Freeware to wipe hard drives

Ristof · 09-21-2006, 08:22 PM

At the moment I am using Killdisk to completly wipe the hard drives on PC's that have ran out of lease before sending them back but the process takes to long to wipe

Does anyone here have any freeware programs that does the same this as kill disk that can be made bootable to completly wipe the sectors of the hard drive.

If you know of any that are really good that don't take too long that arn't freeware I am happy to hear those too.

To give you an indication on how long kill disk takes lets say a 40GB hard drive can take over an hour to do. When you have up to ten to do at one time it can take a while to get through them all

Thanks

**Terrister** · 09-23-2006, 06:41 PM

the hardware team recommends dban more than any other.
http://dban.sourceforge.net/

And it's free.

Volt-Schwibe · 09-23-2006, 08:18 PM

sadly, the amount of time it takes is directly related to how well you want the data destroyed.

if you use a fast tool like killdisk, (40 gigs per hour is fast) then the data can easily be recovered, even with free software. at this point it's no different than just using western digital's low level format tool.

something more secure, like derik's boot and nuke, can take even longer, but is more assured that data will not be recovered. (except in cases where the fbi wants to see it, as they can see it almost no matter what you do.)

question really is, do you really want the data shredded, or do you want it to be fast?

i was once told the only way to make sure a disk is 100% unrecoverable, was to open it, and remove the platters, and sand them with sand paper.

since then, everything i've seen and heard makes me completely beleive that.

**Cellus** · 09-24-2006, 10:52 AM

The DoD standard in completely destroying data on hard drives is to first wipe them using a DoD-standard wipe at least 8 times (7 times or less and the information is easily recoverable) followed by actual physical destruction of the entire drive. Secure wipes are not completely thorough, as even when you run a DoD wipe, the read/write head can miss certain extraneous areas on the platters that can contain data. They can take an electron microscope and recover the data if they wanted to, it just takes more time and money for them.

This I learned during a lecture speech from a President of a private data security company. Take his word for it.

Volt-Schwibe · 09-24-2006, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cellus

They can take an electron microscope and recover the data if they wanted to, it just takes more time and money for them.

this was what i was told about why sandpaper works.

no way they will be able to do any recovery on a pile of filings.

Ristof · 09-24-2006, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terrister

the hardware team recommends dban more than any other.
http://dban.sourceforge.net/

And it's free.

Thanks for that, now I need to find a PC to try it on

I had a quick look around but didn't find what I was after, do you know where I can find a tech page on this software that says what it does do.

Thanks

**uripyores** · 09-24-2006, 11:15 PM

http://dban.sourceforge.net/download/readme.txt

**crazijoe** · 09-25-2006, 05:33 AM

Bfh..

**Cellus** · 09-25-2006, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazijoe

Bfh..

That would literally work too.

Basically dban has several different algorithms you can choose from to wipe the drive - everything from the US DoD standard to even the Canadian RCMP standard. Personally I prefer the US DoD standard when wiping as you can be very thorough with it.

Ristof · 09-25-2006, 05:48 PM

Has anyone used Wipedrive Pro

Chevy · 09-25-2006, 07:54 PM

BCWipe is another good option ....

Ristof · 09-25-2006, 10:14 PM

How do you get Dban to load on startup

I put the disk in, made sure the boot order was CD first but nothing
Is there something I have missed

I downloaded the CD ISO file, double clicked on it to copy to CD

Ristof · 09-25-2006, 10:22 PM

Can BC Wipe auto run from startup or do you have to install it on the PC you wish to wipe first

I am after software that can boot when the PC boots

Volt-Schwibe · 09-26-2006, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ristof

How do you get Dban to load on startup

I put the disk in, made sure the boot order was CD first but nothing
Is there something I have missed

I downloaded the CD ISO file, double clicked on it to copy to CD

if you chose "copy to cd" you actually created a cd containing the iso.

meaning, you didn't use the iso to create a cd, you actually just used xp to create a standard mode 1 data cd that will show nothing inside it but an iso file.

to actually create a working boot and nuke, you will need a burning tool that understands ISO formats.

clonecd, alcohol, nero, roxio, nti, and many others can do this.

**Cellus** · 09-26-2006, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ristof

...I am after software that can boot when the PC boots

Dban runs at boot from disk without having to install anything on the computer or boot into any OS. Once you've burned it properly to a CD as per Volt-Schwibe's instructions, it'll work like a dream.

No, no I am not biased. Never. Go away.

Ristof · 09-26-2006, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Volt-Schwibe

if you chose "copy to cd" you actually created a cd containing the iso.

meaning, you didn't use the iso to create a cd, you actually just used xp to create a standard mode 1 data cd that will show nothing inside it but an iso file.

to actually create a working boot and nuke, you will need a burning tool that understands ISO formats.

clonecd, alcohol, nero, roxio, nti, and many others can do this.

I double clicked on the file so it open and copied to a CD itself through Roxio

I had a read though the instructions and all it says is to boot from CD, download the ISO file and to put it on a CD double click on the file.

I tried it again this morning but still it wont boot at startup.

It seems like I am missing the nessesary files for it to boot on startup. Would omeone beable to send me a list of the files that should be on the CD. Don't worry about going into folders

Thanks

Volt-Schwibe · 09-26-2006, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ristof

I double clicked on the file so it open and copied to a CD itself through Roxio

I had a read though the instructions and all it says is to boot from CD, download the ISO file and to put it on a CD double click on the file.

I tried it again this morning but still it wont boot at startup.

It seems like I am missing the nessesary files for it to boot on startup. Would omeone beable to send me a list of the files that should be on the CD. Don't worry about going into folders

Thanks

sorry, i misunderstood you.

just a second and i can get a listing of the files on the cd.

Volt-Schwibe · 09-26-2006, 04:41 PM

without going into detail about the contents of each folder, here it is.

Ristof · 09-26-2006, 04:59 PM

Thanks for that - There the files that I have on the CD

Is there anything else I need to do to get th

09-21-2006, 08:22 PM	#1 (permalink)
Ristof Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 36 OS: XP Pro	Freeware to wipe hard drives At the moment I am using Killdisk to completly wipe the hard drives on PC's that have ran out of lease before sending them back but the process takes to long to wipe Does anyone here have any freeware programs that does the same this as kill disk that can be made bootable to completly wipe the sectors of the hard drive. If you know of any that are really good that don't take too long that arn't freeware I am happy to hear those too. To give you an indication on how long kill disk takes lets say a 40GB hard drive can take over an hour to do. When you have up to ten to do at one time it can take a while to get through them all Thanks

09-23-2006, 06:41 PM	#2 (permalink)
Terrister Moderator Hardware Forum Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: West Georgia, USA Posts: 6,879 OS: Xp	the hardware team recommends dban more than any other. http://dban.sourceforge.net/ And it's free. __________________

09-23-2006, 08:18 PM	#3 (permalink)
Volt-Schwibe Asst. Manager, Automotive Forums; HJT Trainee Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Behind you, watching you as you type. Posts: 7,211 OS: Click "My System" to view details My System	sadly, the amount of time it takes is directly related to how well you want the data destroyed. if you use a fast tool like killdisk, (40 gigs per hour is fast) then the data can easily be recovered, even with free software. at this point it's no different than just using western digital's low level format tool. something more secure, like derik's boot and nuke, can take even longer, but is more assured that data will not be recovered. (except in cases where the fbi wants to see it, as they can see it almost no matter what you do.) question really is, do you really want the data shredded, or do you want it to be fast? i was once told the only way to make sure a disk is 100% unrecoverable, was to open it, and remove the platters, and sand them with sand paper. since then, everything i've seen and heard makes me completely beleive that. __________________ <signature> TSF is funded by our Admin's pocket, care to help? New Members: Subscribe to your thread (Thread Tools) to receive an instant email notification when you get a reply. Power Tip: Creating a single new thread in the correct section is the best way to assure your thread will receive a reply. </signature>

09-24-2006, 10:52 AM	#4 (permalink)
Cellus Moderator Networking Team Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 2,579 OS: Windows Vista Business SP1, Windows XP Professional SP3 My System	The DoD standard in completely destroying data on hard drives is to first wipe them using a DoD-standard wipe at least 8 times (7 times or less and the information is easily recoverable) followed by actual physical destruction of the entire drive. Secure wipes are not completely thorough, as even when you run a DoD wipe, the read/write head can miss certain extraneous areas on the platters that can contain data. They can take an electron microscope and recover the data if they wanted to, it just takes more time and money for them. This I learned during a lecture speech from a President of a private data security company. Take his word for it. __________________ TSF Networking Team HijackThis 5 Step Process Donate!

09-25-2006, 05:33 AM	#8 (permalink)
crazijoe Moderator, Hardware Forums Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Omaha, The Center of the Universe Posts: 7,632 OS: WinXP, Win2K3 My System	Bfh.. __________________ Microsoft MCSA + Messaging, MVP, A+, Network+ Do you want a real Republican? HDD diagnostic tools / HDD data recovery software

09-24-2006, 11:15 PM	#7 (permalink)
uripyores Mush Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Durham UK Posts: 724 OS: XP Home/Pro [SP3]	http://dban.sourceforge.net/download/readme.txt

09-25-2006, 05:48 PM	#10 (permalink)
Ristof Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 36 OS: XP Pro	Has anyone used Wipedrive Pro

09-25-2006, 07:54 PM	#11 (permalink)
Chevy Semi-Retired Manager, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Notlob Posts: 5,155 OS: Vista Ultimate My System	BCWipe is another good option .... __________________ “My philosophy, like color television, is all there in black and white” -M. Python

09-25-2006, 10:14 PM	#12 (permalink)
Ristof Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 36 OS: XP Pro	How do you get Dban to load on startup I put the disk in, made sure the boot order was CD first but nothing Is there something I have missed I downloaded the CD ISO file, double clicked on it to copy to CD

09-25-2006, 10:22 PM	#13 (permalink)
Ristof Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 36 OS: XP Pro	Can BC Wipe auto run from startup or do you have to install it on the PC you wish to wipe first I am after software that can boot when the PC boots

09-26-2006, 04:59 PM	#19 (permalink)
Ristof Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 36 OS: XP Pro	Thanks for that - There the files that I have on the CD Is there anything else I need to do to get th