Disposing of laptop: Wiping out hard drive (CD, bios, reboot) - Computers -PCs, laptops, hardware, software - City-Data Forum

titaniummd · 06-30-2008, 09:40 PM

What is the best way to wipe out a hard drive before getting rid of it? I also want to do that with a laptop. Any programs that work efficiently? Any freeware/shareware?

njguy · 06-30-2008, 10:14 PM

Yes - Download Darik's Boot and Nuke aka: DBAN

SourceForge.net: Files

I like the ISO version and then burn it onto a CD.

After that go into your computer BIOS and setup your CD optical drive to load first if it hasn't been done already and insert CD, then reboot.

Read up on the link as to the great features as the Department of Defense uses this to wipe their computer hard drives.

Good Luck

Nomander · 07-01-2008, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by titaniummd

What is the best way to wipe out a hard drive before getting rid of it? I also want to do that with a laptop. Any programs that work efficiently? Any freeware/shareware?

The best way? To be honest is destruction. Any methods used to sanitize a drive still contain a risk of retrieving the data.

Will other methods work? Sure, and in most cases will be sufficient, but if you are really worried about the data, destruction is the best means.

BagongBuhay · 07-01-2008, 01:35 PM

Hard boot works best!!!!

(broken link)

st33lcas3 · 07-01-2008, 01:41 PM

If you truly want to destroy it, nothing works better than a hammer. It will pulverize the platters in the drive.

If you want some real fun, I suggest .

Thermite

njguy · 07-01-2008, 07:00 PM

The OP was seeking a way to WIPE the hard drive NOT demolish it to and with the methods suggested after my first post.

BagongBuhay · 07-02-2008, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by njguy

The OP was seeking a way to WIPE the hard drive NOT demolish it to and with the methods suggested after my first post.

He said he was getting rid of it so why not demolish it?

Radek · 07-02-2008, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by st33lcas3

If you truly want to destroy it, nothing works better than a hammer. It will pulverize the platters in the drive.

If you want some real fun, I suggest .

Thermite

hehehee.

Thermite.

njguy · 07-02-2008, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bibit612

He said he was getting rid of it so why not demolish it?

Sooooo - You're feeling a little "destructive"?

BagongBuhay · 07-02-2008, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by njguy

Sooooo - You're feeling a little "destructive"?

No...I just don't trust anyone/anything with data that's on there!