Desktop

Ask something
Discussion Locked

HDD Format

0 helpful
15 replies

by brian.butler

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.

I have a number of old PC's which I am looking to dispose of. Does anyone know of a decent (preferably freeware/shareware) HDD formating utility which will completely erase IDE hard disks.
Many thanks

15 replies

by briantruitt

Try Autoclave. Do a search on Google for autoclave and download it from the guy's site at the University of Washington. It's basically a Linux boot disk with a format utility on it with 5 different levels of erasing.

by thechas

Just a side comment, if any of the data on the drives is something that someone would be willing to spend a lot of money to recover, you are better off destroying the drives.

If it is just personal files and information, the erasure programs should do all that you need.

Chas

by comodynes

The only way to 100% 'erase' any and all content stored on a Hard Drive is to physically destroy it ... period. It doesn't matter how many times it has been you have formatted the drive/partition (even deleted the partitions including the MBR), there is always recoverable data on a Hard Disk. Governmental/Law Enforcement Agencies (even you) can recover data with tools such as: WinHex, etc .. or an app that is pretty noteworthy in the data recovery industry (example: EnCase Evidence Discovery Software) ... so, basically if you are going to dispose of the PC and don't want anyone to ever be able to recover any of it ... physically destroy it.

by f-baer

low level format like maxtor llf or ibm drive fitness test may a good way..

by paw_blue

Quite seriously if the data ont he sdiscs is highly personal or worth a value then format the disc a minimum 10 times. with a full dos format. The recommended number by the NSA is 6 i do believe however I always do my disks 10 times before sending/selling to anyone. you will find that another ood method of removing the data permanantly is to fill the disk after each format with useless data.. If this is too much simply do the formatting ;) I hope this helps

This discussion is closed to new replies.