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Windows 2000: How to Completely format hardrive?

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout' started by vwiggin, Nov 12, 2005.

  1. vwiggin

    vwiggin Member

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    I'm giving a old computer to someone and I was wondering what is a good way to cleanly format a hard drive in a way that will make data recovery impossible. (Yes I am that paranoid.)
     
    #1 vwiggin, Nov 12, 2005
  2. bobrek

    bobrek Politics belong in the D & D

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    By default the formatting ability through Windows does not completely remove all traces of files. You would need to buy a software package that does it.

    Here is the type of program that should do what you want:

    http://www.stompsoft.com/drivewasher.html
     
    #2 bobrek, Nov 12, 2005
  3. bejezuz

    bejezuz Member

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    I recommend this, Darik's Boot and Nuke. It is VERY thorough. It rewrites the bits on your harddrive a few dozen times, so it takes a while.

    http://dban.sourceforge.net/
     
    #3 bejezuz, Nov 12, 2005
  4. vwiggin

    vwiggin Member

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    Thanks guys, I'll give those programs a shot. My p*rn stash will forever be, a shameful secret. :D
     
    #4 vwiggin, Nov 12, 2005
  5. MartianMan

    MartianMan Member

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    don't want to share the p*rn eh?
     
    #5 MartianMan, Nov 12, 2005
  6. Miguel

    Miguel Member

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    Why not just buy a new HD for the computer? It would probably end up being cheaper than buying the software, unless you have multiple drives you want to wipe out.
     
    #6 Miguel, Nov 12, 2005
  7. vwiggin

    vwiggin Member

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    Well, my friend knows I have a old drive in there. If I bought a new one, it would look like I'm hiding something from her.

    And no, I'm not crazy about sharing p*rn with a girl. I'll never hear the end of it. :p
     
    #7 vwiggin, Nov 12, 2005
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