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Formatting a HDD


Emz

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Is there any software available for formatting a HDD permanently?

 

I've got 2 hdd's which I'm thinking of selling to a mate, but I don't want to format them for him to run some recover software to extract all my private data :rolleyes:

- Emz

 

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if your that worried he shouldn't be your mate ;)

to make it far harder to recover info ,format then copy the contents of as many dvd's that it takes to fill the disk completely then format again then repeat by the end if he manages to get anything it will only be rubbish.still not 100 % but will need very powerfull software to make any sense of what he retreives and that isnt cheap.

as you know a simple format only destroys the "index" part of the disk everthing is left as it was and is easily recoverable ,rewriting a few times makes sure any bits recoverable are fragmented goobly gook

Edited by chesters1

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Some drive mfg's have utilities available to put data (00) onto every byte of the drive so making it nearly impossible for an 'unformat' tool to get any data back.

WD have a tool called data lifeguard:

http://wdc.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/wdc.cfg/ph...amp;p_topview=1

 

(the fuzz and spooks can still lift data by looking 'under' the new data to the old data! - a bit like a video tape has a smidge of the last program recorded under the next program).

But those mega tools cost loads and you need a special HDD so no snooping chum will get at it.

I got data off a 'reformated' hdd last week for a pal who had half run a recovery CD, quite amazing how much Stellar got back - including years of internet temporary files of a dodgy nature! - I deleted all that before giving it back to his Mrs, formated correctly and with the more usefull recovered files put somewhere for them to peruse.

Send it to me, I will clean it for you and make sure there's no 'iffy' pictures left.... ;)

Jealousy: totally irrational anger directed at people who happen to be richer, prettier, thinner, cleverer and more successful than you are.
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Some drive mfg's have utilities available to put data (00) onto every byte of the drive so making it nearly impossible for an 'unformat' tool to get any data back.

WD have a tool called data lifeguard:

http://wdc.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/wdc.cfg/ph...amp;p_topview=1

 

(the fuzz and spooks can still lift data by looking 'under' the new data to the old data! - a bit like a video tape has a smidge of the last program recorded under the next program).

But those mega tools cost loads and you need a special HDD so no snooping chum will get at it.

I got data off a 'reformated' hdd last week for a pal who had half run a recovery CD, quite amazing how much Stellar got back - including years of internet temporary files of a dodgy nature! - I deleted all that before giving it back to his Mrs, formated correctly and with the more usefull recovered files put somewhere for them to peruse.

Send it to me, I will clean it for you and make sure there's no 'iffy' pictures left.... ;)

 

There's nowt like that on it!! :D : :sun: Just some, some business documents.

 

Will look into that software, seems secure enough for what I want :):) Cheers :thumbs:

- Emz

 

Find out who you live by - www.frappr.com/anfriendsmap

 

Check out Crystal's New Website! :)

Don't forget to sign her guestbook :D

 

 

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http://www.sysinternals.com/SecurityUtilities.html and get the free SDelete utility. You can set it to do as many secure deletion (they explain the process) passes as you wish and if you opt for 10, the data is so gone that even the fancy recovery apps the govermental security folks use won't have much luck getting it back while normal folk have no chance at all.
" My choices in life were either to be a piano player in a whore house or a politician. And to tell the truth, there's hardly any difference!" - Harry Truman, 33rd US President

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http://www.sysinternals.com/SecurityUtilities.html and get the free SDelete utility. You can set it to do as many secure deletion (they explain the process) passes as you wish and if you opt for 10, the data is so gone that even the fancy recovery apps the govermental security folks use won't have much luck getting it back while normal folk have no chance at all.

 

Nice One!!!! :thumbs::thumbs::thumbs:

- Emz

 

Find out who you live by - www.frappr.com/anfriendsmap

 

Check out Crystal's New Website! :)

Don't forget to sign her guestbook :D

 

 

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be VERY carefull you use these tools on the right HDD!!!!

C: & D: look very similar at times!!!

Jealousy: totally irrational anger directed at people who happen to be richer, prettier, thinner, cleverer and more successful than you are.
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be VERY carefull you use these tools on the right HDD!!!!

C: & D: look very similar at times!!!

 

Ohh i've made this mistake before :D:D:D I actually unplug the spare hdd now, just to be on the safe side!! :lol::thumbs:

- Emz

 

Find out who you live by - www.frappr.com/anfriendsmap

 

Check out Crystal's New Website! :)

Don't forget to sign her guestbook :D

 

 

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Some PC come with built in bios features that will perform a low level format

 

Low level formatting takes the HDD back to factory settings, but be warned low level formating can take 24hrs on todays 200gig HDD`s

If you can lie on the floor without holding on, then you’re not drunk.

 

I Can Only Please One Person A Day, Today Isn't Your Day, Tomorrow Isn't Looking Good Either.

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Some PC come with built in bios features that will perform a low level format

 

Low level formatting takes the HDD back to factory settings, but be warned low level formating can take 24hrs on todays 200gig HDD`s

Do NOT attemt to 'low level format' an IDE drive. You cannot really low level format an IDE drive anyway, only MFM and some older SCSI drives can be 'low level formatted'. Also do not attemt to zero fill a drive by using another manufacturesrs zero fill utility as you may permanently damage the device. Newt's post is probably the best idea. Long live Mark Russinovich and David Solomon.

Edited by corydoras

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