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    What is the best software to do a permanent hard drive erase?

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by Sprite, Jul 19, 2008.

  1. Sprite

    Sprite Notebook Consultant

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    does anyone know the best software to do a permanent hard disk erase, like one that erases any empty spaces you have on your drive (so it cant be recovered). the reason is because i am about to take my computer in for service. thanks
     
    Sprite, Jul 19, 2008
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  2. redrazor11

    redrazor11 Formerly waterwizard11

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    I use Glary Utilities...A free cleaning and maintance utilitiy. Under modules, there is a File shredder...as well as a clean-space wipe. It works pretty well.
     
    redrazor11, Jul 19, 2008
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  3. David

    David NBR Random Reviewer NBR Reviewer

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    David, Jul 19, 2008
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  4. jin07

    jin07 Notebook Deity NBR Reviewer

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    jin07, Jul 19, 2008
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  5. Kenji

    Kenji Guest

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    +1

    dban ftw.
     
    Kenji, Jul 19, 2008
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  6. Bog

    Bog Losing it...

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    Active KillDisk.
     
    Bog, Jul 19, 2008
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  7. A#1

    A#1 Notebook Consultant

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    if it can be done...it can be undone...only tool i know of for sure would be an acetylene torch...melt-down
     
    A#1, Jul 19, 2008
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  8. Matthewrs_Rahl

    Matthewrs_Rahl Notebook Consultant

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    I agree with this recommendation. Regardless, if anyone REALLY wants to retrieve what you have, they can do it. It CANNOT be fully erased (e.g. some people say if you completely write over a hdd a few times it will remove any signs...this isn't true...but it sure does make it really difficult without an electron microscope or other similar device).
     
    Matthewrs_Rahl, Jul 20, 2008
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  9. Thomas

    Thomas McLovin

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    lol, DBAN deletes information at the machine code level, it really makes it like a new HDD.
    They would take years....if it COULD be done(slim chance).
     
    Thomas, Jul 20, 2008
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  10. Matthewrs_Rahl

    Matthewrs_Rahl Notebook Consultant

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    Ha-ha. That's why I said if they "REALLY" want to retrieve the info.
    I've read some stuff on recovering info from blown-up HDDs and stuff, so, yea. Anything short of something like that won't fully-work.
    I was just saying that pretty much any program (but, I liked the ones recommended before) are good enough for what most people need done.
     
    Matthewrs_Rahl, Jul 20, 2008
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  11. Andy

    Andy Notebook Prophet

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    Can DBAN be used for an external HDD..??
     
    Andy, Jul 20, 2008
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  12. bcrab

    bcrab Notebook Enthusiast

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    +1

    Works great for me!!
     
    bcrab, Jul 20, 2008
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  13. Relativity17

    Relativity17 Notebook Evangelist

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    If its just servicing techs, then there shouldn't be a huge problem with DBAN or any other simple write-over-data N times program. The tech is not going to send the drive off to a data recovery center and spend thousands of dollars to look through your personal files.

    Thought to keep in mind though; they did recover data from one of the Columbia hard drives. You'd think being partially melted and having fallen back to earth from a few miles up would have been enough to do one of those old disk drives in, but apparently not.
     
    Relativity17, Jul 20, 2008
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