How obliterate (format) c:drive?

[George]

I have a PC I'd like to sell, but want to make sure no residual of my data
is on the c:drive. (It happens to be an older Win98 PC, but unsure if that
matters). Will putting the CD in and typing this completely erase all?:

c:\format C:

Or is there something else that needs to be done. Someone mentioned a total
wipe application...is that necessary, is it shareware, is there a
*mainstream namebrand* out there?

Thanks,
George

(Note, I posted this earlier but came back today and all the responses are
gone, so will print them off faster this time, thanks for patience)

 

[Willie]

There are programs available to recover information from HDs, even after
they are formatted. If you are concerned about sensitive data, I suggest a
program I downloaded, and it's free...eraser. It can create a "Nuke" disk,
but the OS will have to be reinstalled. Another option, is to use the eraser
feature on an "Active" HD, and Delete information, if you can find it all.
Not sure of the thoroughness of the second option. The site is below. Good
Luck
http://www.heidi.ie/eraser/download.php

Willie

 

[Willie]

I said using "Eraser" on an active HD (Running), you could delete...I meant
to say to use the "Eraser" feature which is added to the Rt click menu when
you install this program...It gives you the option of choosing from 4 eraser
methods; Erase, 3 passes, 7 passes, and 35 passes (which is really secure,
but takes f o r e v e r...I find 7 passes is sufficient for most
cases, and the *average* person cannot recover information after a "7 Pass"
run...unless they have initials such as CIA, FBI, etc. (Not
etc...lol)...Good luck...

Willie

 

[George]

What I'd like to do is format the c-drive first, by using divakartandon's
method... create a startup disk, boot PC with the floppy, then at command
prompt type... a:> format c:
That's a good procedure anyway to clean up and re-install the Win98 OS,
before selling it.

But after the format... sounds like there's still data on the hard drive and
that's what I need ERASER for. However, there won't be an OS on the system
just after formatting the drive, just a c> prompt. Eraser is almost 3MB and
it looks like a Windows application. How can I install and/or use it to
scrub the hard drive, without an OS?

Thanks, will appreciate any suggestions,
George

 

[Guest]

I don't know if this would work, but it did on my wndows 95. I did what was called an unconditional format through DOS, and it was completely like a brand new, never been formatted brain. Unfortunately, I did not have the original DOS disks, but the upgraded version instead. I thought it was all but over, until one night, the solution came to me in my dreams. I had an even OLDER pc, and I was able to copy the files from DOS that I needed to a floppy, and from there, the rest is history.

 

[Willie]

For eraser "Nuke Disk, download eraser to any computer, and in the eraser
file of the Start>All Programs>Eraser, there is an option to "Create a Nuke
Boot disk" to floppy. Click on that, and create to floppy disk (Follow the
prompts)...That's all there is to it. Then, you boot the computer that you
want to erase the HD, to the "Nuke" floppy disk you created...Simple as
that...Good Luck.

Willie

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

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
--
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