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    If I format my hard drive, can anything be recovered?

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by JWBlue, Jul 29, 2010.

  1. JWBlue

    JWBlue Notebook Deity

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    I am selling my computer and do not want any private information to be recovered.

    On one partition of my hard drive, there is a recovery program which will format the hard drive and reinstall Windows.

    Will this make all of any information unrecoverable?

    If not, I could use Secure Erase. Is it possible for Secure Erase to erase only one sector of the hard drive?
     
    JWBlue, Jul 29, 2010
    #1
  2. Syberia

    Syberia Notebook Deity

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    You should always zero out (or 1, or random data) the drive if you want to make sure nothing can ever be recovered from it.
     
    Syberia, Jul 29, 2010
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  3. KLF

    KLF NBR Super Modernator Super Moderator

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    I just recovered 44GB worth of pictures and music for my customer who "accidentally" pressed the system recovery button and didn't really know what to do, eventually did full system reinstall that way :)

    Some of the files were broken, others were succesfully recovered.

    Lesson is just formatting the drive is not enough if you don't have your files to be recovered. Darik's Boot and Nuke ( Darik's Boot And Nuke | Hard Drive Disk Wipe and Data Clearing ) is a good freeware tool to secure your data.

    Second option involves a hammer.
     
    KLF, Jul 29, 2010
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  4. newsposter

    newsposter Notebook Virtuoso

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    This question has been asked and answered as infinitum since PCs started out in what, 1980?

    The only way to be sure no data is recovered from a hard drive is to physically destroy it. With Fire.

    As a fall-back (heh), you need to use a utility, preferably a bootable self-contained utility (clonezilla, gpartd, etc, etc), to write alternating 00 and FF patterns to the hard drive.
     
    newsposter, Jul 29, 2010
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  5. KLF

    KLF NBR Super Modernator Super Moderator

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    No fire: there's a chance that platters stay intact and they can be transferred to another hdd. Instead hammer it so the platters inside shatter.
     
    KLF, Jul 29, 2010
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  6. newsposter

    newsposter Notebook Virtuoso

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    homemade thermite (ingredients available at most hardware stores) is easy and fun for the whole family!
     
    newsposter, Jul 30, 2010
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  7. swarmer

    swarmer beep beep

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    Why not do both?
     
    swarmer, Jul 30, 2010
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  8. Convoluted

    Convoluted Notebook Evangelist

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    I second DBAN, great way to securely wipe a hard drive. Or just sell that laptop without a hard drive (but provide the recovery media), no point incurring extra costs.
     
    Convoluted, Jul 30, 2010
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  9. Syberia

    Syberia Notebook Deity

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    Microwave would work, if you don't mind destroying the appliance as well
     
    Syberia, Jul 30, 2010
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  10. newsposter

    newsposter Notebook Virtuoso

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    thermite my friend...... Microwaves are so 1980s......
     
    newsposter, Jul 31, 2010
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  11. beige

    beige Notebook Deity

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    cheap/easy way , format your hardrive then fill it with a large file like a big movie , by copying it and pasting it, then reformat the drive again , if someone can recover data after this drill then i think its the CIA :D
     
    beige, Jul 31, 2010
    #11