Want to securely wipe a HDD?

[securespark]

I initially wanted to scrub a HDD, but ended up reusing it to reload another OS. It worked a treat. Took a few hours, but the process and the OS reload both went completely without a hitch.

I used this:

www.dban.org/download

 

[Synapse]

DBAN is a great tool, it can almost guarantee that the data on the drive will be unrecoverable if enough passes are performed with sufficient entropy, even when trying to recover data with an electron microscope.

It's important to note that a 7 pass erase with the Mersenne Twister PRNG is recommended although in modern hard drives one pass is usually enough. It's also important to note that it can't be guaranteed to to remove all data on a faulty drive for obvious reasons, in which case physical destruction of the platters is necessary.

Also quite handy: Shred for Linux, does the same thing for individual files overwriting the footprint with psuedo random data. In Windows Heidi Eraser is a handy tool to do the same thing.

 

[Homerr]

We at work (education) use DBAN quickly followed up if need be with a screwdriver driven through the drive with a hammer. Which is great fun

 

[Activ8]

I use KillDisk. Nowt better !!!

 

[Monkeh]

I use KillDisk. Nowt better !!!

KillDisk isn't free. Not if you want to properly wipe a disk. You can do a zeroing pass for free without needing to use something like KillDisk, and that's all the free version does.

 

[Synapse]

We at work (education) use DBAN quickly followed up if need be with a screwdriver driven through the drive with a hammer. Which is great fun

That should do the trick! Although some would argue (mostly those that work for data destruction companies) that you need to dissolve the platters in acid or destroy the platters in a furnace and get charged a fortune for it.

I personally prefer the sledgehammer method.

I use KillDisk. Nowt better !!!

Except DBAN.

 

[Homerr]

We at work (education) use DBAN quickly followed up if need be with a screwdriver driven through the drive with a hammer. Which is great fun

That should do the trick! Although some would argue (mostly those that work for data destruction companies) that you need to dissolve the platters in acid or destroy the platters in a furnace and get charged a fortune for it.

I personally prefer the sledgehammer method.

I use KillDisk. Nowt better !!!

Except DBAN.

I too would prefer sledgehammer, but alas my boss drew the line at that. I suggested using a microwave the other day but he didn't want to be responsible for burning the staff room down and irradiating the students

DBAN is the best, nothing else really touches it for what it does... and at the price - FREE.

 

[wadihalfa]

Take the platter out and go over it with a bit of sandpaper. Less chance of having someone's eye out with pieces of flying metal.

 

[Synapse]

Take the platter out and go over it with a bit of sandpaper. Less chance of having someone's eye out with pieces of flying metal.

I bet you work in a health and safety department. It was a joke not a recommendation.