Hard drive clean up
- Thread starter raydeon
- Start date
As far as I know formating should erase everthing. Even if it does not, finding info would be next to imposible since windows no longer has any record of which sectors contains info.
Still if you want to be extra sure go to www.download.com
and use system mechanic.
I does not totaly erase the hard drive but does allow you to erase files by writing over them 5 to 7 time thus makining it imposible for that file to ever be recovered. This process complies with US government security deletion standards. I think you can use the program on a trial baisis for 30 days.
Still if you want to be extra sure go to www.download.com
and use system mechanic.
I does not totaly erase the hard drive but does allow you to erase files by writing over them 5 to 7 time thus makining it imposible for that file to ever be recovered. This process complies with US government security deletion standards. I think you can use the program on a trial baisis for 30 days.
http://www.jetico.com/
get the bcwipe program, it will allow you to erase everything completely, but will take a long time to do since it randomly encrypts the files before doing the DoD erase of the files.
get the bcwipe program, it will allow you to erase everything completely, but will take a long time to do since it randomly encrypts the files before doing the DoD erase of the files.
I would imagine that, no matter what you do, there will always be a way to recover the data if someone is willing to spend enough and has access to the necessary resources.
the only way to get rid of the data is to short out (or degauss) your drive, take a hammer to it and then burn the pieces. Of course, that's not much use.
Most of the programs you find do a combination of repeatedly overwriting and scrabling your data. The powers that be can recover the data with a lot of work but if you just are dealing with a spouse or boss, they work pretty well.
Of course as was said, hard drives are cheep (about a buck a gig) with some pretty high speed stuff available.
Most of the programs you find do a combination of repeatedly overwriting and scrabling your data. The powers that be can recover the data with a lot of work but if you just are dealing with a spouse or boss, they work pretty well.
Of course as was said, hard drives are cheep (about a buck a gig) with some pretty high speed stuff available.
strange1 said:
A buck a GIG thats too much............
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=007289&cid=HD.96
Linux
Well there is another inexpensive/ moneyless way to do it. I have done it so i is not money but time consuming in a way. I guess it depends on the speed of your computer.
I used Linux Mandrake now called Mandriva Linux ( not extensively, actually very little) .
http://www1.mandrivalinux.com/en/
So one time this hacker tells me to used it to format my HD, then he tells me to reformat it with my preferred OS. Problem solved. I formatted the whole hardrive and every partition.
Now you can save money since linux is free. You can get a copy from your local library from one of the books they have. Almost every book has copy of the OS in the back. Check it out and copy it. Then follow the book instructions to install. To remove you have to use the Windows OS. just like reinstalling windows.
Well there is another inexpensive/ moneyless way to do it. I have done it so i is not money but time consuming in a way. I guess it depends on the speed of your computer.
I used Linux Mandrake now called Mandriva Linux ( not extensively, actually very little) .
http://www1.mandrivalinux.com/en/
So one time this hacker tells me to used it to format my HD, then he tells me to reformat it with my preferred OS. Problem solved. I formatted the whole hardrive and every partition.
Now you can save money since linux is free. You can get a copy from your local library from one of the books they have. Almost every book has copy of the OS in the back. Check it out and copy it. Then follow the book instructions to install. To remove you have to use the Windows OS. just like reinstalling windows.
A Linux format is no more secure than a Windows format. The only way to be sure your data is gone is to do as 001 suggests and find a utility that does a secure erase overwriting every bit on the drive several times according to the DOD (U.S. Department of Defense) standard.
Well, it all depends on how well you want the data erased. From the sounds of it you are worried about the authorities?
If this is the case, and the fallout of having any data left on the drive is too great, destroy the drive.....is your freedom worth 200 bucks?
Anyhow, if you're just worried about your spouse or SO finding stuff on it, then just reformat it and don't ever let her get her hands on it.
The data recovery methods described here cost upwards of a grand. I know, I contacted some companies when a drive of mine crashed. They remove each disc inside the drive and copy it, and descramble it.
If this is the case, and the fallout of having any data left on the drive is too great, destroy the drive.....is your freedom worth 200 bucks?
Anyhow, if you're just worried about your spouse or SO finding stuff on it, then just reformat it and don't ever let her get her hands on it.
The data recovery methods described here cost upwards of a grand. I know, I contacted some companies when a drive of mine crashed. They remove each disc inside the drive and copy it, and descramble it.
Kewlies said:
Then simply delete them from your recycle bin after you've move them there.
Also use a program like cleansweep to look for orphan files, zero byte files etc.
