but partition magic is better.Also running utility programs of Windows XP will do.Now It's your choice.I strongly recommend partition magic.

Answer 5

the only way to ensure total data removal is with powerful magnets.If a hard drive detects bad sectors it will exclude that part of the drive from being used by normal software so the data can still be on that sector and still be read by specialists ie NSA, FBI or anyone who knows about this kinda stuff even
but i doubt they will be interested in your hard drive somehow lol

Magnets are indiscriminate with what they erase.

.

Answer 6

I have heard that the FBI has ways of looking at hard drive information even if the hard drive is burned (in a fire). They can find things even if it has been rewritten several times. Norton makes a utility called wipedisk, but I have never tried it--I don't have secrets that big on my computer.

Answer 7

put the Windows XP or windows 2000 CD and restart the PC and follow the intructions.

Answer 8

Ok...try to download this software from

http://www.download.com


Its Name is Power Quest Partition Magic

Install it and better create the floppy disks and do it while booting...

Have a nice day...BYE

Answer 9

you will need a format program with DOD- ( Departmet of defense) NSA, or Guttmann

try to get a freeware one