Broken hardrive being sent back, how do i erase my personal info first?!

sportygringo · 04-12-2008, 04:16 PM

My new latop has errors on the disk and dell has requested that i send my bad drive back to them as they are replacing it with a new one for me.. however, i have personal info on the drive that i don't want them to access, how do i clear the drive without being able to boot my computer?

I can access advanced options but nothing will load after selecting an option..

should i just destroy it? or is there a program i can use?

NeGrusti · 04-15-2008, 10:17 AM

While we have an in-house software to erase drives with errors, I'm not aware of any free or user-level commercial alternatives what can handle surface errors well. The problem is, many drive models often freeze trying to write data onto the sectors with real physical defects. Search in Google for DBAN, download it and if you are lucky it might be able to erase at least part of your drive.

**Deleted090308** · 04-15-2008, 05:30 PM

DBAN

I don't think Dell has the time or interest for trying to retrieve your data.

NeGrusti · 04-15-2008, 10:24 PM

You never know where the drive will end up... Some people are buying broken HDDs in bulk from service centers...

**blackduck30** · 04-15-2008, 11:50 PM

I'd ask dell if you can drill it. Drill half a dozen holes in the platters

RazgrizSeed · 04-30-2008, 07:14 AM

I agree with eneles' choice in programs. Just google "Darik's Boot N Nuke"

It...leaves...NOTHING!

04-12-2008, 04:16 PM	#1 (permalink)
sportygringo Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 1 OS: Vista	Broken hardrive being sent back, how do i erase my personal info first?! My new latop has errors on the disk and dell has requested that i send my bad drive back to them as they are replacing it with a new one for me.. however, i have personal info on the drive that i don't want them to access, how do i clear the drive without being able to boot my computer? I can access advanced options but nothing will load after selecting an option.. should i just destroy it? or is there a program i can use?

04-15-2008, 10:17 AM	#2 (permalink)
NeGrusti Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 14 OS: Kubuntu	Re: Broken hardrive being sent back, how do i erase my personal info first?! While we have an in-house software to erase drives with errors, I'm not aware of any free or user-level commercial alternatives what can handle surface errors well. The problem is, many drive models often freeze trying to write data onto the sectors with real physical defects. Search in Google for DBAN, download it and if you are lucky it might be able to erase at least part of your drive.

04-15-2008, 05:30 PM	#3 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Broken hardrive being sent back, how do i erase my personal info first?! DBAN I don't think Dell has the time or interest for trying to retrieve your data.

04-15-2008, 10:24 PM	#4 (permalink)
NeGrusti Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 14 OS: Kubuntu	Re: Broken hardrive being sent back, how do i erase my personal info first?! You never know where the drive will end up... Some people are buying broken HDDs in bulk from service centers...

04-15-2008, 11:50 PM	#5 (permalink)
blackduck30 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Wollongong/Australia Posts: 4,230 OS: XP pro SP3/Vista Ultimate My System	Re: Broken hardrive being sent back, how do i erase my personal info first?! I'd ask dell if you can drill it. Drill half a dozen holes in the platters __________________ Blackduck30 Time is like money and milk, It's always running out Any Donations Help Keep TSF Free For All

04-30-2008, 07:14 AM	#6 (permalink)
RazgrizSeed Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 56 OS: Windows XP Media Center Edition	Re: Broken hardrive being sent back, how do i erase my personal info first?! I agree with eneles' choice in programs. Just google "Darik's Boot N Nuke" It...leaves...NOTHING!