What is the proper way to wipe my hard drive completely clean?I have windows XP?

8 thoughts on “What is the proper way to wipe my hard drive completely clean?I have windows XP?”

1. blsruthi says:

   August 22, 2009 at 2:09 am

   I can give you a link that deals with hard drive problems.
   Some hard drive problems can be easily fixed yourself by using easily available tools. I found the info at http://fixit.in useful

2. troydowning says:

   August 22, 2009 at 2:09 am

   Do you have the software to re-install windows XP and all of your applications?

   How big is your hard drive?

   The first step would be to fdisk.
   Then use a boot disk to re-initialize the hard drive.
   Then use a commercial program to re-partition/re-format the hard drive.
   Then re-install your OS (Windows XP)
   Then re-install all of your applications.

   Are you talking about possible law-enforcement involvement here?

   Computer forensics is a fairly new law enforcement science.
   But it has come a long way in a short time.

   It is very hard to wipe a drive so that absolutely no data can be retrieved. I’ve never really tried this.

   I guess a delete/re-initialize/re-partition/re-format/re-install about 10 times would work, but ONLY if you completely fill the disk with data each time.
   This would take a lot of time. Especially on a large disk.

3. Robert says:

   August 22, 2009 at 2:09 am

   take a heavy sledge hammer to your hard drive — a few good whack should have it opened up and the guts flying out. Then your home free.

4. Jorge says:

   August 22, 2009 at 2:09 am

   Put a magnet on it. The data will be erased but the drive could be destroyed.Or just use a windows 98 boot disk and erase the partition windows is on.

5. Douglas G says:

   August 22, 2009 at 2:09 am

   you need to buy a wipe program or just destory the drive if the program is worth more than the drive you can still recover stuff from formated drives you need a wipe program it writes 1 then 0 over and over till there is no recoverable items on the drive

6. Rizwan Y says:

   August 22, 2009 at 2:09 am

   there can be number of ways doing this first can be take the backup of all your data in another harddisk or CD/DVD then format all the partitions and install the windows from a CD.

   other way if you do not have any mechanism to take a backup, just put all you in one of your partition D or E, then format windows directory partition also remove "Program files" and "Documents and Settings" folder in any other partition. then run the windows from CD

7. Dead Kelly says:

   August 22, 2009 at 2:09 am

   if you have a floppy disk …. create a "boot" disc preferably from an older 98 build and when it boots ….
   type FDISK and delete any and all partitions … the command will be "delete all non DOS partitions" when it has done that … Format C:
   You will completely wipe your hard-drive

8. LOW says:

   August 22, 2009 at 2:09 am

   Disconnect from Internet.
   Start install with Windows Install CD. During install, delete all partitions, and create two partitions. Complete installation.
   reinstall motherboard drivers & utilities. Install all other software and hardware drivers. Install firewall and anti virus.
   Reconnect to internet, go to http://www.microsoft.com, Update.
   Let that WEB site update you computer with all patches and security updates.

   Check all of your hardware WEB sites for new driver updates.
   BACK UP C: drive to DVD or CD. You want a drive image.

   Computer Help Page

   http://www.diskgenius.com/

   http://www.pcbeginner.com/tools/pcdoctor.htm

   http://www.pcguide.com/byop/index.htm

   http://www.ntfs.com/boot-disk.htm

   http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/Boot-Manager-Disk/

   http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/Best/ntfs-boot-iso.html

   http://www.disk-image.net/products.htm

   http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm

   http://www.errornuker.com/info/01.php?hop=product1

   http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder

   http://www.majorgeeks.com/downloads2.html

   http://www.ntcompatible.com/Acronis_True_Image_9.0_Build_2337_s61449.html

   http://www.theosfiles.com/

   http://www.data-recovery-reviews.com/windows-startup-disasterrecovery.htm?gclid=CMSl0b7X2YcCFSJxYAodKy6Lpw

   http://www.winternals.com/

   http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file/fid,25181-order,1-page,1-c,alldownloads/description.html

   http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/Boot-Manager-Disk/Windows-XP-PowerPacker.shtml

   http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,674406,00.asp

   http://windows.about.com/od/tipsarchive/l/bltip632.htm
   Visit our Helpdesk for PC Bug Doctor
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