i was just curious if a computer was formatted, does it clear everything on a computer? i recently bought a used computer and formatted it. i don't know the guy too well i bought it off of and wouldn't want anything that would get me into trouble coming up to bite me!!
2006-08-31 07:36:49 · 13 answers · asked by WTF1029 1 in Computers & Internet ➔ Software
i guess not. So you can get a program called system mechanic that has a tool to overwrite everything that has the same standards that the CIA uses. There are also other programs out there to do it.
I had thought that formatting it leaves no trace, but i found out yeasterday that there are programs that can retrieve that data after formatting.
2006-08-31 07:39:14 · answer #1 · answered by vanman8u 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, it is not possible to format a hard drive and erase all data permamanently at home. You have a few options, if you do a home format the previous data will be covered over time through general downloads and usage you perform on the hardrive. You can also purchase professional software or sometimes retailers like Best Buy which have tech assitance can be paid or will do it for free. The surest way of destroying hardware data permanently is to physically destroy the old one and purchase a new one, for anywhere between $60-200 for a respectable item.
2006-08-31 07:43:00 · answer #2 · answered by mbeck5886 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It will get rid of anything and everything, just make sure you do the regular format, not the quick format. Just to make sure, after you format it, install the OS, and get a security program that writes nothing but 0's in the unused space of your hard drive. This will get rid of any data that is left on the disk.
2006-08-31 07:41:10 · answer #3 · answered by scotty_b_1976 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some formats can be undone some can't I usually do at least 2 formats if unsure about the contents of a used computer; the second one usually will make retrieval impossible.
2006-08-31 07:42:44 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
NO...You can not be sure that it will clean all files.There are data recovery tools availble in maret which can restore the data..not 100% but they can restore small files like pictures and text files.
But if u format the disk i can assure that no virus will attack from that disk.
2006-08-31 07:53:34 · answer #5 · answered by Bhima M 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It should be all gone, but if you really wanted to be safe about that you could destroy the hard drive and get a new one. There probably isn't anything that will get you in trouble with it unless it was stolen.
2006-08-31 07:39:44 · answer #6 · answered by Exhnozoaa 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
NO.
some data can be recorevy with special software. to erase all data you will need to format... and write a lot of data in your hard disk letting they full with another type of data.
then all old data are overwrited.
2006-08-31 08:31:41 · answer #7 · answered by pvacosta 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To the everyday user, yes it appears to be totally clear, no traces left behind.
However, more advanced software is used to evade the forensic/police to ensure literally nothing is left behind!
2006-08-31 07:41:11 · answer #8 · answered by Istiaque Choudhury, BEng (Hons) 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
purely thank you to erase completely is to over-write the completed disk numerous circumstances, filling each and each sector precisely. otherwise in keeping with all different solutions the information could be retrieved in case you be responsive to what you're doing. classes which contain Eraser can help.
2016-10-01 03:31:07 · answer #9 · answered by empfield 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you did it right it should have wiped everything off your harddrive. If not, then you should ask someone who knows computers VERY well about reformatting the harddrive.
2006-08-31 07:41:43 · answer #10 · answered by saintlyinnocents 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋