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    Wipe external Harddrive

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by nicolaibaun, Feb 20, 2011.

  1. nicolaibaun

    nicolaibaun Notebook Consultant

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    Hello i hope you guys can help me with my little situation :)

    A few days ago my external harddrive stopped working. i could see all my files, but i couldn't copy from or to the drive. i got a warranty on it so im planning on sending it in for repair. but what can i do to erase my files so they can't get recovered. i got a lot of files on it that are secret, and i don't want them to be recovered.
    do you have any suggestions?
    thanks in advance
     
    nicolaibaun, Feb 20, 2011
    #1
  2. michael_recycled

    michael_recycled Notebook Deity

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    Hi,

    so you can't read or write to that HDD, but you can see the files? Strange.
    Have you already tried the drive with another computer?

    You may check if the HDD diagnostic tools of the drive's manufacturers help. also give Windows Disc Management a shoot.
    The "dd" command from a Linux Live disc is also worth trying.

    Otherwise, if the data on your HDD is confidential, then forget your warranty claim and destroy the HDD with a big hammer, dynamite or whatever weapons are available.

    Michael
     
    michael_recycled, Feb 20, 2011
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  3. chimpanzee

    chimpanzee Notebook Virtuoso

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    can see the files by cannot read/write sounds like the directory structure is intact but the data is screwed ?

    I agree with michael that the description sounds strange so it may be better to give more detail of the exact meaning of can see and cannot read/write.
     
    chimpanzee, Feb 20, 2011
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  4. Jack

    Jack Guest

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    This sounds random, but is there a lock switch on it anywhere? To be able to see, but not even copy? Hm.....
     
    Jack, Feb 20, 2011
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  5. nicolaibaun

    nicolaibaun Notebook Consultant

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    i cannot go to sub-directories, copy or paste files, so maybe the disk is destroyed and my data is unreadable anyway? or what do you think? the data is not that secret it's just a lot of my personal stuff i don't want any others to see.

    and no there is no lockswitch..
    i have tried windows disc diagnostic, but it won't even start as if the drive is unreadable.. myabe i should just format the drive and send it in for repair?
     
    nicolaibaun, Feb 20, 2011
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  6. anseio

    anseio All ways are my ways.

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    What about the SMART information for the drive? There are plenty of tools that will give you the SMART status. HDTune is one.
     
    anseio, Feb 20, 2011
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  7. nicolaibaun

    nicolaibaun Notebook Consultant

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    i can't test that right now as i gave it to my uncle to see if he could save my files, but he says that it's not possible..
     
    nicolaibaun, Feb 21, 2011
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  8. Jack

    Jack Guest

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    It would be interesting to see what SMART says...
     
    Jack, Feb 21, 2011
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  9. michael_recycled

    michael_recycled Notebook Deity

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    Getting SMART information on USB drives is often difficult, and sometimes even impossible.
    I guess, the partition table is messed up somehow - perhaps it is possible to retrieve some data with Linux.

    Michael
     
    michael_recycled, Feb 21, 2011
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  10. newsposter

    newsposter Notebook Virtuoso

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    the latest version of gpartd (v0.8+) can do forensic recovery of some kinds of blown partitions.
     
    newsposter, Feb 21, 2011
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  11. nicolaibaun

    nicolaibaun Notebook Consultant

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    i think i will try gparted, can anyone point me in a direction of a guide i can use?
     
    nicolaibaun, Feb 22, 2011
    #11