Hard Drive Data Destruction...

Discussion in 'Hardware' started by ifrydr, Nov 17, 2011.

  1. ifrydr

    ifrydr Private E-2

    Hello -

    Can anyone give me some direction on solutions to remove ALL data from old hard drives? Short of physically destroying them...

    I have a stack of work hard drives as well as a few personal drives that I would like to "hook up" to something and wipe them etc. and ensure they are clean.

    Any help would be appreciated.

    Thanks.
     
    ifrydr, Nov 17, 2011
    #1
  2. Major Attitude

    Major Attitude Co-Owner MajorGeeks.Com Staff Member

    You need to write zeros to the drive repeatedly. In other words, a program will write data over and over to the drive so it can not be recovered. Use CCleaner, it is built in.

    Tools, Drive Wiper.
     
    Major Attitude, Nov 17, 2011
    #2
  3. ifrydr

    ifrydr Private E-2

    I was told CCleaner was not totally "secure", whatever that means... i.e. doesn't really remove data meaning supposedly people can actually retrieve stuff after CCleaner. Is that really the case?

    Is there such a tool that will allow you to hook up a drive on your desk via USB etc. and wipe it?

    Thank you!
     
    ifrydr, Nov 17, 2011
    #3
  4. jlphlp

    jlphlp Master Sergeant

    Hi Ifrydr,

    Not CCLeaner. You need what is commonly call a "Low Level Formatter" or "Disk Wiper" They do write over everthing on the drive. Google for it. You should find numerous. The MAD BOOT floppy has one. The Maxtor Maxblast prog has it but is only for Maxtor.

    Good Luck, Jim
     
    jlphlp, Nov 17, 2011
    #4
  5. Major Attitude

    Major Attitude Co-Owner MajorGeeks.Com Staff Member

    You just need to write zeros to the drive a few times and EVEN THEN thats only if a super hacker gets your drive. Then you write data again when you install a new os and the new user continues to overwrite the drive. People like to overthink it. Don't believe me? Google here for people trying to recover data from an accidentally wiped drive and see how hard it is. Enough said.

    To answer your question Tiger Direct and New Egg sell a usb to SCSI\IDE cable, its about 25 bucks and its awesome.

    P.S You can always test the drive yourself to see what you can recover from it after wiping it as well.
     
    Major Attitude, Nov 17, 2011
    #5
  6. Just Playin

    Just Playin MajorGeek

    CCleaner can be set to do up to a 35 pass disk overwrite in the options. Not even the CIA, MI6, KGB or Mossad will be able to recover anything after that.
     
    Just Playin, Nov 17, 2011
    #6
  7. Major Attitude

    Major Attitude Co-Owner MajorGeeks.Com Staff Member

    Thank you, I bit my tounge on that one.

     
    Major Attitude, Nov 17, 2011
    #7
  8. jlphlp

    jlphlp Master Sergeant

    Hi Just and Ifrdr,

    Sorry. Didn't know CCleaner had a disk wiper. My version does not. It's time for me to download the latest version.

    Thanks, Jim
     
    jlphlp, Nov 18, 2011
    #8
  9. Bold Eagle

    Bold Eagle MajorGeek

    I agree......it would be really cool to try and test that one day though with some of the "better" snooping apps......hmmm......I have a couple of older drives here.
     
    Bold Eagle, Nov 18, 2011
    #9
  10. tgell

    tgell Major Geek Extraordinaire

    tgell, Nov 18, 2011
    #10
  11. Bold Eagle

    Bold Eagle MajorGeek

    It will depend on desired outcome, for a personal reuse any reformat "may be enough", for a resell you could want more, for Federal Govt Highly Sensitive DATA a 25lb lump hammer being swung over a 180 degree arc at a nice velocity and connecting on the sweet spot is the confidence builder.
     
    Bold Eagle, Nov 18, 2011
    #11
  12. tgell

    tgell Major Geek Extraordinaire

    lol :-D
     
    tgell, Nov 18, 2011
    #12
  13. Bold Eagle

    Bold Eagle MajorGeek

    In light of my previous comments I do work with Aust. Fed Govt and we do "physically" dismember the devices and destroy them after life cycle has been reached.
     
    Bold Eagle, Nov 24, 2011
    #13
  14. Major Attitude

    Major Attitude Co-Owner MajorGeeks.Com Staff Member

    This question has been answered. After my post should be nothing. Move on.
     
    Major Attitude, Nov 24, 2011
    #14

MajorGeeks.Com Menu

Downloads All In One Tweaks \ Android \ Anti-Malware \ Anti-Virus \ Appearance \ Backup \ Browsers \ CD\DVD\Blu-Ray \ Covert Ops \ Drive Utilities \ Drivers \ Graphics \ Internet Tools \ Multimedia \ Networking \ Office Tools \ PC Games \ System Tools \ Mac/Apple/Ipad Downloads

Other News: Top Downloads \ News (Tech) \ Off Base (Other Websites News) \ Way Off Base (Offbeat Stories and Pics)

Social: Facebook \ YouTube \ Twitter \ Tumblr \ Pintrest \ RSS Feeds