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  3. How to Wipe out files from H.D.D permanently

How to Wipe out files from H.D.D permanently

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  • D DaveAuld

    yes, and i think you know how to use google? :doh:

    Dave Find Me On: Web|Facebook|Twitter|LinkedIn


    Folding Stats: Team CodeProject

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    G Offline
    Gary R Wheeler
    wrote on last edited by
    #5

    The OP asked a question about a utility that has security implications. Which would you rather trust, the results of a Google search, or the educated opinions of your professional peers? I think a little polite patience is in order.

    Software Zen: delete this;

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    • G Gary R Wheeler

      The OP asked a question about a utility that has security implications. Which would you rather trust, the results of a Google search, or the educated opinions of your professional peers? I think a little polite patience is in order.

      Software Zen: delete this;

      D Offline
      D Offline
      DaveAuld
      wrote on last edited by
      #6

      I think a little research first by the OP and then if unable to decide himself then come with an informed question rather than just; "Is it possible to wipe out files completely using any utility or software/Shredder" Anyway, lets just say the response level was based on prior knowledge........ i not altogether a bad chap :suss:

      Dave Find Me On: Web|Facebook|Twitter|LinkedIn


      Folding Stats: Team CodeProject

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      • I i i i

        I have a Laptop which i have to Sell and on its H.D.D,I had copied my Family photos as there are so many softwares available which can recover Files even after formatting or deletion , Is it possible to wipe out files completely using any utility or software/Shredder. :confused:

        SOFTDEV Luck in life always exists in the form of an abstract class that cannot be instantiated directly and needs to be inherited by hard work and dedication.

        H Offline
        H Offline
        Henry Minute
        wrote on last edited by
        #7

        In addition to SDelete, as previously mentioned, I like Eraser[^].

        Henry Minute Do not read medical books! You could die of a misprint. - Mark Twain Girl: (staring) "Why do you need an icy cucumber?" “I want to report a fraud. The government is lying to us all.” I wouldn't let CG touch my Abacus! When you're wrestling a gorilla, you don't stop when you're tired, you stop when the gorilla is.

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        • I i i i

          I have a Laptop which i have to Sell and on its H.D.D,I had copied my Family photos as there are so many softwares available which can recover Files even after formatting or deletion , Is it possible to wipe out files completely using any utility or software/Shredder. :confused:

          SOFTDEV Luck in life always exists in the form of an abstract class that cannot be instantiated directly and needs to be inherited by hard work and dedication.

          D Offline
          D Offline
          Dario Solera
          wrote on last edited by
          #8

          Without particular tools, you can simply format (not quick format) your hard drive multiple times, e.g. 5 or 7. It's not as secure because shredding software fills the files clusters with random data before deleting them, but surely for family photos it should be enough.

          If you truly believe you need to pick a mobile phone that "says something" about your personality, don't bother. You don't have a personality. A mental illness, maybe, but not a personality. [Charlie Brooker] ScrewTurn Wiki, Continuous Localization and My Startup

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          • H Henry Minute

            In addition to SDelete, as previously mentioned, I like Eraser[^].

            Henry Minute Do not read medical books! You could die of a misprint. - Mark Twain Girl: (staring) "Why do you need an icy cucumber?" “I want to report a fraud. The government is lying to us all.” I wouldn't let CG touch my Abacus! When you're wrestling a gorilla, you don't stop when you're tired, you stop when the gorilla is.

            R Offline
            R Offline
            R Giskard Reventlov
            wrote on last edited by
            #9

            Eraser is pretty good but I prefer the previous version (5.8.8). Much easier to use than the latest version.

            "If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur." Red Adair. nils illegitimus carborundum me, me, me

            H 1 Reply Last reply
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            • R R Giskard Reventlov

              Eraser is pretty good but I prefer the previous version (5.8.8). Much easier to use than the latest version.

              "If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur." Red Adair. nils illegitimus carborundum me, me, me

              H Offline
              H Offline
              Henry Minute
              wrote on last edited by
              #10

              I'm still on 5.86. I haven't looked at the newest version yet.

              Henry Minute Do not read medical books! You could die of a misprint. - Mark Twain Girl: (staring) "Why do you need an icy cucumber?" “I want to report a fraud. The government is lying to us all.” I wouldn't let CG touch my Abacus! When you're wrestling a gorilla, you don't stop when you're tired, you stop when the gorilla is.

              1 Reply Last reply
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              • I i i i

                I have a Laptop which i have to Sell and on its H.D.D,I had copied my Family photos as there are so many softwares available which can recover Files even after formatting or deletion , Is it possible to wipe out files completely using any utility or software/Shredder. :confused:

                SOFTDEV Luck in life always exists in the form of an abstract class that cannot be instantiated directly and needs to be inherited by hard work and dedication.

                L Offline
                L Offline
                Lost User
                wrote on last edited by
                #11

                http://www.dban.org/[^]

                A 1 Reply Last reply
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                • I i i i

                  I have a Laptop which i have to Sell and on its H.D.D,I had copied my Family photos as there are so many softwares available which can recover Files even after formatting or deletion , Is it possible to wipe out files completely using any utility or software/Shredder. :confused:

                  SOFTDEV Luck in life always exists in the form of an abstract class that cannot be instantiated directly and needs to be inherited by hard work and dedication.

                  F Offline
                  F Offline
                  fjdiewornncalwe
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #12

                  When I sold a laptop once that was still considered a good, current machine, I just invested in a new hard drive, installed it and restored the OS using the manufacturer CDs so they got a laptop in the condition just as it left the factory. With a really cheap external usb enclosure, that 100GB or so drive is now just a portable data transfer drive for me when I don't have my ipod with me.

                  I wasn't, now I am, then I won't be anymore.

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                  • D DaveAuld

                    I think a little research first by the OP and then if unable to decide himself then come with an informed question rather than just; "Is it possible to wipe out files completely using any utility or software/Shredder" Anyway, lets just say the response level was based on prior knowledge........ i not altogether a bad chap :suss:

                    Dave Find Me On: Web|Facebook|Twitter|LinkedIn


                    Folding Stats: Team CodeProject

                    I Offline
                    I Offline
                    i i i
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #13

                    Come on Dave Do you know i had Google or not ? , Its very easy to add Google in your answer or every answer :laugh: , Life is short we have to learn from others experiences also.I hope so you will get the positive side of this.

                    SOFTDEV Luck in life always exists in the form of an abstract class that cannot be instantiated directly and needs to be inherited by hard work and dedication.

                    D 1 Reply Last reply
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                    • I i i i

                      I have a Laptop which i have to Sell and on its H.D.D,I had copied my Family photos as there are so many softwares available which can recover Files even after formatting or deletion , Is it possible to wipe out files completely using any utility or software/Shredder. :confused:

                      SOFTDEV Luck in life always exists in the form of an abstract class that cannot be instantiated directly and needs to be inherited by hard work and dedication.

                      I Offline
                      I Offline
                      i i i
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #14

                      Thanks All, I downloaded softwares SDelete,Erase, Dban etc. those really worked and helped my cause. God bless you all. :)

                      SOFTDEV Luck in life always exists in the form of an abstract class that cannot be instantiated directly and needs to be inherited by hard work and dedication.

                      P 1 Reply Last reply
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                      • I i i i

                        I have a Laptop which i have to Sell and on its H.D.D,I had copied my Family photos as there are so many softwares available which can recover Files even after formatting or deletion , Is it possible to wipe out files completely using any utility or software/Shredder. :confused:

                        SOFTDEV Luck in life always exists in the form of an abstract class that cannot be instantiated directly and needs to be inherited by hard work and dedication.

                        A Offline
                        A Offline
                        AspDotNetDev
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #15

                        Take out the hard drive, smash it into tiny pieces, then put a new used hard drive in. :rolleyes:

                        [WikiLeaks Cablegate Cables]

                        1 Reply Last reply
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                        • I i i i

                          I have a Laptop which i have to Sell and on its H.D.D,I had copied my Family photos as there are so many softwares available which can recover Files even after formatting or deletion , Is it possible to wipe out files completely using any utility or software/Shredder. :confused:

                          SOFTDEV Luck in life always exists in the form of an abstract class that cannot be instantiated directly and needs to be inherited by hard work and dedication.

                          C Offline
                          C Offline
                          charlieg
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #16

                          aspdotnet is being a bit of a smart-alek, but it raises an interesting point. How do you really know the data is gone? I've worked in classified environments before - when drives go bad, they meet a hydraulic press. Still, I guess my point is - how do you really know?

                          Charlie Gilley You're going to tell me what I want to know, or I'm going to beat you to death in your own house. "Where liberty dwells, there is my country." B. Franklin, 1783 “They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” BF, 1759

                          1 Reply Last reply
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                          • I i i i

                            I have a Laptop which i have to Sell and on its H.D.D,I had copied my Family photos as there are so many softwares available which can recover Files even after formatting or deletion , Is it possible to wipe out files completely using any utility or software/Shredder. :confused:

                            SOFTDEV Luck in life always exists in the form of an abstract class that cannot be instantiated directly and needs to be inherited by hard work and dedication.

                            G Offline
                            G Offline
                            Ger Hayden
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #17

                            I took a very big zip file of harmelss stuff, and copied it repeatedly to fill the drive, effectively overwriting any space freed up by the deleted sensitive material. I struggle to see how very much of the former occupant of the bits involved could be determined. Because if so, then our drives would have infinte capacity....

                            Ger

                            1 Reply Last reply
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                            • L Lost User

                              http://www.dban.org/[^]

                              A Offline
                              A Offline
                              Albert Holguin
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #18

                              I've used dban myself... works great... it is slow but i guess that's how you know its really writing over every sector in the hdd...

                              1 Reply Last reply
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                              • I i i i

                                I have a Laptop which i have to Sell and on its H.D.D,I had copied my Family photos as there are so many softwares available which can recover Files even after formatting or deletion , Is it possible to wipe out files completely using any utility or software/Shredder. :confused:

                                SOFTDEV Luck in life always exists in the form of an abstract class that cannot be instantiated directly and needs to be inherited by hard work and dedication.

                                T Offline
                                T Offline
                                The BigV
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #19

                                Check out IS Protector http://www.isprotector.com. It's free if you delete files or folders or wipe non system disk or empty space. It supports all popular termination algorithms and has many more cool features (file encryption, remote termination, system disk wipe).

                                1 Reply Last reply
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                                • I i i i

                                  I have a Laptop which i have to Sell and on its H.D.D,I had copied my Family photos as there are so many softwares available which can recover Files even after formatting or deletion , Is it possible to wipe out files completely using any utility or software/Shredder. :confused:

                                  SOFTDEV Luck in life always exists in the form of an abstract class that cannot be instantiated directly and needs to be inherited by hard work and dedication.

                                  C Offline
                                  C Offline
                                  cruest
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #20

                                  my normal means of disposal is an 8mm rifle round. what remains of the platters gets sucked out the exit hole in a shower of metallized confetti.

                                  I 1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • I i i i

                                    I have a Laptop which i have to Sell and on its H.D.D,I had copied my Family photos as there are so many softwares available which can recover Files even after formatting or deletion , Is it possible to wipe out files completely using any utility or software/Shredder. :confused:

                                    SOFTDEV Luck in life always exists in the form of an abstract class that cannot be instantiated directly and needs to be inherited by hard work and dedication.

                                    M Offline
                                    M Offline
                                    Member 4491776
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #21

                                    Use DBAN. http://www.dban.org/. The version I use provides DOD level 3 clean. Every bit multiple reset. You will have to re-initialize the drive with OEM software, like seagate disk wizard. http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/support/downloads/discwizard/.

                                    I 1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • C cruest

                                      my normal means of disposal is an 8mm rifle round. what remains of the platters gets sucked out the exit hole in a shower of metallized confetti.

                                      I Offline
                                      I Offline
                                      i i i
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #22

                                      :laugh:

                                      SOFTDEV Luck in life always exists in the form of an abstract class that cannot be instantiated directly and needs to be inherited by hard work and dedication.

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • M Member 4491776

                                        Use DBAN. http://www.dban.org/. The version I use provides DOD level 3 clean. Every bit multiple reset. You will have to re-initialize the drive with OEM software, like seagate disk wizard. http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/support/downloads/discwizard/.

                                        I Offline
                                        I Offline
                                        i i i
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #23

                                        thanks :)

                                        SOFTDEV Luck in life always exists in the form of an abstract class that cannot be instantiated directly and needs to be inherited by hard work and dedication.

                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • I i i i

                                          Come on Dave Do you know i had Google or not ? , Its very easy to add Google in your answer or every answer :laugh: , Life is short we have to learn from others experiences also.I hope so you will get the positive side of this.

                                          SOFTDEV Luck in life always exists in the form of an abstract class that cannot be instantiated directly and needs to be inherited by hard work and dedication.

                                          D Offline
                                          D Offline
                                          DaveAuld
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #24

                                          Ok, I Apologise for being a little harsh. But you have been on the site long enough now to know that a little forward proactive research goes along away, and your experience from responses to some of your previous questions and responses should be telling you this. Be rest assured I have given myself a stern talking to and have written out 100 lines as punishment. :sigh:

                                          Dave Find Me On: Web|Facebook|Twitter|LinkedIn


                                          Folding Stats: Team CodeProject

                                          I M 2 Replies Last reply
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