Help wiping an hard drive

[Scott Douglas]

A question for the computer guys: Will using the Windows 'Format' utility numerous times in a row on a hard drive effectively wipe the data?

My computer out in the garage went belly up so I'm getting rid of it. Took out the hard drives and used my Inland adapter via USB to download the important files. Now I'm formatting the drives to wipe the data clean. If I do this numerous (ie >4 times) times will it securely clean them?

Time isn't a problem as I've got plenty of it to do this.

Will this work as well as a utility that over writes numerous times?

Thanks for any help.

[widebody911]

No. Download a util like PDwipe

[masraum]

No. If you imagine a harddrive as being like a book with a table of contents. THe format utility basically leaves all of the text of the book alone and only screws with the table of contents.

If you really want to get rid of the data, you have to actually write new data over the old data. There are utilities that will do that.

Or you could beat the hard drive to a pulp with a hammer. That's always fun. If you destroy the plates, it would probably be adequate.

[aschen]

When I get rid of a computer I use the Dewalt app to get rid of the data, the 1/4" function applied a few times seems to do the trick

AES

[VincentVega]

Or you could beat the hard drive to a pulp with a hammer

Much more fun. A drill through it is also fun but a couple smacks with a hammer and its done.

[aschen]

if yall have smaller children, I make it a point to take apart items carfully with my son before discarding them. I m not enamered with our modern disposable society but you might as well make lemonaid out of the proverbial lemons.

We talk about what all the pieces and components do and how they were made.

[gtc]

If you're donating the computer to charity, do the next owner a service by completely filling the hard drive with tranny pr0n.

[Lapkritis]

Originally Posted by VincentVega

Much more fun. A drill through it is also fun but a couple smacks with a hammer and its done.

Came here to say this... would only add that you get a better shatter if you leave it in the freezer overnight.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by aschen

When I get rid of a computer I use the Dewalt app to get rid of the data, the 1/4" function applied a few times seems to do the trick

AES

This.

I generally take the cover off exposing the platters then hit them with a grinder along with a couple of applications of BFH.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by aschen

if yall have smaller children, I make it a point to take apart items carfully with my son before discarding them. I m not enamered with our modern disposable society but you might as well make lemonaid out of the proverbial lemons.

We talk about what all the pieces and components do and how they were made.

Platters make great coasters.

[flipper35]

We use them as targets. The .45-70 is my favorite as the high powered rifles just leave a clean hole.

[widebody911]

I take the magnets out, attach a little wrapper and handle made from duct tape, and use them for holding stuff where a normal clamp isn't practical

[Scott Douglas]

Thanks everyone.
I'm not into destroying good equipment and really wasn't going to donate the drives with the computer if they couldn't be cleansed without expending $ on them.
Guess I'll just put them back in and see if I can use one of the freebie util's out there to wipe 'em.

[T77911S]

just ask Hillary....or maybe not

[VincentVega]

I'm not into destroying good equipment and really wasn't going to donate the drives with the computer if they couldn't be cleansed without expending $ on them.

Its really a strange time with PC hardware. A few years ago we would have killed for the stuff we cant give away today. A new 40GB drive is ~$15 and you can find a working PC with decent spec's and OS PC ~$100. Crazy times.

[gr8fl4porsche]

I use DBan - Darik's Boot and Nuke

Darik's Boot And Nuke | Hard Drive Disk Wipe and Data Clearing

[WolfeMacleod]

[Bill Douglas]

Yes, I use the DeWalt app too.

I might try a .45 app next time.

Just for a laugh. A few years ago someone had dumped an old computer in my rubbish skip. I read the files on his hard disk then dumped the computer back on his front lawn.

[John Rogers]

The only way to make sure no one ever gets to your data, even with wiping programs or a magnetic device is to destroy it as already noted. I would suggest pulling the cover so you can get to the platter, remove it and break it up into 6 to 8 pieces and dispose separately. Even shooting it will not work well but is more fun.

One of the techs at disk doctor in the san diego area says that platters have multiple layers of magnetic material and software wipes one or two, magnets can get a couple more maybe.

[Scott Douglas]

I was thinking of passing these over them just to see what would happen.



Dad had these from his days at Bell Labs I believe.