2007-04-07 00:50:08 · 19 answers · asked by james b 1 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Desktops
Download Darik's "Boot and Nuke" at http://dban.sourceforge.net/
It wipes the drive clean, and is the best free software for the job.
2007-04-07 00:54:08 · answer #1 · answered by Jim 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If all you want to do is wipe a hard drive so you can install a new operating system etc. on it, then all you have to do is format the drive.
However, if you want to remove all data from it permanently: for example, because you are selling the computer to someone or giving it away, and trying to make sure whoever gets it after you can't restore the data that used to be on the drive; then you'll need to use software to overwrite each sector of the hard drive multiple times. If you only format the drive, the data that was on the drive is still recoverable using forensic or data recovery software.
There are a number of programs that can help to remove all your data; Evidence Eliminator is one such program, but there are others as well.
2007-04-07 07:55:57 · answer #2 · answered by The Oracle 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Formatting will not work, everything is retrievable from a format.
Killdisk also does not work.
The problem is that when you write a file to the disk and then delete it and then write another file over the top. The beginning of the new file will not correspond with the one that was deleted therefore there is still an overlap showing on your hard drive and the file can be recovered using this. To securely delete data download Cyberscrub privacy suite. This will stop both software and hardware recovery, it will remove magnetic remnants left over by files thus rendering them unrecoverable. It will also clean the slack space between files getting rid of the overlap. I use this when refurbishing old machines and have been unable to recover anything !!
2007-04-08 09:47:37 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You cant. That is the short answer, The only way to make sure that data is irretrievable is to completely and utterley destroy the hard drive. even government strength security wipe programs can be overcome by modern recovery software or by one of the many companies that specialise in recovering data. With the cost of a replacement hard drive being so low (get one off ebay) that is the best way to go.
Bob
2007-04-07 07:56:31 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can get a free program here: http://www.soft32.com/download_8498.html
Active Kill Disk - Hard Drive Eraser 2.0
It helps you boot from a floppy and then securely erase all data on any drive.
Or, if you are not trying to save or resell the computer, you can just pull out the hard drives and smash them with a big hammer. This method is very fast and a lot of fun.
2007-04-07 07:55:24 · answer #5 · answered by jamesdean 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
that's easy, just follow these steps, i know they work.
1. click on start
2. click on the control panel
3. click on the icon that says add or remove programs
u'll have to wait for a sec. it will say list is being populated or something like that.
4. it'll give u a list of all the programs installed in ur computer. scroll down if u need to and click on the program u want to get rid of. it'll be highlighted in blue
5. now, when u click it and it is highlighted blue, then it will have 2 buttons on it. change and remove. click the remove button.
6. it'll remove that program off ur computer. it will no longer exsist. u'll have to be patient though. it takes a while to get the program off ur computer
that's how u get all the junk off ur computer. i garentee u, this works. i do it all the time with the junk on my computer. good luck! =]
2007-04-07 07:58:26 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
go to www.killdisk.com and download the little free program it fits on a floppy disk put the disk in the drive a. Then reboot and let the disk run itself (the free version will only run 1 time each boot) you can reboot as many times as you wish with the same floppy disk. It will overwrite everything on the HDD..Thanks
2007-04-07 12:22:39 · answer #7 · answered by computer_surplus2005 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Doing a re-format isn't enough. There are utilities to "wipe" a drive and actually change to bits on the drive. Tools such as Norton, VCom, and others have such a utility.
2007-04-07 08:01:00 · answer #8 · answered by lda 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Formatting is the best way...everything including the operating system is wiped out....
2007-04-07 07:52:00 · answer #9 · answered by chaminda l 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
do a clean install over the top of the existing OS or else boot to a floppy disk or network drive and format the hard disk.
2007-04-07 07:53:16 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋