Question: Cleaning a harddrive

Arch Enemy · 03-11-2008

Hi all,
Recently my harddrive started acting up, (clicking etc) anyway I've got a new one on the way but have to give this one to the courier so he can take it back. My question is - how can i wipe data? I've got bank details + order forums on this drive and don't like the idea that someone could get them. Was going to just reformatt until someone told me if you dig long enough they could get my details. All i want to do is make sure about 4 order forms have gone and my details are safe. Any help would be wonderful, cheers

PS. Was going to use Dariks Boot and Nuke, anyone had any experience with this??

DarkLord7854 · 03-11-2008

Just do a regular format, it's illegal for them to dig any info up. If they decide to repair it and resell it, it will be thoroughly erased and re-erased and zero'ed out. Just format it once, or twice, and it'll be fine

Arch Enemy · 03-11-2008

Alright. Cheers Dark

Zachary · 03-11-2008

If you're really worried about it, unformat and reformat it then install an OS, then unformat it again. If it's windows you install you needn't worry about activating it because you'll uninstall it right away. Doing this writes over the data that's still on the drive.

Arch Enemy · 03-11-2008

Originally Posted by Zachary

If you're really worried about it, unformat and reformat it then install an OS, then unformat it again. If it's windows you install you needn't worry about activating it because you'll uninstall it right away. Doing this writes over the data that's still on the drive.

Sounds like a lot of effort is involved with that. Also I only have the one serial key for Microsoft which I'm running on my working harddrive.

Anyway - Having trouble burning the Disk Nuke ISO to a CD-R, keep being told - 'Write error 8 Media Format Not Supported. The burning software I'm using at the minute doesn't seem to know it's an .ISO image although when I try to convert it, the software tells me that it's already an .ISO. Any help with this would be marvellous. Cheers

PS. I apologise if I shouldn't be asking this kind of thing in this forum but I don't want to take up space making a new thread.

Cobracon · 03-11-2008

You might want to check out these drive cleaners:

|MG| Active KillDisk 5.0 Build 5.599

|MG| Eraser 5.86a

DarkLord7854 · 03-11-2008

There's really no point.. A single format and that'll do it really.. When I shipped my drive off to Seagate for a replacement I didn't even bother wiping it, they automatically wipe it anyways

03-11-2008	#1
Arch Enemy Silver Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 128	Cleaning a harddrive Hi all, Recently my harddrive started acting up, (clicking etc) anyway I've got a new one on the way but have to give this one to the courier so he can take it back. My question is - how can i wipe data? I've got bank details + order forums on this drive and don't like the idea that someone could get them. Was going to just reformatt until someone told me if you dig long enough they could get my details. All i want to do is make sure about 4 order forms have gone and my details are safe. Any help would be wonderful, cheers PS. Was going to use Dariks Boot and Nuke, anyone had any experience with this?? Last edited by vger; 11-03-2009 at 01:38 AM.

03-11-2008	#2
DarkLord7854 Web Developer Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Palm Beach, FL Posts: 1,862 PC Experience: Of Epic Proportions	Re: Cleaning a harddrive Just do a regular format, it's illegal for them to dig any info up. If they decide to repair it and resell it, it will be thoroughly erased and re-erased and zero'ed out. Just format it once, or twice, and it'll be fine __________________ Custom WordPress, ZenCart, Joomla, vBulletin, etc installs and skinning, PM/E-Mail for a quote

03-11-2008	#3
Arch Enemy Silver Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 128	Re: Cleaning a harddrive Alright. Cheers Dark

03-11-2008	#4
Zachary Elite Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 953 PC Experience: Experienced	Re: Cleaning a harddrive If you're really worried about it, unformat and reformat it then install an OS, then unformat it again. If it's windows you install you needn't worry about activating it because you'll uninstall it right away. Doing this writes over the data that's still on the drive. __________________

03-11-2008	#5
Arch Enemy Silver Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 128	Re: Cleaning a harddrive Originally Posted by Zachary If you're really worried about it, unformat and reformat it then install an OS, then unformat it again. If it's windows you install you needn't worry about activating it because you'll uninstall it right away. Doing this writes over the data that's still on the drive. Sounds like a lot of effort is involved with that. Also I only have the one serial key for Microsoft which I'm running on my working harddrive. Anyway - Having trouble burning the Disk Nuke ISO to a CD-R, keep being told - 'Write error 8 Media Format Not Supported. The burning software I'm using at the minute doesn't seem to know it's an .ISO image although when I try to convert it, the software tells me that it's already an .ISO. Any help with this would be marvellous. Cheers PS. I apologise if I shouldn't be asking this kind of thing in this forum but I don't want to take up space making a new thread.

03-11-2008	#6
Cobracon Deceptively Clever CC&BW Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: North of Hurricane Bay & South of Tornado Alley "Stuck-in-the-Middle", MS. Posts: 1,465 PC Experience: D'OH!! *&^%$#@!	Re: Cleaning a harddrive *You might want to check out these drive cleaners:* \|MG\| Active KillDisk 5.0 Build 5.599 \|MG\| Eraser 5.86a __________________ "Have you scanned the RAM timings for Operator's Headspace?? Too much real estate between the audio collectors will block the connection which allows proper operation of your computer." *__Cobra* PCHF best helps those who best help themselves. *PC Guru you say.........? Are you suuuuure about that?*

03-11-2008	#7
DarkLord7854 Web Developer Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Palm Beach, FL Posts: 1,862 PC Experience: Of Epic Proportions	Re: Cleaning a harddrive There's really no point.. A single format and that'll do it really.. When I shipped my drive off to Seagate for a replacement I didn't even bother wiping it, they automatically wipe it anyways __________________ Custom WordPress, ZenCart, Joomla, vBulletin, etc installs and skinning, PM/E-Mail for a quote

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