 How To Erase Your Hard Drive, Simple Guide |
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 Jan 15 2008, 09:54 AM
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 Forum Regular  Group: Members Posts: 262 Joined: 15-September 06 From: Cape Town Member No.: 85,385  |
I'm wanting to sell my old desktop, and have been advised that I should erase the hard drive before selling it. How do I go about doing this? I'm not too technically minded so can someone please give the "simple" guide..! Many thanks -------------------- XP Professional FIrefox 3 |
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Jan 15 2008, 10:19 AM
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#2
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Member Group: Members Posts: 46 Joined: 16-October 06 Member No.: 90,393 |
Hi. nat. You can try this program.
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Jan 15 2008, 10:20 AM
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#3
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 Distinguished Member Group: HJT Senior Classmen Posts: 712 Joined: 12-July 07 Member No.: 143,145 |
You can do an Fdisk but that really doesn't remove it. They say that the only way is to write zeroes to it a few times.
What I usually do is just toss the HD. The best method I have seen is to put it in a log splitter (seriously). At the cost of a new hard drive, I would replace it and then destroy it. The hard drive is just about the only thing that moves, besides the fans, so it has a limited lifespan. -------------------- |
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Jan 15 2008, 10:22 AM
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#4
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 Member Group: Members Posts: 21 Joined: 30-December 07 From: Rosendale, NY Member No.: 179,871 |
Here's what I use. I just boot to either a floppy or CD, and let 'er rip!
http://dban.sourceforge.net/ -------------------- "Understanding is a three-edged sword." -- President John Sheridan |
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 Jan 15 2008, 10:59 AM
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#5
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Forum Regular Group: Members Posts: 262 Joined: 15-September 06 From: Cape Town Member No.: 85,385 |
QUOTE(rigacci @ Jan 15 2008, 05:20 PM)  You can do an Fdisk but that really doesn't remove it. They say that the only way is to write zeroes to it a few times. What I usually do is just toss the HD. The best method I have seen is to put it in a log splitter (seriously). At the cost of a new hard drive, I would replace it and then destroy it. The hard drive is just about the only thing that moves, besides the fans, so it has a limited lifespan. My sentiments exactly !! Are you selling one by any chance!! ?? -------------------- XP Professional FIrefox 3 |
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Jan 15 2008, 11:06 AM
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#6
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Forum Regular Group: Members Posts: 262 Joined: 15-September 06 From: Cape Town Member No.: 85,385 |
Cheers all for your answers. I think I'd better clarify my question cos I didn't put it correctly. It's actually a work laptop which I must return, not sell. I thought that I could erase the hard drive but having read your answers, obviously I can't!!
Sorry for the confusion! -------------------- XP Professional FIrefox 3 |
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Jan 15 2008, 11:41 AM
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#7
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Forum Addict Group: BC Advisor Posts: 7,460 Joined: 3-September 05 From: Killeen, TX Member No.: 33,068 |
If it's a work laptop, chances are that they will clear the hard drive before re-issuing it. You might ask before eliminating the O/S, though.
A low-level format would probably accomplish what it appears that you want. All hard drive manufacturers have utilities for doing such, available at their respective websites. Louis |
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Jan 15 2008, 04:21 PM
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#8
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Distinguished Member Group: HJT Senior Classmen Posts: 712 Joined: 12-July 07 Member No.: 143,145 |
Sorry but no, I don't. I just bought a 120GB notebook drive for about $70 from New Egg. I imagine you could do with an 80 or 40. They are running about $50. You should then be able to reinstall the OS, in order to get it ready for sale. If it doesn't activate, call Microsoft and explain the Hard Drive was replaced. They will usually activate on the basis of either a hard drive replacement or a motherboard replacement.
Good luck. DR -------------------- |
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Jan 15 2008, 05:08 PM
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#9
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 Hardware Guru Group: BC Advisor Posts: 1,872 Joined: 25-January 07 From: Tiffin, Ohio Member No.: 108,353 |
Use Kill Disk the government trust it, I am sure you can too. It will erase EVERYTHING.
-------------------- ~Chad~ Biostar P4M900-M4, Celeron 2.7GHZ OCD 2.95, 2GB patriot DDR2 667 CL3, 60,20 GB IDE HDD,2 Dell 19" Flat Panel monitors, XFX 512mb OC'd Geforce 9500, Windows XP Professional SP2, SAS, MBAM, MCAFEE STINGER, Zonealarm, Linksys Router, and A Modded Palm TX HandHeld. |
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Jan 15 2008, 05:59 PM
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#10
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 SPAM Magnet Group: Site Admin Posts: 14,438 Joined: 6-May 04 From: SW Louisiana Member No.: 363 |
If you just want to eliminate your personal files, while leaving the Operating System intact, use Eraser.
Install Eraser. Delete all of your personal files. Set Eraser to make at least, 3 passes (5 would be better, if you have a lot of time to spare). Double-click My Computer. Right-click your harddrive, and select Erase unused space. This will make 3 passes, with 1's, and 0's, to the unused portions of the harddrive. -------------------- I love being married.
It's so great to find that one special person you want to annoy, for the rest of your life. |
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Jan 16 2008, 04:17 AM
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#11
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Forum Regular Group: Members Posts: 262 Joined: 15-September 06 From: Cape Town Member No.: 85,385 |
QUOTE(rigacci @ Jan 15 2008, 11:21 PM) Sorry but no, I don't. I just bought a 120GB notebook drive for about $70 from New Egg. I imagine you could do with an 80 or 40. They are running about $50. You should then be able to reinstall the OS, in order to get it ready for sale. If it doesn't activate, call Microsoft and explain the Hard Drive was replaced. They will usually activate on the basis of either a hard drive replacement or a motherboard replacement. Good luck. DR I was actually referring to the "Log Splitter""................!!!! 
-------------------- XP Professional FIrefox 3 |
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Jan 17 2008, 01:10 PM
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#12
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Forum Regular Group: Members Posts: 262 Joined: 15-September 06 From: Cape Town Member No.: 85,385 |
QUOTE(tg1911 @ Jan 16 2008, 12:59 AM) If you just want to eliminate your personal files, while leaving the Operating System intact, use Eraser. Hi TG911 - Thanks for the info for Eraser - great program - is there something similar for Linux ??? Cheers 
-------------------- XP Professional FIrefox 3 |
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Jan 17 2008, 01:39 PM
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#13
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 Computer Masochist Group: Moderator Posts: 10,660 Joined: 27-January 07 From: Cleveland, Ohio Member No.: 108,618 |
QUOTE(nat @ Jan 17 2008, 01:10 PM) QUOTE(tg1911 @ Jan 16 2008, 12:59 AM) If you just want to eliminate your personal files, while leaving the Operating System intact, use Eraser. Hi TG911 - Thanks for the info for Eraser - great program - is there something similar for Linux ??? Cheers http://sourceforge.net/projects/openeraser/ http://sourceforge.net/projects/expimenttk/ Mark -------------------- Mark
 why won't my laptop work? Having grandkids is God's way of giving you a 2nd chance because you were too busy working your butt off the 1st time around Avatar by Handplane |
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