Cleaning the hard drive of old computers

wideboards · 06-30-2009, 04:46 AM

Hello,
I have some old computers and I am going to be give them away, so now I need to clean the hard drives completely to remove all files and data.
I have never done this before so this is all completley new to me, so need simple instructions to help me do this.
Ive been researching into software that does this for you. Is this the best way to do it and which one is the best to use.

Thanks
Wideboards

Tumbleweed36 · 06-30-2009, 05:02 AM

I would suggest either using Dban or Killdisk to get rid completely of personal material:

An excellent program you can use is called Active-Kill-Disk-Hard-Drive-Eraser.

Another excellent program is called Dban:

Dban Complete Disk Eraser.

**raptor_pa** · 06-30-2009, 05:04 AM

killdisk and d-ban both do a good job. If the drives are newer - since like 2001 then they should suport the 'secure erase' ATA command and you can use hdderase - it is faster than software since the drive effectively zero-wipes itself. http://cmrr.ucsd.edu/people/Hughes/SecureErase.shtml

wideboards · 07-01-2009, 03:28 AM

When using any of these software do they wipe off the operating system programs aswell or can you decide what files can be deleted.

Tumbleweed36 · 07-01-2009, 04:37 AM

They wipe EVERYTHING, so be aware of that before you step in there.

wideboards · 07-01-2009, 04:50 AM

Thanks for the advice

wideboards · 07-01-2009, 05:33 AM

Which discs would I need to reboot the computer once I have downloaded the erasing programs onto discs and cleaned the hard drive, having trouble finding them!
Also is there any step by step guides to doing this as I am such a newie to this sort of thing and need it all explaing to me simply.

06-30-2009, 04:46 AM	#1 (permalink)
wideboards Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 4 OS: xp	Cleaning the hard drive of old computers Hello, I have some old computers and I am going to be give them away, so now I need to clean the hard drives completely to remove all files and data. I have never done this before so this is all completley new to me, so need simple instructions to help me do this. Ive been researching into software that does this for you. Is this the best way to do it and which one is the best to use. Thanks Wideboards

06-30-2009, 05:02 AM	#2 (permalink)
Tumbleweed36 Asst Manager Hardware Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 19,633 OS: XP Professional	Re: Cleaning the hard drive of old computers I would suggest either using Dban or Killdisk to get rid completely of personal material: An excellent program you can use is called Active-Kill-Disk-Hard-Drive-Eraser. Another excellent program is called Dban: Dban Complete Disk Eraser. __________________ ---------- I don't receive email notifications of replies to subscribed threads. (Internet provider policy) Therefore, if I don't respond to your post within 24 hours, please send me a reminder PM and include the link to your thread.

06-30-2009, 05:04 AM	#3 (permalink)
raptor_pa Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Central PA Posts: 4,780 OS: XP	Re: Cleaning the hard drive of old computers killdisk and d-ban both do a good job. If the drives are newer - since like 2001 then they should suport the 'secure erase' ATA command and you can use hdderase - it is faster than software since the drive effectively zero-wipes itself. http://cmrr.ucsd.edu/people/Hughes/SecureErase.shtml __________________

07-01-2009, 03:28 AM	#4 (permalink)
wideboards Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 4 OS: xp	Re: Cleaning the hard drive of old computers When using any of these software do they wipe off the operating system programs aswell or can you decide what files can be deleted.

07-01-2009, 04:37 AM	#5 (permalink)
Tumbleweed36 Asst Manager Hardware Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 19,633 OS: XP Professional	Re: Cleaning the hard drive of old computers They wipe EVERYTHING, so be aware of that before you step in there. __________________ ---------- I don't receive email notifications of replies to subscribed threads. (Internet provider policy) Therefore, if I don't respond to your post within 24 hours, please send me a reminder PM and include the link to your thread.

07-01-2009, 04:50 AM	#6 (permalink)
wideboards Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 4 OS: xp	Re: Cleaning the hard drive of old computers Thanks for the advice

07-01-2009, 05:33 AM	#7 (permalink)
wideboards Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 4 OS: xp	Re: Cleaning the hard drive of old computers Which discs would I need to reboot the computer once I have downloaded the erasing programs onto discs and cleaned the hard drive, having trouble finding them! Also is there any step by step guides to doing this as I am such a newie to this sort of thing and need it all explaing to me simply.