Formatting a HDD

[WernerB]

Here is my problem: I have installed a new harddrive and I have cloned
all the information and the operating system from my old drive and everything
is working fine. I want to get rid of the old drive and dlete and overwrite it for
privacy reasons. I have software that will accomplish that but it will not overwrite
existing files, so before I can use it, the harddrive has to be formatted. I am running
XP home and the computer has no floppy drive. I have tried everything I can think
of but the computer absolutely refuses to format that drive. There must be a way
to boot into DOS without a floppy drive, but I have not found it. I have flash USB drives and
and an external USB harddrvie.
Any ideas, anyone?

WernerB

 

[mechBgon]

If you have CD-burner software, you can make a DBAN CD from the .ISO file. There's also a bootable floppy version.

Next, shut down the computer and disconnect the data cable from the new hard drive, then start up the system again and boot from the DBAN CD or floppy. You can securely wipe your old hard drive using DBAN. Make sure your new hard drive isn't connected!

Before you use DBAN, make sure your computer WILL in fact boot up with just the new drive connected.


Alternately, clamp the old hard drive firmly in a bench vise, put a good bimetal Wood & Nails blade in your recip saw, put on good eye protection and lop it in half.

 

[WernerB]

Thanks, mechBgone.
I found an easy solution. I installed the HDD in my external USB enclosure, where I was
able to format the drive without any complaints from the operating system. Then
I wiped the drive with 'Eraser' without problems.

WernerB