How to clean up a hard drive?

6 thoughts on “How to clean up a hard drive?”

1. Albert W says:

   August 27, 2009 at 2:19 am

   Hi There,
   the only "sure way" is to remove the drive and destroy it.
   Drill a few holes through the drive then use a large hammer and smash it.
   The erase utilities may work for most purposes but in a lab the disk can be removed and some data can be recovered.
   I know that is an extreme measure but it’s the only sure way.
   Al

2. BStux says:

   August 27, 2009 at 2:19 am

   You need to Format the drive.
   1) If you can run that hard drive and another at the same time go to start>computer>drive name>right click>format.
   2) If not get a windows disk, put it in boot up and go through the install process until it formats the selected drive. Once formatted you can just hold down the power button until it turns off, no point in taking the time to fully install.
   3) if you don’t have a windows disc laying around go to ubuntu.com and get a desktop version, download the iso and burn it to CD/DVD. Boot up ubuntu and install on the step by step process you will be prompted on which disk to use, just select guided use all of sda0. then once it has formatted, again you can turn off unless you want to try out Linux.

3. trey anastasio says:

   August 27, 2009 at 2:19 am

   Forensics will always be able to find files left on a HDD as it is physically impossible to ever fully erase it, but reinstalling your operating system and formatting the partition will get rid of everything.

4. yad says:

   August 27, 2009 at 2:19 am

   dban will wipe everything but the HPA (factory restore sector)
   http://www.dban.org/about

   killdisk will wipe the HPA too
   http://www.killdisk.com/

5. David says:

   August 27, 2009 at 2:19 am

   reinstall your os

6. Brett P says:

   August 27, 2009 at 2:19 am

   Replace the hard drive. Keep the old one. I never let go of my old hard drives… If you really want to get rid of the evidence, have a friend sick it to a subwoofer magnet while the stereo is going full blast. Or my personal favorite: A little bit of thermite goes a long, long way.

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