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    wiping HD before a sale

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by Sponsi, Dec 25, 2008.

  1. Sponsi

    Sponsi Badibade

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    i'm going to be using DBAN to wipe my laptops hard drive, but is it going to delete the recovery partition? if so, what other utility do you suggest i use to clean the hd before a sale?
     
    Sponsi, Dec 25, 2008
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  2. goodspeed(TPF)

    goodspeed(TPF) Notebook Deity

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    I have never used DBAN so I don't know how it works. GWSCAN will write zeroes to the whole hdd tho. All partitions.
     
    goodspeed(TPF), Dec 25, 2008
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  3. s0ap

    s0ap Notebook Consultant

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    Could you back up the recovery partition to another hard drive or dvd first?
     
    s0ap, Dec 25, 2008
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  4. Sponsi

    Sponsi Badibade

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    i prefer to keep it, any suggestions? i read about eraser, which seems like it would do the job and still keep the partition. i need something preferably quick, because someone wants to pickup my laptop in the next 2 hours.
     
    Sponsi, Dec 25, 2008
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  5. goodspeed(TPF)

    goodspeed(TPF) Notebook Deity

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    Why not just "restore" the OS?
     
    goodspeed(TPF), Dec 25, 2008
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  6. s0ap

    s0ap Notebook Consultant

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    s0ap, Dec 25, 2008
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  7. Sponsi

    Sponsi Badibade

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    As in reformat?
     
    Sponsi, Dec 25, 2008
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  8. s0ap

    s0ap Notebook Consultant

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    He wants to make sure his files are securely deleted before he sells his laptop. A "restore" won't accomplish this. Did you try that link?
     
    s0ap, Dec 25, 2008
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  9. Andy

    Andy Notebook Prophet

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    Eraser is a good program. If you can connect that HDD externally with a cable or an enclosure, you can wipe all partitions with a 3-pass or 7-pass DoD, leaving the recovery partition as it is.

    If you do the erase in windows, you won't be able to wipe the files that are in use by the system.
     
    Andy, Dec 25, 2008
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