data cleaning / hard drive scrubbing?

Question

Is there any way I can do this myself...?

http://www.techfusion.com/DataCleaning.html

"Because we know so much about data recovery, we also know how to remove it. If you are seeking to recycle a used hard drive or computer, and want to make sure there are no remaining files, come in and get a complete data cleaning."

just a note, I am not looking to reformat, i'd just like to remove my business docs.

Answer 1

I know of three free downloads for deleting files permanently:

1) Eraser http://www.tolvanen.com/eraser

2) KillDisk http://www.download.com/3000-2092-10188745.html

3) DP Wiper http://www.softpedia.com/get/Security/Secutirt-Related/DP_WIPER.shtml

When you delete a file, only the file reference is deleted. The data is still retrievable. There are programs called shredders to ensure that deleted files are gone for good. Shredders overwrite deleted files with randomly generated data.

There are shredders available on the Web.
Eraser is a free shredder at: www.tolvanen.com/eraser/
File Shredder 2000 ($14.95) http://www.gregorybraun.com/Shredder.html
ShredIt ($19.95) http://www.mireth.com/shredit.html
Wipe & Delete ($29.95) http://www.aevita.com/file/delete/
Each offers free trial periods.

Windows XP Professional and 2000 include a tool called Cipher to wipe out deleted files. Cipher is really an encryption tool—but one option allows you to use it to overwrite deleted files. Before using Cipher, make a backup of your files and folders.

To use Cipher: click Start, All Programs, Accessories, Command Prompt. In the Command Prompt, you will notice the flashing insertion point. Type “cipher /w:” (without the quotes) at the Command Prompt window. Then add the name of either your hard drive or an individual folder.
To overwrite your entire hard drive, type “cipher /w:C:\” (without the quotes).
To overwrite an individual folder, type in the path (address) to that folder. The path should be in this format:
C:\folder name\folder name\folder name

In the Command Prompt, if any of the folder names contains a space, put the path in quotes; for example:
“C:\folder name\folder name\folder name”

Cipher is a lengthy process and may take several hours.

Answer 2

Active@ Kill Disk - Hard Drive Eraser 1.1
Active@ KillDisk is powerful and compact DOS software that allows you to destroy all data on hard and floppy drives completely, excluding any possibility of future recovery of deleted files and folders. This is security software for unrecoverable data elimination for any computer capable of booting in DOS mode from floppy drive. It uses access to the drive?s data on a physical level via BIOS bypassing logical drive structure organization, thus it does not matter operating systems and file systems located on the machine, it can be DOS, Windows 95 / 98, Windows NT / 2000 / XP, Linux, Unix for PC. Active@ KillDisk conforms to US Department of Defense clearing and sanitizing standard DoD 5220.22-M. You can be sure that once you clean up with Active@ KillDisk, sensitive information is purged out forever. We highly recommend you to run this FREE utility for the hard and floppy drives you want to dispose of, recycle, re-use, sell or donate to somebody.

download from http://www.download.com/Active-Kill-Disk-Hard-Drive-Eraser/3000-2092_4-10188745.html?tag=lst-0-1

Answer 3

If you are just looking to remove your business documents then just delete them. However, if you do know that you could restore the documents because that once you delete them they aren't really deleted they are just on the drive waited to be overwritten, but you may already know this.
So, one way of deleting the documents forever is just to move all of your documents onto a USB key and then delete them from the USB key. Then they will be deleted forever. Since you delete the files on the USB key they will not and cannot be restored from your existing hard drive.

Answer 4

When you delete files the pointer to the file is deleted. The file itself is not erased and in most cases can be easily recovered.

To see what files can be recovered run one of the following programs:

Drive Discovery 2.34 (free for 30 days)
http://www.download.com/Drive-Discovery/3004-2248_4-10641143.html?tag=tab_scr
Analyze the hard disk to see what files and data can be
recovered, see inside deleted files and view deleted images.
You can choose to either recover the file or overwrite the file to make it not recoverable.

Restoration
http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file/fid,23108-order,1-page,1-c,alldownloads/description.html
Recover deleted files--or delete them for good--with this small program.
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To delete your files permanently you need to overwrite the file data.

Install CCleaner: Do not install toolbar and recycle bin options
http://www.ccleaner.com/
Removes tracking information from all browsers, toolbars, movie players.etc. Empties recycle bin.
In options:
-Set to run when the computer starts
-Choose secure file deletion (if you do not want the files to be able to be recovered) 1 pass (simple overwrite) , 3 pass (DOD 5220.22-M), or 7 Pass (NSA)
- Uncheck if needed "only delete Windows Temp folders older than 48 hours"
-Place cookies you want to keep in the save list.

Spybot - Search & Destroy
http://www.spybot.info/en/download/index.html
Mode > Advanced mode> Tools > Secure Shredder
Right click on white area to add files to the list or drag files into the white area. Set number of erasure passes (4-99). Click on"Chop it away" button
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To securely delete all information on a hard drive:

Per:
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-6142_102-0.html?forumID=5&threadID=194873&messageID=2115918
"You can find out the manufacturer of your HD and then attempt to download the formatting tool created by that manufacturer for their HD's. Most HD Mnufactuer have a Zero Fill Low level formatting tool available to erase their HD products. This will clean any existing OS files from your system as well as any viruses other files etc.."


Darik's Boot and Nuke (DBAN)
http://www.download.com/Darik-s-Boot-and-Nuke/3000-2092_4-10165154.html
http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=61951&package_id=58479&release_id=439240
DBAN will automatically and completely delete the contents of any hard disk that it can detect, which makes it an appropriate utility for bulk or emergency data destruction.

WipeDrive by White Canyon
http://www.whitecanyon.com/
Completely wipe and erase all the information from a computer before selling or discarding it. WipeDrive makes it easy.

Active@ Kill Disk - Hard Drive Eraser (Free version/ $29.95 enhanced version)
http://www.killdisk.com/
Active@ KillDisk - Hard Drive Eraser is powerful and compact DOS software that allows you to destroy all data on hard and floppy drives completely, excluding any possibility of future recovery of deleted files and folders. It's a hard drive and partition eraser utility.

Answer 5

Thought doing a "low-level format" would do the trick, it is not the format or any commands available to a running computer, this is standardized in SCSI in BIOS level and also available in IDE manufacturer utility in DOS level.

Answer 6

OK should you you've gotten put out of your mind it then i consider open the again duvet of it and c their you'll discover battery simply take it out and situation it once more it on it,s possess situation and take a look at to function it .if now not then boot your laptop and reinstall the home windows

Answer 7

This website might help: http://www.deq.mt.gov/Recycle/Electronics/DestroyingData.htm