Wiping a Damaged Drive

I had a drive issue with a new Buffalo external drive that failed after I used it for my Windows Easy Transfer. (FYI, there were bad sectors and I managed to retrieve my data with something called TestDisk, which is free and saved my #@$@.)

I now need to return the drive but I can format it (i.e., wipe it clean) because of the bad sectors. The drive shows up as E:, I just can't format it.

Can anyone provide a suggestion on how I can ensure the data gets off the drive?

Thanks.

 

You could try Darik's Boot And Nuke, but be careful not to wipe your primary OS disk!

 

Thanks! I'll give it a shot.

 

It didn't work for me. Is there some other way? I'm not worried about damaging the drive or data, just need to make sure it's wiped clean. Thanks.

 

Darn, I was suggesting a hammer but then read the OP.

How about: http://www-07.ibm.com/lenovoinfo/au/innovation/secure_data.html

 

That's a great idea! That is, if he didn't have to return the drive........

 

Yeah, I already corrected that one

A hammer is the best way except when you want to return it.

Probably a good reason to use something like Bitlocker on all drives from the start... then it doesn't matter if you return it as it's all encrypted.

Curious as to what DBAN does. This is another tool to try:

HDDGURU: HDD Wipe Tool

 

You're right on that one. Good way to blow off some steam.

I'm surprised that DBAN didn't work.

Here is a list of opensource ones: SourceForge.net: Software Search

I haven't used any of them, but they may be worth a try if you can't find other programs that work.

 

Or format the drive......

 

According to OP he is not able to format the drive:

 

Well, the problem with DBAN -- I didn't actually use it, I should have stressed "It's not the right tool for me" -- because from what I read in the manual it will obliterate any drive it can read. So, if I have the external drive attached to my t400, and I run DBAN, it will melt my laptop AND the external drive. Is this correct? Thanks for all the advice so far.

 

Yes it will.

You can take out your laptop drive though and make sure only your external drive is attached and then nuke it though.

 

Thanks ooxxoo 00 so to clarify, I'll remove my T400 HD and when I restart I'll only have the DBAN cd and the external drive attached, is this correct?

 

There should be a list of drives that you can choose to erase.

 

Yes that'd be the easiest way.

* Remove laptop drive.
* Remove any USB sticks etc.
* Have the external drive attached.
* Run DBAN.

You can just 'autonuke' since the drive you want wiped will be the only one there.

Just make sure nothing important is still plugged in! (Laptop hard drive, usb sticks, etc.)

 

Confessing my ignorance here, but in Windows 7 do I need to change the bios to boot from the CD (as the hard drive won't be in the lappy) or does it default to the CD on its own? I don't know if the BIOS is different in Windows 7 than it is in XP.

In addition, once I shut down after the job is done, then I reinstall the HD and it boots up normally? Or does it open to a BIOS window? I mean -- after using the nuker and shutting down, how do I access the bios again?

Sorry for all the questions, I just don't know much about the system behind the veil of the OS.

 

BIOS is OS independent, so you would still have to change the boot order around under startup when you change the OS.

 

For some reason it wouldn't boot from the CD -- it said it was having trouble finding a device. Any ideas what I might have done wrong? Am I a bad person?