whats the best way or software to delete the whole hard drive?

Question

are there any free programs to delete the whole hard drive?

my computer is a hp desktop media center and i recently tried to do a pc recovery using recovery disc that i created but i didnt it was corrupted so it mess my whole hard drive so i want to delete everything and perform a clean install on windows vista home premium upgrade......

Answer 1

How to Install a Vista Upgrade on a Blank Hard Drive
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/pcs/how-to-install-a-vista-upgrade-on-a-blank-hard-drive-232770.php

How to Clean Install Windows Vista with Upgrade Media
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_upgrade_clean.asp

Upgrade, Vista Home Premium, Students Version: $69
https://usm.channelonline.com/rtech/storesite/Products/Overview/?id=M003552199&fr=AFUNtQXAV5DJSTHyHoRdooiOmLbxqI-YexIDVLn-VWWb2z7s93jy_ZQAAAAAAAAAAA&gl=us&hl=en

http://www.campustech.com/c/campust/MSCD23142WIAE.htm?mv_pc=froogle&utm_source=froogle&utm_medium=ppc&utm_term=Windows_Vista_Home_Premium_Upgrade_&fr=AHdWIlrNhy9nFC0a7TDK7_XvuDbMwHCIpC1el1piQ6m6AAAAAAAAAAA&gl=us&hl=en
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Format Drive and Reinstall Windows

The following procedure erase everything on the hard drive.

Backup your data. Find all your drivers and software and software keys now and develop a plan on how you will reinstall them.
http://blog.angrypets.com/2006/01/ultimate_prefla.html
http://www.thefuhrmans.com/reformat_hd.htm
http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html
http://www.smartcomputing.com/editorial/article.asp?article=articles/archive/l0910/32l10/32l10.asp

Keyfinder Thing 3.1.6
http://www.download.com/Keyfinder-Thing/3000-2094_4-10561260.html?tag=lst-0-1
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Optional: Wipe the drive
All data on the drive will be overwritten.

This is often recommended when you are trying to get rid of a spyware /virus infection or before you sell your computer to eliminate the chance that any personal information can be recovered.

Darik's Boot and Nuke (DBAN) free
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.

Wipe Methods
Quick Erase YES
Canadian RCMP TSSIT OPS-II Standard Wipe YES
American DoD 5220-22.M Standard Wipe YES
Gutmann Wipe YES
PRNG Stream Wipe YES
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Format and Reinstall Windows

Optional: When you format enter "fdisk /mbr" to format the master boot record.
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-6132_102-0.html?forumID=32&threadID=49909&messageID=593967
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/69013

Reformat and install. (Cleans drive loses all data)
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/313348
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/winxp/install.mspx
http://www.whitecanyon.com/reformat-the-hard-drive-in-windows-xp.php
http://www.smartcomputing.com/editorial/article.asp?article=articles/archive/l0910/32l10/32l10.asp

Answer 2

You can't delete a hard drive ( you can take it out, or format it).
I don't know any free software but you can use a windows installation disk to edit your partitions. If it won't do any good you can try Partition Magic but you have to pay.

Answer 3

just boot from the vista dic and when asked if you want to format the hard drive say yes

Answer 4

Stick your new OS in C:. Restart. It will load. Delete the particians, and that will format the drive. Take your time, and it wll do it.

Answer 5

it is not neccessary, just do a system restore and that should leave your computer just how it was before you messed up the hardrive.

Answer 6

Why?