My Dell laptop has run into some problems necessitating the need for a replacement hard drive (and a keyboard - not simple to avoid using a "double u" all the time). Though it might be nice for me to back up my data, of greater importance is to erase the hard drive since it's to be returned to Dell. I'd very much appreciate any suggestions out there as to the best method of accomplishing either or both of these activities. Thanks.
Saving data and then erasing a hard drive
- Thread starter LurkerDave
- Start date
One of the best is "Dank's Boot and Nuke" which is a linux utility you run from a CD. it is available online as an image file you can burn to disk using any decent CD burning utility.
you can download it at:
http://dban.sourceforge.net/
There's enough info there to make you feel at home with using it.
you can download it at:
http://dban.sourceforge.net/
There's enough info there to make you feel at home with using it.
Unless you are under criminal investigation, delete files, defragment, then reformat should be enough.
That won't be enough, files can still be retrieved. If you don't want to purchase a drive wipe program, at least download the drive diagnostics utility from your drive manufacturer's website, and choose the "write 0's" option. Do it a few times and you'll be ok.basketcase said:Unless you are under criminal investigation, delete files, defragment, then reformat should be enough.
If you delete all the files, there's nothing to defrag.basketcase said:...delete files, defragment, then reformat should be enough.
Thanks very much, Harry, Basket, LoveThem, Third, Mor. All of your comments are being considered. Ultimately, I'm sure I'll be able to delete the data in question. In regards to one issue I'm having, it isn't simple to avoid using a "double u" in all postings, surfing and other uses of my computer. I hope the soon to be received hard drive and keyboard'll resolve the various issues I'm experiencing using my laptop.
Just wondering.
What would you do if your hard drive fails and you can't do anything with it, while it is still under warranty and the PC maker says send it in and we will send you a new drive.
Is there any way to erase it if it won't run before returning it?
What would you do if your hard drive fails and you can't do anything with it, while it is still under warranty and the PC maker says send it in and we will send you a new drive.
Is there any way to erase it if it won't run before returning it?
I've tried this before with tapes and it doesn't seem to work very well. I was using some really big magnets to as well as those commercial magnetic erasers.rubmeister100 said:I'm not sure if it would work but I would think sliding a few big neodymium rare earth magnets around the case for a few minutes and then leaving them in place in a few spots for a hour or so in each place would pretty much fuck thinks up beyond all recognition...
I know of a company that does nothing but erasing hard drives, memoryflashcards, dlt-tapes etc. they use a 250,000gauss magnetizer machine and they're pretty damned good.
there prices arent bad and they issue certificates that guarentee that the media has been rendered "liability inert".
PM me for details.
good luck.
there prices arent bad and they issue certificates that guarentee that the media has been rendered "liability inert".
PM me for details.
good luck.
