[SOLVED] Is KillDisk foolproof?

MisplacedKYGirl · 11-05-2009, 08:32 PM

Is it possible for anything to survive KillDisk? Nuked my system and purchased and installed Windows 7 because of extremely odd behavior. After nuking and installing 7, the problems have remained.

Is it even remotely possible KillDisk could have missed something?

Thanks

tetonbob · 11-06-2009, 10:49 AM

I guess it depends on what the problems are, and if you're restoring backup data which might be infected.

Have you looked at hardware issues?

Nothing should survive a low level format of the hdd such as Killdisk performs. I generally use Dban, though it can take quite a while.

http://www.dban.org/

MisplacedKYGirl · 11-07-2009, 03:34 PM

OK, thanks. My machine went haywire 9 days after the warranty ran out. Have been through cyber hell with it the the past 8 weeks. Dban wouldn't run, so that's why I had to use KillDisk. There were two partitions before the wipe: c: and recovery drive. After the wipe, there's only one drive showing - C: However, the gigabytes that were in the recovery partition have disappeared. Some folks I know say it's possible some nastie hid in that partition and won't let it be wiped. I don't know. Other friends say it's a bad keyboard.

Took it to two different pc repair guys locally and they're both stumped. The unit is 14 months old. Isn't that sad?

Thanks for the quick answer.

MicroBell · 11-08-2009, 08:34 PM

It's unlikely anything survived "Killdisks" wipe. If you used the program in it's default settings it wiped both partitions and rewrites the data using "zeros" in one pass. Because it wipped both the C:\ and the recovery partition...you'll only see 1 now. I would agree with Bob that this may be a hardware issue since it's reappeared on a clean Windows 7 install. We would need more specfic problem descriptions to troubleshoot what may be causing your issues.

MisplacedKYGirl · 11-11-2009, 10:38 AM

OK, thanks. I have sent the machine to a Dell Service Center in Houston. They will completely refurbish it for $199.00 and include a 3 month warranty. Like you, I feel that the problem must be hardware based after everything that's been done so far. The Dell tech really thinks it's the keyboard.

I appreciate your input. You may close this thread now.

Thanks again!

**Basementgeek** · 11-11-2009, 10:46 AM

Per your request, I will mark this thread solved.

BG

11-05-2009, 08:32 PM	#1 (permalink)
MisplacedKYGirl Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Kentucky Posts: 21 OS: Vista Home Premium SP1	[SOLVED] Is KillDisk foolproof? Is it possible for anything to survive KillDisk? Nuked my system and purchased and installed Windows 7 because of extremely odd behavior. After nuking and installing 7, the problems have remained. Is it even remotely possible KillDisk could have missed something? Thanks

11-06-2009, 10:49 AM	#2 (permalink)
tetonbob Manager, Security Center, TSF Academy; Analyst, Security Team Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Transylvania County, North Carolina, USA Posts: 35,555 OS: 2000 Pro; XP Pro; XP Home	Re: Is KillDisk foolproof? I guess it depends on what the problems are, and if you're restoring backup data which might be infected. Have you looked at hardware issues? Nothing should survive a low level format of the hdd such as Killdisk performs. I generally use Dban, though it can take quite a while. http://www.dban.org/ __________________ Practice Safe Surfing PC Safety and Security--What Do I Need? Because what you don't know, CAN hurt you. Proud Member of ASAP since 2005 Proud Member of UNITE since 2006 Microsoft MVP - Consumer Security 2009

11-07-2009, 03:34 PM	#3 (permalink)
MisplacedKYGirl Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Kentucky Posts: 21 OS: Vista Home Premium SP1	Re: Is KillDisk foolproof? OK, thanks. My machine went haywire 9 days after the warranty ran out. Have been through cyber hell with it the the past 8 weeks. Dban wouldn't run, so that's why I had to use KillDisk. There were two partitions before the wipe: c: and recovery drive. After the wipe, there's only one drive showing - C: However, the gigabytes that were in the recovery partition have disappeared. Some folks I know say it's possible some nastie hid in that partition and won't let it be wiped. I don't know. Other friends say it's a bad keyboard. Took it to two different pc repair guys locally and they're both stumped. The unit is 14 months old. Isn't that sad? Thanks for the quick answer. Last edited by MisplacedKYGirl; 11-07-2009 at 03:35 PM. Reason: Corrections

11-08-2009, 08:34 PM	#4 (permalink)
MicroBell Manager Emeritus - Security Center, Expert Analyst, Moderator - Security Team; Rangemaster, TSF Academy & Supporter Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Carmichaels, PA-USA Posts: 6,963 OS: Windows 7	Re: Is KillDisk foolproof? It's unlikely anything survived "Killdisks" wipe. If you used the program in it's default settings it wiped both partitions and rewrites the data using "zeros" in one pass. Because it wipped both the C:\ and the recovery partition...you'll only see 1 now. I would agree with Bob that this may be a hardware issue since it's reappeared on a clean Windows 7 install. We would need more specfic problem descriptions to troubleshoot what may be causing your issues. __________________ We Are The BORG Spyware KILLER and Adware Destroyer! Spyware/Adware Removal Tools Hijackthis Ad-aware SE Spybot Search&Destroy SpywareBlaster CWShredder

11-11-2009, 10:38 AM	#5 (permalink)
MisplacedKYGirl Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Kentucky Posts: 21 OS: Vista Home Premium SP1	Re: Is KillDisk foolproof? OK, thanks. I have sent the machine to a Dell Service Center in Houston. They will completely refurbish it for $199.00 and include a 3 month warranty. Like you, I feel that the problem must be hardware based after everything that's been done so far. The Dell tech really thinks it's the keyboard. I appreciate your input. You may close this thread now. Thanks again!

11-11-2009, 10:46 AM	#6 (permalink)
Basementgeek Moderator, Home Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Central Ohio, USA Posts: 1,486 OS: XP Pro SP2/Vista Ultimate SP2 Blog Entries: 3	Re: Is KillDisk foolproof? Per your request, I will mark this thread solved. BG __________________ Donating to the forum keeps TSF free for all. Proud member of ASAP