Received a used HDD. How can I check if it's clean(empty)?

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
H

HeroponLuigi

Honorable
Nov 4, 2013
109
0
10,680
Hi everyone. So a long time ago I bought a pc from a friend. I just barely started learning about pc's and when I opened it up 2 weeks ago I saw that it had 2 HDD's, a 500GB and a 1TB. The 1TB wasn't even connected it was just sitting there. Well that computer doesnt work anymore so Icant use it. I just pulled out the 1TB HDD and plugged it in a very old sony viao. I went to control panel, switched to classic view, administrative tools, computer management, and disk management. Under Disk 0 is an HDD with a cut in the middle which says EISA. I believe this is windows xp that came for free with the sony vaio computer. Disk 1 has 931.51 healthy space. I believe this indicates the 1TB HDD works. Now what? How can I check if its completely 100% clean (free of absolutely any data)? Should I use dban on it. Also now that it's hooked up in the old computer is it part of the LocalDisk(C: )? Will stuff start getting saved on it?
 
Solution
RealBeast


Personally, I would be happy with just a clean, but if you are really concerned do a clean /all and that will be like right off the assembly line before any initialization or format.

Sort by date Sort by votes
RealBeast

RealBeast

Titan
Moderator
Sep 13, 2010
17,109
474
104,790
Just clean it to be sure -- open an elevated command prompt by using a right click run as admin on the command prompt box. Then use diskpart by typing:

diskpart
list disk
select disk n (where n is the 1TB)
clean

Then go to disk management, initialize as MBR and format in NTFS with a quick format. Now you have a clean empty drive.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
RaDiKaL_

RaDiKaL_

Splendid
Apr 17, 2006
3,702
1
26,960
If in the Disk Management the 1TB disk doesn't have a letter assigned then there's no way at all info gets into it.

Regardless if it has or not any information in it, just format it from disk management (right click on the disk->format).

If you however want to see it's content, you have to assign it a letter if it doesn't have it (right click on the disk->assign letter/change letter and unit's access route).

Then you should be able to see it from windows browser with its files if any.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
H

HeroponLuigi

Honorable
Nov 4, 2013
109
0
10,680


Is this the same as using DBAN? Cause I have a DBAN disc
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
H

HeroponLuigi

Honorable
Nov 4, 2013
109
0
10,680


I want to use this HDD in a new build. I want it as if it was brand new. Is DBAN my only option or will clean all achieve this? Also I know that HardDrives never really have what they're labeled as. This particular 1TB HDD has 931.51 memory. Is it safe to say that he probably DBAN'ed it prior to selling me the pc?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
RealBeast

RealBeast

Titan
Moderator
Sep 13, 2010
17,109
474
104,790


Personally, I would be happy with just a clean, but if you are really concerned do a clean /all and that will be like right off the assembly line before any initialization or format.

 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Solution
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom