giving computer away, how to wipe out data securely?

[spoon2001]

What's a good way, using Windows functions only, to securely wipe data off a
hard drive?

My friend is giving his computer away and doesn't want to use the utility I
recommeneded; he wants an easy way to do it with Windows.

I looked in Disk Management and the options for Format and Delete Partition
are grayed out.

 

[Jim Macklin]

Download SpyBot S&D, it has a built-in file shredder, you
delete and wipe the drive, except for the OS .
The way to wiper the drive completely id to run FDISK from a
W98 floppy and then run a shredder program from a floppy.


--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.


| What's a good way, using Windows functions only, to
securely wipe data off a
| hard drive?
|
| My friend is giving his computer away and doesn't want to
use the utility I
| recommeneded; he wants an easy way to do it with Windows.
|
| I looked in Disk Management and the options for Format and
Delete Partition
| are grayed out.
|
|

 

[Rock]

What's a good way, using Windows functions only, to securely wipe data off a
hard drive?

My friend is giving his computer away and doesn't want to use the utility I
recommeneded; he wants an easy way to do it with Windows.

I looked in Disk Management and the options for Format and Delete Partition
are grayed out.

There isn't a wipe facility inside windows other than a format. Have
him download a utillity from the drive manufacturer's web site to right
zero's to the drive.

 

[Michael Stevens]

What's a good way, using Windows functions only, to securely wipe
data off a hard drive?

My friend is giving his computer away and doesn't want to use the
utility I recommeneded; he wants an easy way to do it with Windows.

I looked in Disk Management and the options for Format and Delete
Partition are grayed out.

Click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into the address box
if using the web based newsgroup.
Format XP
http://michaelstevenstech.com/format_XP.htm
--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm

 

[Ron Martell]

What's a good way, using Windows functions only, to securely wipe data off a
hard drive?

My friend is giving his computer away and doesn't want to use the utility I
recommeneded; he wants an easy way to do it with Windows.

I looked in Disk Management and the options for Format and Delete Partition
are grayed out.

The only way to securely wipe data from a hard drive is to physically
shred the hard drive, and even then the CIA or others might be able to
reconstruct at least some of the data, given enough time and money.

However, a minimal level of security can be achieved by deleting the
files and then defragmenting the drive. Defragmenting resets the
directory entries, removing the data on deleted files that undelete
programs use to recover deleted files. But a fairly simple disk
sector scanning utility could still reconstruct parts, and probably
most, of the deleted files.

A higher level of security can be achieved by a file wiping utility.
I believe there are utilities that can be set to over-write all of the
unused (e.g. including those previously used by deleted files) sectors
of the drive while leaving the sectors still being used by files "as
is".

Good luck


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."

 

[Frank]

Get a large magnet and...

 

[Barry Watzman]

There is no way to do this within Windows. Although various Windows
utilities can delete and destroy a partition, none of them will wipe a
partition. You need a 3rd party utility (Norton can do it).

 

[Barry Watzman]

You really need to wipe the OS also, as the registry (and god only knows
what else) probably contains some account information and passwords.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

What's a good way, using Windows functions only, to
securely wipe data off a hard drive?

My friend is giving his computer away and doesn't want to
use the utility I recommeneded; he wants an easy way to
do it with Windows.

I looked in Disk Management and the options for Format
and Delete Partition are grayed out.

To protect your personal information and data from any future
users of average skills, you should, at the very least, format the
hard drive and reinstall only the OS and those applications whose
licenses you are selling along with the computer. If you wish to do a
more thorough job of protecting your personal data, WipeDrive 2.2.1
(http://www.accessdata.com/Product07_Overview.htm?ProductNum=07) meets
U.S. DoD standards for securely cleaning surplus unclassified hard
drives, and could be used before formatting and reinstalling the OS
and applications.

--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever
count on having both at once. - RAH

 

[Barry Watzman]

Actually, you probabably could not wipe the hard drive that way, with
anything that you could reasonably get your hands on (well, MAYBE if you
put it into a medical MRI machine ... and that's about the only thing
that might do it). People have no idea how strong a field it takes and
how difficult it is to create such a field from a distance of half-inch
(outside the hard drive).

Also, if you did that, you would destroy, not simply erase, the hard
drive. That's because in addition to wiping out data, you would destroy
the servo tracks, which would "toast" the drive (the servo tracks can
normally only be written at the factory).

 

[R. McCarty]

You wouldn't want to use a Degausser on a disk drive. The strong
magnetic fields would destroy the electronics on the controller. A
simple magnet would never generate enough field density to remove
data. It's best to download a DOD (Dept of Defense) rated tool &
run at a level of "Stop Software Recovery" level.
There is a higher level "Stop Hardware Recovery", but unless you
are subject to FBI/NSA scrutiny that level is too much and takes
a very long time to complete.

 

[Malke]

What's a good way, using Windows functions only, to securely wipe data
off a hard drive?

My friend is giving his computer away and doesn't want to use the
utility I recommeneded; he wants an easy way to do it with Windows.

I looked in Disk Management and the options for Format and Delete
Partition are grayed out.

He needs third-party software. Formatting will not securely erase all
data. Additionally, you cannot format the Windows partition from within
Windows!

Here is one:
http://www.killdisk.com/

There are others. I use Eraser.
http://www.heidi.ie/eraser/

Malke

 

[Frank]

Get a large magnet and....