Should I format my portable hd?

Superchop

Reputable
Jul 13, 2014
19
0
4,510
I'm planning to sell my portable hard disk and I was wondering if a simple delete of everything in it is enough? I want to make sure it works in the buyer's pc without problems.. So, deleting eveything is enough or should I do something else? If it helps it's a western digital elements of 500 gb, hooked by a usb cable only.

Thanks in advance.
 

Lee-m

Distinguished
Jan 27, 2009
866
0
19,210
It should work just fine no matter what. Just quick Format it if thats all you care about.

however, data can almost always be recovered from a mechanical harddrive no matter what you do to it with a data recovery program.

A full format will be good enough as long as you dont sell it to some one who will try and recover old data on it.

Otherwise the most you can do is use a data destruction or 'shredder' as they get called now.
A quick google throws up this page: http://pcsupport.about.com/od/toolsofthetrade/tp/free-data-destruction-software.htm

I dont have one to recommend. I dont ever sell my old hdds for this reason. I usually hit them with a hammer, take the magnet out and then throw them away :)
 

Superchop

Reputable
Jul 13, 2014
19
0
4,510


Well I never had any important data on my hard drive, so that's not a problem for me :) So yeah, I'll just quick format it via windows and then sell it.. is that enough?
 

Lee-m

Distinguished
Jan 27, 2009
866
0
19,210

Sure. Nothing to stop who ever you sell it to reformatting it as they see fit after if they are not using windows/ntfs.
 


Yes, it does, it's in my 2nd link .... it will wipe the "free space" on a HD, so you have to:

1. Run it from another PC in something like a BlacX HD caddy
2. Have it on a second drive using the Boot Drive to load the program