Comments for How should I erase my hard drive before I give it away?

Comment from James on 2009-11-06

2009-11-07T01:43:21Z

Formatting Doesn't Erase the Data,it can still be recovered.Use a Program called "Dban" which Overwrites the data with Random data several times...rendering it USELESS!!!
It's an Iso Image file,so you have to get a free program like "BurnAware" and burn the file to a Cd-r or Dvd-r.And boot it from System Start up.
This goes to Jeff,the System might be too infected to just format,you might want to wipe the drive all together and then try to re-install Windows.

Dban
http://sourceforge.net/projects/dban/files/dban-beta/dban-beta.2007042900/dban-beta.2007042900_i386.zip/download

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Comment from Brian on 2009-10-07

2009-10-07T23:26:40Z

I am trying to wipe my hard drive as i have a worm and my comp is shutting down every half hour or so i tried to format it and reboot from windows disc but nothing works i have tried webroot washer also but nothing seems to boot when i switch on can you help please

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Comment from Jeff on 2009-09-04

2009-09-04T20:52:58Z

Now that I have erased my HDD how do I get the new OS to install?
When I insert the Windows or Linux install disc, it gives disc error and will not load. I have used a partition floppy to install a MBR partition but the OS will not start.

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Comment from Ed on 2009-08-27

2009-08-27T12:03:40Z

Dear Leo,
Great info here about wiping a drive. I've got two older HP laptops I'd like to sell, but they don't work, so I have to either sell 'em without the HD, or wipe the drives by other means. I have access to some huge magnets (think "MRI")and I'll do it that way. I know it might not be enough, and I know that I won't even be able to know that, but I'll take the risk (I'm not too paranoid)
My question: Assuming I can successfully scramble the drive, should that drive be able to be reformated by the new owner?

Thanks!
Ed

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Comment from Doug Nichols on 2009-08-07

2009-08-07T22:28:19Z

Try using WipeDrive - software which erases all data on your storage devices.

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Comment from James Lloyd on 2009-06-11

2009-06-11T18:54:52Z

I would advise degaussing the drive. After all it is a magnetic storage device. Had a quick google read more here...

http://www.pureplanetrecycling.co.uk/data-destruction.htm

I would not rely on degaussing. Do it, that's fine, but it's notoriously unreliable unless you've got a truly industrial strength degausser. Better to run software to clear the disk first.

- Leo
12-Jun-2009

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Comment from Sethgo on 2009-03-16

2009-03-17T00:58:03Z

Hi! I have a failing external hard drive that I want to give to a local computer recycling center. I want to do this safely and I'm wondering if I can use a bulk eraser - the kind that radio stations used to use to erase reels of audio tape? Thanks.

I wouldn't. The hard disk media is more protected - by its case if nothing else - than bulk audio tape. Those magnets are still not strong enough to penetrate the case and layers of platters in the drive.

- Leo
17-Mar-2009

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Comment from Barrh on 2009-02-03

2009-02-03T19:13:04Z

Does formatting the hard-drive during reinstallation of the operating system via the original CD (vista or XP) adequately erase the HD

Depends on what you consider "adequate". I consider it enough, as long as it's not a "quick" format.

- Leo
06-Feb-2009

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Comment from sandy on 2009-01-18

2009-01-18T20:39:01Z

I have gone to c:\ and put in "format/u". It keeps telling me I have wrong or missing parameters... Please help I am trying to erase a hard drive so that I may give the computer to someone else. Thanks

You must tell it what drive to format: "Format D: /u" for example.

- Leo
19-Jan-2009

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Comment from Kilroy on 2009-01-05

2009-01-05T18:06:21Z

DBAN works well but has limits too.. here is a good versus article. DBAN Versus Wipedrive

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Comment from Tim Carter on 2008-12-09

2008-12-09T16:28:45Z

To erase the data on my old hard drives, I strip out the hard drive from the computer and then use a screwdriver to open the hard-drive case. I then light up my acetylene torch and cook the actual platter.

Within a few moments, it's melted and virtually destroyed. I can't believe for a second that any data is still there.

I also have a giant magnet that weighs about 20 pounds. I've often wondered what might happen if I put it in contact with the platter.

Yep, like I said in this article, I'm partial to a drill press myself. (Though I recently posted a new article recommending DBAN - Darik's Boot And Nuke, a tool for securely erasing hard drive contents without actually destroying the drive.

(BTW: Tim's a friend, and posts less destructive home-improvement tips over at Ask The Builder.)

- Leo
10-Dec-2008

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Comment from Erase hard drive data on 2008-08-01

2008-08-01T07:00:20Z

Why erasing hard drive is required ?

Get your answer here...

http://www.eraseharddrivedata.com/wiping-hard-drive-process.php

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Comment from Simon on 2008-07-29

2008-07-29T11:46:50Z

>Amanda Stephen:
>can I ask a question. I had a new hard drive with >new bios put in. If I erase the HD will the BIOS >be left so I can reinstall the OS.

The Bios isn't saved on the hard drive. It's normally saved on a chip on your motherboard. This chip can be overwritten or in some cases physically replaced. Without a bios a normal PC is useless, because is can't load an operating system and thereby can't be operated ;-)

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Comment from Simon on 2008-07-29

2008-07-29T11:32:49Z

What about encrypting the data? then I would think it could (in many cases) become an impossible task to decrypt the data, from the partly recovered data you get from the drive.

As long a you've chosen a strong passphrase, and as long as you're certain that the unencrypted data was never temporarily outside of your encrypted container (like, say, the Windows swap file or a temporary file) then yes, encryption could be a viable solution.

Specifically I think if you used whole drive encryption from day one on the drive you might be ok.

But if you're suggesting to encrypt just prior to disposal, I'd just format instead. Or break out my drill press. :-)

-Leo

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Comment from Leo on 2008-06-08

2008-06-09T04:28:40Z

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Erasing your hard disk does NOT erase your BIOS.

Leo

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Comment from Amanda Stephen on 2008-06-08

2008-06-08T22:19:23Z

can I ask a question. I had a new hard drive with new bios put in. If I erase the HD will the BIOS be left so I can reinstall the OS.
Thanks

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Comment from Leo on 2008-06-07

2008-06-08T04:24:03Z

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DBAN is Darik's Boot and Nuke available at
http://dban.sourceforge.net/ - and yes, it's another good
solution.

Leo

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Comment from Mobius on 2008-06-07

2008-06-07T23:26:49Z

Look for DBAN... by far the best nuke program I've ever seen. I don't know anyone that's been able to recover data off a DBAN'd drive. And trust me, I know "social engineering" people who do it all the time on weak reformats.

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Comment from vish on 2008-06-05

2008-06-05T12:18:11Z

very nice article about how to erase your hard drive permanently. formatting can erase disk but not permanently as you said data recovery software recover these files. SO in this situation you could try drive wipe software which rewrite and overwrite the data by special algorithm so that it couldn't be recovered by any recovery software.

More information: http://www.drive-wipe.com

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Comment from Leo on 2008-06-01

2008-06-02T03:22:10Z

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There's a space between format and /c.

Leo

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Comment from Sharon Beckham on 2008-06-01

2008-06-01T22:23:01Z

tried "format/c" - the system cannot find the path speicified - now what

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Comment from semsols on 2008-05-15

2008-05-16T05:22:23Z

Know & learn more about wipping the Hard drive
http://www.eraseharddrivedata.com

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Comment from PK on 2008-05-14

2008-05-14T20:43:41Z

Please add WipeDrive you list. www.wipedrive.com

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Comment from Gordon Ashe on 2008-03-25

2008-03-26T06:12:55Z

It's easy to securely erase your hard drive. First, simply perform an erase on the entire drive (no need to really erase anything - just makes the allocation table identify everything as unused space) then copy other information that you don't care about onto the drive until it is full). And the simplest way to do this, is to copy very large files, I would recommend movie files (ATI, WMV, MPG etc etc) and you can even copy the same file many times provided you give it a different name, otherwise it will just keep overwriting the same disk space. If you are still paranoid, then do this

(1) do a full, low-level format
(2) fill the disk up with junk
(3) do another full, low-level format

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Comment from Leo A. Notenboom on 2008-02-10

2008-02-10T17:12:53Z

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Yes and no. But 99.99999% yes :-)

The "problem" is that seriously advanced, expensive and time
consuming techniques could, perhaps, recover data everywhere
there's not a hole in the disk platters. It's HIGHLY
UNLIKELY - more like the stuff of spy movies and bad TV
shows - but remotely possible.

For all practical purposes, though, drilling a few holes
works just great. :-)

Leo

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Comment from John Smith on 2008-02-07

2008-02-07T16:43:18Z

Drilling right through the disk will completely kill the entire drive correct?

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Comment from Leo A. Notenboom on 2008-02-04

2008-02-05T04:15:26Z

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Before you do the format do a "Dir C:" - the result will
start with something like this:

Volume in drive C is XXXXXX

where XXXXXX is replaced by the volume label for that drive.

Leo

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Comment from Bob on 2008-02-03

2008-02-03T18:59:08Z

I tried to run format c:/u and it's asking me for the volume label for drive c but I do not know what that is. How do I find it?

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Comment from Leo A. Notenboom on 2008-01-22

2008-01-23T01:54:34Z

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For the record, it's quite possible to reconstruct the
original picture even after you've "deleted" it the way you
describe. The actual data on the hard disk has not been
erased by your actions. It's not easy to recover, but to
someone dedicated enough to the task it might be.

Leo

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Comment from digo on 2008-01-22

2008-01-22T20:26:31Z

Here is what I do, to delete my Ex: nakedPic.jpg: Before deleting it, I look for an innocent picture like: tree.jpg and I rename it nakedPic.jpg.The system tell me that that name already exist and if I want to replace it. I click yes. Now, if I open nakedPic.jpg, I will see a tree instead of my wife's naked body. Now I delete it. If somebody recover this picture, all they see is a tree. No trace of other picture. You can replace an important doc,txt,jpg,mp3,... for a insignificant doc,txt,jpg,mp3,... save it and delete it after.

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Comment from Sean on 2008-01-15

2008-01-15T18:01:24Z

quote"what is about the DD command, "
if you're using dd, it'd be better to use urandom rather than null as you input file and do it a few of times

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Comment from Jorge on 2007-12-29

2007-12-29T22:16:09Z

Gina, the parameter missing is the drive letter.

Example: format c: /u

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Comment from Gina S. on 2007-12-27

2007-12-28T01:49:52Z

In MS DOS mode i typed in FORMAT/U and it says "required prameter missing-" what now?

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Comment from Greg D on 2007-12-20

2007-12-20T21:21:53Z

Empty your trash bin and the space will then show up on your pie chart. When you delete something, it doesn't free up your space until you empty the recycle bin.

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Comment from Gordon on 2007-10-24

2007-10-24T17:38:05Z

With regards to using magnets to erase your files. Even if you have a powerful degausser, if you want to give the drive away or have it usable afterwards, don't use a magnet. The manufacturer stores important data on the disk for the drive itself to function. Erasing that will render the drive unusable.

Also, it takes a strong magnetic field inside the drive to actually erase the data on the disk. Even magnets that you or I consider very strong typically don't project the magnetic field strongly enough far away from it's surface. And by far away, I mean about half an inch.

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Comment from schidtskatze on 2007-09-21

2007-09-21T11:35:56Z

what is about the DD command, so far as i know this is safe as well, isn't it ?

e.q.
dd if=/dev/null of=/dev/hda

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Comment from Thor West on 2007-09-13

2007-09-13T22:16:26Z

I read your comment about a large magnet not being effective at erasing a hard drive. I have one of those "lift an outboard motor" magnets. I was hoping it would erase a notebook drive I have to return to H.P. because it failed. Because it had failed I was unable to use a program to erase it. I obviously can't damage it because they want it back (or I pay for a new one - even though the in-warranty replacement they sent was apparently used (scratched). I have a lot of pesonnal info on it so I'll try the magnet anyway - and hope for the best.
Thank you,

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Comment from Dan on 2007-09-10

2007-09-11T05:49:21Z

Here's some advice on using geek squad if you're computer literate enough to be posting and reading comments on this web site. Don't. And as for their use of "clean rooms", most of their techs don't even bother with discharging electricity.

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Comment from Piyush on 2007-08-20

2007-08-21T04:53:17Z

for wiping your hard drive data... you can Stellar Wipe - An advanced safe data eraser.
Download the software from here

http://www.stellarinfo.com/file-eraser.htm

It's free for 30 days...

Give a try.. it is a wonderful software

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Comment from bearded_oneder on 2007-02-01

2007-02-01T19:32:28Z

DBAN (Darik's Boot and Nuke) is a free, easy to use tool, that performs hard drive wipes up to DoD (Department of Defense) specifications. It's similar to the technique used to destroy data on computers that store secret defense information. Just run the boot disk builder utility, stick the disk in the drive of the computer in question, reboot and follow the on screen instructions. You can download it here ... dban.sourceforge.net

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Comment from Leo A. Notenboom on 2007-01-02

2007-01-03T06:29:28Z

I believe those are roughly equivalent to the multiple-format option mentioned in the article.

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Comment from CM on 2007-01-02

2007-01-02T20:05:39Z

What about tools designed to permanently erase files from hard drive? There's no mention of them here.

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Comment from Leo Notenboom on 2006-12-21

2006-12-22T04:34:56Z

You have Windows running - windows has the volume in use.

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Comment from MP on 2006-12-21

2006-12-22T04:08:54Z

My request to format the hard drive is met with "Format cannot run because the volume is in use by another porcess" I have nothing else open or running. Any idea why I am getting this response?

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Comment from VICTOR on 2006-11-13

2006-11-14T02:57:59Z

I inadvertently formatted my hard drive with the system rescue disk. THE GEEK SQUAD assures me they can have all my photos and videos rescued by a level three retrieval.

A level 2 is $500, but a level three in a clean room is $1500. I this even possible, or am I getting ripped off?

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Comment from Hyipo Network on 2006-10-28

2006-10-29T06:20:41Z

I would recommend using a Overwriting software.

That's what Leo should have mention is Erase a hard drive using a Boot-Up Hard Drive Erasing Software (like Active Killdisk, etc etc.), erase it Guttmann method, then erase it with other methods, then when your done you erase with One Pass Zeros so it looks like you never erased, or written data.

Then after that Reformat, then install the Operating System (95,98,XP,2000,2003,Vista) not to mention you overwite when you reinstall your Operating System too.

Now you know how to erase everything without destroying the hard drive. I need to have a data erasing service. Maybe computer repair shops can have a erasing service and make some $$$.

Another way to destroy data from recovery is to put all data in a (Strong 128-Bit) or more encrypted container and reformat-it because you can recover files but never destroyed strong encrypted files from a deleted encrypted container. That's the reason why Strong Cryptology is Banned in certain countries.

Don't use magnets, don't destroy you Hard drive. It's not nessisary.

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Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
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Comment from Corey Gray on 2006-09-22

2006-09-22T08:06:19Z

format it several times, wipe it several times then , and then smash it

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A comment on: How should I erase my hard drive before I give it away?

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Comment from Bill Tkach on 2006-05-05

2006-05-05T22:57:38Z

IBM has a free (Anyone can download and use it) software program that you can download from their website called "IBM(R) Secure Data Disposal (SDD) Version 1.2.". It runs from a boot disk/CD, and a will wipe out your drive by copying, sectory by sector, track by track, random data onto the hard drive. It will overwrite everything that is there, as many times as you want. So there would be no chance of someone every reading what was on your disk drive.
Caveat - doesn't work with RAID systems very well, since it needs drivers to read them.

Bill Tkach
System Administrator

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A comment on: How should I erase my hard drive before I give it away?

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Comment from PWard on 2005-10-12

2005-10-12T14:12:22Z

Both 'DriveScrubber' and 'KillDisk' have functional demos for download- the file you download creates a bootable floppy disk that will overwrite the entire surface of whatever drive you choose-erasing data, partitions, etc. You would then have to create and format a new partition. It would take special hardware to retrieve any data after that. Takes about 2-1/2 minutes per GB on an average HD/machine.

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A comment on: How should I erase my hard drive before I give it away?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
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Comment from Paul Chapman on 2005-10-03

2005-10-04T05:55:13Z

I want to agree with leo it is all about how paranoid you are. If you know that you have something on there you shouldn't. Or are worried about someone finding it out. Then my advice is just get a 5 puond sledge hammer from home depot and beat the living crap out of it on the side walk. However if you just want to donate a computer. Get partition magic 8 and delete the partitions and recreate them, then use a 98 boot disc to format the drive and format it 5 times in a row. If anyone can recover your data after that, they worked hard enough for it I say let them have it. In all seriousness most people don't know how to access the data on their computer that wasn't erased. So don't freak out I am the lead PC Tech for a Circuit City located in Countryside,IL. You would be amazed at how little the average person knows. Data Retrieval is not even in there vocabulary. So format it or smash it if you are that worried, Otherwise you could leave everything on there and for the most part no one would find anything anyways.

Just my opinion, I could be wrong

Paul
PC Tech

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A comment on: How should I erase my hard drive before I give it away?

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Comment from Leo on 2005-09-17

2005-09-17T21:50:15Z

Yeah, a strong magnet won't. It's pretty amazing, really - I've seen some interesting examples on TV of things that you would expect to be demagnetized by a high powered magnet that just keep on working.

It depends on how paranoid you are about the old data. Putting the drive into a machine and simply performing an unconditional format would be enough for most. Otherwise, anything that you can do to destroy the disk physically (open the case, bend the platters, whatever) would be the near-ultimate.

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A comment on: How should I erase my hard drive before I give it away?

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Comment from k on 2005-09-17

2005-09-17T19:45:28Z

at the risk of looking like i didn't read the above comments (I did)...I gave away the desktop monitor years ago and kept my compaq hard drive out of fear of data security...it was purchased in '99 and has a very old Windows on it...there's no chance of buying or using any of the cleaning software - so are you saying the rumor of strong magnets won't work? I live in an apt, I'mnot about to be drilling into anything...HELP! Anyone know of companies that come take away and clean hard drives???someone once said tat HP had a day when people could drop off old machines but I've never seen it advertized. What can a paranoid do with an old drive lying around the apt that htey are dying to ditch???

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A comment on: How should I erase my hard drive before I give it away?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
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Comment from Leo on 2005-09-07

2005-09-08T04:34:22Z

That's what formating does ... it erases your disk.

You can try googling for "unformat", and you may find some tools that can help, but I would not be hopefull.

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A comment on: How should I erase my hard drive before I give it away?

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Comment from Ashish Tyagi on 2005-09-07

2005-09-07T15:36:20Z

I format hard disk by command (format c:/q/u/s)
after that i loss my data can you suggest me any process for recovery data

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A comment on: How should I erase my hard drive before I give it away?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
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Comment from Brent Anderson on 2005-08-22

2005-08-22T14:31:39Z

I've used the Web-deployable EraseYourHardDrive.com and found it to be an efficient and effective method of conducting a three-time disk overwrite and verification pass. The software automatically produces a Certificate of Data Erasure - guaranteeing success of hard drive erasure. I tried three off-the-shelf data recovery programs and could find no trace of data. I liked the fact that the software was Web-deployable so that I could erase the drive immediately and did not have to download an .exe file nor did I have to wait for a CD to arrive in the mail. Quick, convenient and obviously effective.

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A comment on: How should I erase my hard drive before I give it away?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
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Comment from Leo on 2005-07-09

2005-07-09T15:35:39Z

I think reformatting and reinstalling is a great way to start clean. Make sure to install anti-virus and anti-spyware software right away. A couple of articles that may help:
http://ask-leo.com/how_do_i_keep_my_computer_safe_on_the_internet.html
http://ask-leo.com/how_do_i_set_up_my_computer_simply.html

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A comment on: How should I erase my hard drive before I give it away?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
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Comment from Jonathan E on 2005-07-08

2005-07-08T23:51:01Z

My sister inlaw gave me her comp. but it has a virus on it that i cant get rid of. I was wondering if i could erase or reformat my hardrive to reinstall WindowsXP without the hard drive still having the virus on it. Im not to sure what kind of virus it is, but im pretty sure its some kind of spyware or adware.Your comments would greatly be appreciated

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A comment on: How should I erase my hard drive before I give it away?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
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Comment from Frank on 2005-05-05

2005-05-06T06:01:23Z

If you want to erase your hard disk, simply throw it into an incinerator. That way, theres no freakin way thanyone will ever get to your stuff.

oh yeah!!

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A comment on: How should I erase my hard drive before I give it away?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
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Comment from Jamie The Hutt on 2005-01-05

2005-01-05T13:16:58Z

Darik's Boot and Nuke is a free tool for doing just this.

http://dban.sourceforge.net/

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A comment on: How should I erase my hard drive before I give it away?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
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Comment from Leo on 2004-12-27

2004-12-28T01:51:42Z

Yes, there are various utilities out there that will do varying degrees of data "wiping" to help decrease the chances that the data can be recovered. And if an unconditional Format isn't enough for you, then they might be worth checking out. But remember that there are few guarantees ... they only decrease the probability of recovery, not neccessarily eliminate it. Format takes care of the 99% case ... the rest of you need to decide how much trouble you want to take.

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A comment on: How should I erase my hard drive before I give it away?

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Comment from EJ on 2004-12-27

2004-12-28T01:44:03Z

Maybe this would work:

http://eraseyourharddrive.com

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A comment on: How should I erase my hard drive before I give it away?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
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