Hello everyone, i posted a thread a few weeks ago about having backup files being able to be recovered. I was just trying to make sure that this laptop i factory reset didn't have any of my old files because i had sensitive data from work. Well I didn't back up anything when i was formatting my computer which is exactly what i wanted, however i ran a recovery program and a lot of my files came up after i scanned this program, is there any way to completely delete all of these? I mean a factory wipe was supposed to delete everything but i don't want people's tax information floating around after i give this laptop to somebody.
Reformatted Hard Drive
- Thread starter jaxst
- Start date
Solution
Dark Lord of Tech
Retired Moderator
- Aug 18, 2009
- 128,614
- 1,778
- 159,590
Dark Lord of Tech
Retired Moderator
- Aug 18, 2009
- 128,614
- 1,778
- 159,590
If you use dban you will need recovery discs or a copy of the os.
How to Use DBAN
Darik's Boot and Nuke (DBAN) is a self-contained boot disk that securely wipes the hard disks of most computers. DBAN automatically and completely deletes the contents of any hard disk that it can detect, which makes it an appropriate utility for bulk or emergency data destruction.
DBAN's website is http://www.dban.org/.
How to Use DBAN to Securely Erase a Hard Disk Drive
Turn on computer and boot from the DBAN CD.
The DBAN application opens. DBAN is a simple, text-only application.
You will see a boot: prompt and a menu of options.
Press the Enter key to start DBAN in interactive mode.
DBAN continues to boot. This will take a few moments.
You will see a screen listing Options, Statistics, and Disks and Partitions.
Leave the defaults for Options.
From the Disks and Partitions list, select the hard drive you want deleted.
Move the cursor up and down using the J and K keys, and select the drive with the Spacebar.
When the drive you want to erase is selected, press F10 to start the wipe.
The time required to wipe your drive will depend on the size of the drive. DBAN offers an estimate on the Statistics pane.
http://www.it.cornell.edu/security/depth/practices/dban.cfm
How to Use DBAN
Darik's Boot and Nuke (DBAN) is a self-contained boot disk that securely wipes the hard disks of most computers. DBAN automatically and completely deletes the contents of any hard disk that it can detect, which makes it an appropriate utility for bulk or emergency data destruction.
DBAN's website is http://www.dban.org/.
How to Use DBAN to Securely Erase a Hard Disk Drive
Turn on computer and boot from the DBAN CD.
The DBAN application opens. DBAN is a simple, text-only application.
You will see a boot: prompt and a menu of options.
Press the Enter key to start DBAN in interactive mode.
DBAN continues to boot. This will take a few moments.
You will see a screen listing Options, Statistics, and Disks and Partitions.
Leave the defaults for Options.
From the Disks and Partitions list, select the hard drive you want deleted.
Move the cursor up and down using the J and K keys, and select the drive with the Spacebar.
When the drive you want to erase is selected, press F10 to start the wipe.
The time required to wipe your drive will depend on the size of the drive. DBAN offers an estimate on the Statistics pane.
http://www.it.cornell.edu/security/depth/practices/dban.cfm
Hi
you did not say which version of Windows you are using
If you re install Vista or later from DVD and take option to do a FULL Format (eg quick format not ticked) of All Hard drives & partitions Windows should over write each sector destroying all data
However DBAN is the best option for ordinary users (only one pass is needed)
Recently I started a XP re-install with a Dell XP CD and was asked for the XP Key then found that the Dell PC originally came with Vista not XP. [So no XP key ]
Some data recovery software found me a old copy of the registry files which contained the encoded XP key which had previously been used.
So do not rely on XP Format to destroy data
regards
Mike Barnes
you did not say which version of Windows you are using
If you re install Vista or later from DVD and take option to do a FULL Format (eg quick format not ticked) of All Hard drives & partitions Windows should over write each sector destroying all data
However DBAN is the best option for ordinary users (only one pass is needed)
Recently I started a XP re-install with a Dell XP CD and was asked for the XP Key then found that the Dell PC originally came with Vista not XP. [So no XP key ]
Some data recovery software found me a old copy of the registry files which contained the encoded XP key which had previously been used.
So do not rely on XP Format to destroy data
regards
Mike Barnes
is there any other option, i was looking to delete these files by tonight and not reinstall windows completely because the software i installed was one time install only (the way student software is), is there just another way to delete them or would i have to reinstall windows again, and
@usaf, makes sense, thanks for the information
@mb, windows 7 64 bit home, i did what i thought was a full format, i mean it even said all data that is not backed up will be erased but i guess that isn't exactly true
@usaf, makes sense, thanks for the information
@mb, windows 7 64 bit home, i did what i thought was a full format, i mean it even said all data that is not backed up will be erased but i guess that isn't exactly true
- Mar 16, 2013
- 171,322
- 17,829
- 184,590
CCleaner has a Wipe Free Space option. Never used it, but it may work for this instance.
http://www.piriform.com/docs/ccleaner/using-ccleaner/wiping-free-disk-space
http://www.piriform.com/docs/ccleaner/using-ccleaner/wiping-free-disk-space
- Mar 16, 2013
- 171,322
- 17,829
- 184,590
There is also this set of commandline options:
How To Overwrite Free Space Securely in Windows
Also, SDelete from Sysinternals (described in the above link)
Again, I've never tried these, but...
How To Overwrite Free Space Securely in Windows
Also, SDelete from Sysinternals (described in the above link)
Again, I've never tried these, but...
Several programs may be needed to do the job properly
Look at ccleaner by Piriform for cleaning up registry & temporary files
Look at Eraser, tell it to erase all free space on hard drives (after recycle bin emptied)
then erase un-used tips of sectors
[OS writes to hard disk in 512 byte blocks but may not overwrite whole 512 bytes
(now days usually writes in 4096 byte blocks on modern Advanced Format hard disks)]
regards
Mike Barnes
Look at ccleaner by Piriform for cleaning up registry & temporary files
Look at Eraser, tell it to erase all free space on hard drives (after recycle bin emptied)
then erase un-used tips of sectors
[OS writes to hard disk in 512 byte blocks but may not overwrite whole 512 bytes
(now days usually writes in 4096 byte blocks on modern Advanced Format hard disks)]
regards
Mike Barnes
TRENDING THREADS
-
-
Question Can´t open BIOS because no keyboard input is received.
- Started by Blatscher
- Replies: 11
-
-
-
News US sanctions transform China into legacy chip production juggernaut — production jumped 40% in Q1 2024- Started by Admin
- Replies: 35
-
-
Question New pc build r9 7900x3d rtx 4080 super no post only ram rgb turns on- Started by Harvey Durward
- Replies: 4
Latest posts
-
-
Question RTX 2060 Zotac stops giving display output when pushed hard- Latest: Moru Zerinho6
-
-
-
-
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram