Recommendations for HDD-cleaning program

[Guest]

I was sure I saw a topic like this a while ago, but now I can't seem to find it. My apologies if this is a repeat.

Anyways, I'm giving my old computer away, and would like to wipe its hard drive clean first. Does anyone have any favorite delete-and-overwrite software? Free would be best, and if possible I'd like to leave windows on there.

Thanks

 

[CompTIA_Rep]

I dont know of any program that will wipe all data BUT Windows.
Also, what level of cleaning are you wanting? If you want basic, then Format c: from DOS works.

 

[PCcashCow]

I was sure I saw a topic like this a while ago, but now I can't seem to find it. My apologies if this is a repeat.

Anyways, I'm giving my old computer away, and would like to wipe its hard drive clean first. Does anyone have any favorite delete-and-overwrite software? Free would be best, and if possible I'd like to leave windows on there.

Thanks

You want to wipe the drive? But leave windows? Stellar Wipe is of them that come ups, its a free demo, but don't know the limitations. However unless you zerfill the clean there will always be a way to get to deleted data.

 

[CompTIA_Rep]

I dont see anywhere that Stellar Wipe will delete everything but the OS. I find this very hard to believe. Your best deal is to reinstall windows (what os is it?). If your worried about people snooping and using programs like Norton Undelete, then you need something else.

 

[Gunlance]

Can't you just reload the base OS after the clean? That would get it the cleanest. I use darik's boot and nuke. Its free off of sourceforge. Unfortuneately it wipes the entire disk clean.

 

[burn-e86]

ah trying to get rid of the porn?
well you can never truly clean it if you sont fully format it, though i think that geeks are sexy had an article on this
http://geeksaresexy.blogspot.com/

 

[Guest]

Thanks everyone for the fast replies. The only reason for the keeping Windows thing (it's XP, by the way) was because it came without a Windows disk. Not a big deal though.
I'm not terribly worried about it, just wanted to have an extra level of cleaning over reformatting. I'll try boot and nuke out.

Thanks!

 

[GeeksAreSexy]

Burn: Nah, I don't have one, but this is a great idea for a post.. I'll write a small blog entry about this when I get back from vacation . Thanks for linking to [GAS]!

DrTeapot: There's a few good utilities out there to wipe your HD clean securely. Just go and Download the ultimate boot cd, there's a couple of them on there.

AutoClave (Discontinued) 0.3
Active@ KillDisk Free Edition 3.1
Darik's Boot and Nuke 1.0.6
PC INSPECTOR e-maxx

Get it from here: http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

 

[PCcashCow]

I dont see anywhere that Stellar Wipe will delete everything but the OS. I find this very hard to believe. Your best deal is to reinstall windows (what os is it?). If your worried about people snooping and using programs like Norton Undelete, then you need something else.

Do you see with your eyes? Because that usually works better than your mouth. Best deal would be getting a program that he wants, rather than taking the dump and run option. Check some torrents, I've seen the product there with keygens. Good luck.

 

[blunc]

Since you want to keep operating system functional, I suggest:

1: deleting/uninstalling everything you don't want on the computer

2: defrag the hard drive

3: reboot, then copy a very large garbage file of your choosing to the hard drive enough times to fill up to 90% of the drive, this action will be similar to writing zeros to the drive.

4: delete the garbage files and give it away.

Note that there may still be registry entries for previous files used on the computer even after you've deleted the files.

 

[CompTIA_Rep]

I dont see anywhere that Stellar Wipe will delete everything but the OS. I find this very hard to believe.

What is your deal? And why are you suggesting stealing programs off the internet for him to use?

And for a program to remove all programs, all personal data including the profile hes currently logged into, all user created folders in the root, clean the registry of stuff like passwords, log-in info, AND preserve any selective windows updates,... just doesnt seem reasonable. If you want to make sure you remove stuff for good reformat. If you dont care about snooping, just delete the files, or beter yet, delete them with a Secure deleting program.

 

[burn-e86]

to geeksaresexy; glad i could help, you've gone the other way so i thought you might have gone this way!

2: defrag the hard drive

isnt that gonna make recovering the data easier?
i thought you would want to fragment it as much as possible before rewiting as many blocks as possible many times before defragmenting.
It would be a bitch on the drive though, and would prob. cause the Hdd's lifespan to drop a few points

 

[badge]

[Do you see with your eyes? Because that usually works better than your mouth.

How much? 8O

 

[GeeksAreSexy]

Since burn-e86 tought that we had a post about data wiping on [GAS], and back then we didn't, I decided to write a small article about this subject.

Disk Wiping Utilities: How to Get Rid of Your Data Permanently

Only wrote it 2 days ago, and it ended up on reddit's front page and in the popular section of del.icio.us.

 

[roncpem]

wipe drive 3.0 works for me. it can be set to over write from 1 to 12 times. off course, you will have to reinstall the OS & drivers. but since your getting rid of it, who cares?

 

[dthomason119]

You can gather all the information you want deleted off the HD into one centralized location and use a program called "eraser" which will write over the data several times with 1's & 0's. Or you can use ultrasentry, that's what DOD uses.

 

[lcdguy]

If you want to "Wipe" not just reformat the drive then you need something of the likes that have already been mentioned. The one i personally love but can't use at home is called DSX it's awesome but alas can only be used in the federal government.

Also wether you do a zero fill wipe or just delete the partition you could technically still recover data if you had the budget. But if you really want to wipe the drive (and be real mean about it) you could get the drive degaussed.

But i personally think thats a little overkill in this situation.

Just use a wipe tool mentioned here already or format c / delete partition.

 

[dougie_boy]

trying to hide ur kiddy porn hu...

 

[Arctucas]

Read this:
http://www.cs.auckland.ac.nz/~pgut001/pubs/secure_del.html