How can I wipe-out a used hard-drive completly?

Question

I've bought 2 hard drives from other people that have been used , i want to have them completely clean , just like new never before used , i dont want anything to be able to be recoverd, because im not sure of what is on them , i know one has a bunch of music videos and movies , but the other one i have no clue , prolly stuff i dont want to have

Answer 1

First, delete any files, links, etc... that you consider private and then run an eraser utility to overwrite the resulting free space on your hard drive. A good program for this, which allows several security levels by the number of times overwritten, is Eraser which is free and can be found at:

http://www.download.com/Eraser/3000-2092_4-10231813.html?tag=lst-0-4

You can actually use Eraser to delete / overwrite the files at the same time and then use it to wipe the free space.

Then, second, if you want to be really secure, re-partition and re-format the drive and install / re-install the O/S with associated system utilities. Hopefully, you will have some CDs specifically for this to get the setup correct, like from Compaq or Dell.

*** FORMATTING A HARD DRIVE BY ITSELF DOES NOT RESULT IN ALL FILES BEING UNRECOVERABLE!

Answer 2

you can download a trial copy or buy a program called window washer...it has a feature to create a boot disk that will COMPLETELY erase and format any hard-drive. you have the option to choose how many "passes" it makes over it. the max is 35 passes but it also takes the longest but is also the most secure.
Try it out....even when the trial runs out, you still have the boot disk you made with it! bonus!

Answer 3

Evidence Eliminator

Answer 4

Here is a program that is free and considered as one of the best for erasing HD's. Nothing will clean one completely, but this will make it almost that clean.

http://www.heidi.ie/eraser/

Answer 5

via the way, do you have any records on the harddrive which you will possibly nonetheless desire to maintain? in case you have, then you certainly'll could desire to repeat this wisdom out in the previous thoroughly erasing it. If it is done, you could only format your difficult disk. only get the WinXP setting up CD insert into the CD-ROM force and then confirm that your pc BIOS set the CD-ROM as your 1st boot gadget. If it is not finished, then you certainly'll could desire to go into BIOS as your pc starts up and set it. often entering into the BIOS is via urgent F12 key, or Ctrl + ALt+ Del or Esc or F1. then you certainly'll locate the known setup and confirm the bootable gadget order makes ur CD-ROM above your difficult disk. Then keep the putting and reboot as quickly as reboot, this is going to boot from the CD rom and it will on the spot to repair or set up a sparkling WinXP. % set up new winXP and choose option to format the completed difficult disk. then you certainly only proceed the setting up steps shown and you gets a sparkling pc. you could touch me if u nonetheless have issues.

Answer 6

Delete all the partition of your harddisk by "fdisk" or from bootable windows CD.

It will remove all the partition then re partition them and in last format the all partion.

For more help please e-mail me at satender_1988 or chat with me at yahoo IM -- satender_1988

Please select my answer as best answer

Answer 7

look on the net for a prog called "all zero's"


on a binary level it literally makes the drive all zero's


then you can format and start again

Answer 8

delete should be enough to guard against casual voyeurs of data; one extra step against FBI types would be to write a file that has garbage content and fill the drive to capacity then delete that off.

Answer 9

Try Hovering!

Answer 10

Just delete the files.. Just as you would delete any other file. I use 3 old HD's in my pc.