Wiping hard drive

[busybee]

Hi , I have just joined. I am sorry if this is a really stupid question or one that has been answered on here many times before...i did have a quick look for the answer but I am a) lazy and b) in a rush and it didn't leap out at me...

 

I am having a good old clear out and getting rid of my old (Dell optiplex) pcs and of course need to make sure I get rid of all the data properly!

 

For the one that still works I am going to erase the hard drive using some software first - I think this should be OK - anything else I need to do? Is there any way to check after I have run the software that everything is gone? I will be freecycling this one.

The other one is faulty and destined for the recycling centre. I think it was dropped and I can't even switch it on. I have managed to open it up and remove the hard drive- don’t laugh but this was a major achievement for a non techie numpty like myself!! Anyway what can I do to the hard drive to completely destroy it? I have heard drilling a hole in it is a good idea but not 100% fool proof - do any of you have any better suggestions please?

 

Thanks in advance

[Tootech]

Hi,

 

Its an interesting question, and no doubt you've seen that there is significant debate about what data is actually recoverable after a wipe.

 

The scrap PC drive you can destroy by taking a hammer or similar to the circuit board. It doesn't destroy the storage platter itself but no one excepting a skilled hard drive engineer would be able to do anything with it. The circuit board contains data specific to that drive and swapping for another similar board wouldn't allow access. Course you could just take the lid off and take a hammer to the circular platter - foolproof!!

 

The working PC - bottom line is just how private and important was the data held on that drive? Professional software will wipe a drive to UK government standards, but for most of us that isn't necessary.

 

Have a look at these two solutions, both will wipe your drive fairly securely.

 

Darik's Boot and Nuke | Get Darik's Boot and Nuke at SourceForge.net

 

Active@ Kill Disk Hard Drive Eraser. Low Level Format.

 

This is a commercial solution that I use

 

ZeroData Hard Drive Wiping Software

 

After using it I have scanned drives with recovery software and the drives are totally empty.

 

Hope that helps...

[busybee]

Thanks so much for your reply - very very helpful!! :)

 

To answer your question, i am an independent recruiter, registered with the information commission so want to make sure that all records i held for candidates etc are wiped completely.

 

I use a hosted recruitment solution so removing this from the working pc hopefully means that nobody can access my live data from my old pcs (the actual files are stored by my supplier) but CVs/candidate ID info etc was originally emailed to me in outlook for uploading to the system so i guess the info would still be on the pc somewhere. I removed MS office on the working one then deleted all docs, temp files, the pre-fetch file (someone said that would be a good idea although I'm not sure why) emptied recyclign bin etc etc but to be sure i really want to wipe the operating system and everything.

 

I have ordered some software from ebay which 'apparently' meets US and UK gov standards but was rather cheap so I am a bit sceptical but we shall see. I might use one of the free options you mention above first and then the disc from ebay afterwards to be sure? or will the first option make it impossible to even run the 2nd software?! eek so many techie questions...lol

 

Re the broken one I will take apart the hard drive and smash everythig I find with a hammer :) after the morning I have had that could be fun.......

Edited April 7, 2010 by busybee

[Plastic Nev]

Hi your last lines gave me a smile, I have days at work like that too.

Can you tell us the name of the software you are buying through E Bay, we may be able to inform you better as to its quality.

Those programs Tootech mention are normally excellent and will do a thorough job, though I do understand your need to be sure.

As far as any information any where else on the computer, the answer is no, all other memory installed is volatile, so once power is off nothing stays except on the hard drive.

You can also remove the CMOS battery from the mother board, that will reset the BIOS back to default settings, not that the BIOS holds any information, but if the original computer had been clocked or the BIOS altered in some other way, that will be removed by removing the battery. It is a small coin shaped thing about the size of the half penny (UK) held in a clip.

As for the fun bit, the bigger the hammer and the harder the surface, the better, just don't get your thumb in the way. :D

Nev.

[Tootech]

You can use one wipe tool and then another.

 

The data you are wanting to erase is seems like serious data to me. Also, it looks like you are a registered data holder - not sure where you live, but in the UK it is a requirement to show data is disposed of correctly.

 

I would use this tool as it is recommended by UK Government, and pricewise it aint too bad.

 

Erase Data from PC & Laptop - Hard Disk Wipe - Blancco PC Edition