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Wiping hard drive clean.

Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 12:38 am
by Senor_Grunt
So, I want to completely destroy and erase everything on my hard drive, but I don't know how. :oops: Can anyone help?

Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 3:57 am
by bcnipod
If you have no need of it again then try a high powered magnet or dropping it, but I am guessing you want it, so I would say that you should format it, then write blank data over it, then format it again.

Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 3:58 am
by Cryticfarm
Stick in your windows disk and reinstall your os.

Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 4:55 am
by willtheoct
that doesn't delete everything.

there is a tool for mac, i forgot what it's called, but it writes zeroes to all the sectors on the disk.

the reason he wants a wiped disk is so that someone won't find his files(usually this is when you're a criminal, but i'm not suggesting anything).

try this:
http://wipedrive.com

Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 5:00 am
by bcnipod
willtheoct wrote:that doesn't delete everything.

there is a tool for mac, i forgot what it's called, but it writes zeroes to all the sectors on the disk.

the reason he wants a wiped disk is so that someone won't find his files(usually this is when you're a criminal, but i'm not suggesting anything).

try this:
http://wipedrive.com
that is called Disk Utility, then select the drive and do a zero pass erase or something (I forget the name).

Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 5:51 am
by Xero
Party van outside your house?

Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 6:08 am
by OwnZ joO
I use this, it does better than writing just 0's, it does random stuff, and multiple passes over the disk drive. I would recommend formating your drive and then using the DOD algorithm from it if you really wanna be safe

Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 6:15 am
by Senor_Grunt
willtheoct wrote:the reason he wants a wiped disk is so that someone won't find his files(usually this is when you're a criminal, but i'm not suggesting anything).
Wrong! :P I just wanna wipe it clean so it can be ready for a new OS. But thanks. :wink:

Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 6:16 am
by bcnipod
OwnZ joO wrote:I use this, it does better than writing just 0's, it does random stuff, and multiple passes over the disk drive. I would recommend formating your drive and then using the DOD algorithm from it if you really wanna be safe
the Zero pass erase can write zeros onto the disk up to 35 times over, if you really need that sort of data protection.

Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 8:56 am
by mr_penguin
Is the drive you want to wipe the drive with your OS?

If not do this:

Right click on my computer, click "manage"

On left of the new window click "Disk Management"

Select the drive you want to format and right click, click "Format"

I would leave everything the way it is except make sure its set to NTFS File system unless its a very small drive, like under 20gigs. If its that small use the FAT32 if you want.

Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 11:38 am
by [cc]z@nd!
if it's just to put a new OS on there, the OS will offer a format option during install, and it'll be enough. if it's for security reasons, then you should try Darik's boot & nuke (DBAN). if you do overwrite the entire drive with something, the more passes, the more secure, but i wouldn't recommend anything over say 5 or 7 passes. 35 is just overkill, and a waste of time, but i guess if it makes you feel better to have an extra couple hours of writing to the drive, then do as you wish.

and, of course, if it's highly-sensitive information that you absolutely cannot risk having discovered (like a solid link between you and the JFK assassination, 9/11, and terabytes of child porn) and you don't mind turning a drive into a puddle of garbage, i would recommend powerful magnet, smashing, and thermite, in that order.

Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 11:47 am
by Senor_Grunt
Now where can I get that Thermite (Damned Osama left his 9/11 here.) :P

Ok, the OS I'm putting on is XUbuntu. So it should just have a format option. Sweet.

Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 12:37 pm
by bcnipod
Senor_Grunt wrote:Now where can I get that Thermite (Damned Osama left his 9/11 here.) :P
I agree.