I am selling my computer, how can I wipe it clean?

SnapIT

Banned
Jul 8, 2002
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Originally posted by: amexblue
I am selling my computer, how can I wipe it clean?

Rubbing alcohol and a low level format, depending on the disk, most disk manufacturers have one, if you have the option in your bios DO NOT USE IT...

The newer disks (after 80) translate sectors and lowlevel formatting them with that info will destroy them... so use what the manufacturer has...
 

Squisher

Lifer
Aug 17, 2000
21,204
66
91
Also, one of those harddrive integrity checkers that the manufacturers give out will write to every sector on it.
 

Vic

Elite Member
Jun 12, 2001
50,422
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Low level format. Writes a 0 to every sector of the hard drive, even the NSA or CIA couldn't get any info off of it after that.
Go to the hard drive manufacturer's website and download their utility for that. Usually takes a couple of hours or so depending on the size of the drive.
 

HappyPuppy

Lifer
Apr 5, 2001
16,997
2
71
Pull the hard drive out and whack it several times with a very large hammer. It is the only sure way to protect your sensitive data.
 

lowtech1

Diamond Member
Mar 9, 2000
4,644
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Copy files over top of the drive till it is full then do a low-level format should be sufficient.

If you are really paranoid, then there are blow torch, grinder, and sulfuric acid/hydrogen fluoride.
 

RossMAN

Grand Nagus
Feb 24, 2000
78,855
355
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Originally posted by: Vic
Low level format. Writes a 0 to every sector of the hard drive, even the NSA or CIA couldn't get any info off of it after that.
Go to the hard drive manufacturer's website and download their utility for that. Usually takes a couple of hours or so depending on the size of the drive.

When we sold my wife's PC we did something similiar except we used a program called DBAN. Took about 2 hours with a 20GB drive but the entire drive was wiped C L E A N
 

SnapIT

Banned
Jul 8, 2002
4,355
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Originally posted by: RossMAN
Originally posted by: Vic
Low level format. Writes a 0 to every sector of the hard drive, even the NSA or CIA couldn't get any info off of it after that.
Go to the hard drive manufacturer's website and download their utility for that. Usually takes a couple of hours or so depending on the size of the drive.

When we sold my wife's PC we did something similiar except we used a program called DBAN. Took about 2 hours with a 20GB drive but the entire drive was wiped C L E A N

Actually, i went through a hdd using a hex editor after using that program (and wipeinfo) and it was NOT clean... about 60% of the info was retrievable...
 

Harvey

Administrator<br>Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
35,057
67
91
If you are talking about cleaning the surfaces, take Yield's advice, and use Windex. If you are talking about clearing all data on the hard drive, Norton has a utility in their System Works called WipeFile that will obliterate a file or an entire drive. Of course, as others have suggested you could just FDISK it and do a full format.
 

RossMAN

Grand Nagus
Feb 24, 2000
78,855
355
136
Originally posted by: SnapIT
Originally posted by: RossMAN
Originally posted by: Vic
Low level format. Writes a 0 to every sector of the hard drive, even the NSA or CIA couldn't get any info off of it after that.
Go to the hard drive manufacturer's website and download their utility for that. Usually takes a couple of hours or so depending on the size of the drive.

When we sold my wife's PC we did something similiar except we used a program called DBAN. Took about 2 hours with a 20GB drive but the entire drive was wiped C L E A N

Actually, i went through a hdd using a hex editor after using that program (and wipeinfo) and it was NOT clean... about 60% of the info was retrievable...

Ok well for the average computer user they wouldn't be able to use Norton UnErase or a similiar application.
 

Anubis

No Lifer
Aug 31, 2001
78,712
427
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tbqhwy.com
a program called Window Washer will "Clean" you comp to teh level that not even the NSA can retreive teh data
 

SnapIT

Banned
Jul 8, 2002
4,355
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Originally posted by: RossMAN
Originally posted by: SnapIT
Originally posted by: RossMAN
Originally posted by: Vic
Low level format. Writes a 0 to every sector of the hard drive, even the NSA or CIA couldn't get any info off of it after that.
Go to the hard drive manufacturer's website and download their utility for that. Usually takes a couple of hours or so depending on the size of the drive.

When we sold my wife's PC we did something similiar except we used a program called DBAN. Took about 2 hours with a 20GB drive but the entire drive was wiped C L E A N

Actually, i went through a hdd using a hex editor after using that program (and wipeinfo) and it was NOT clean... about 60% of the info was retrievable...

Ok well for the average computer user they wouldn't be able to use Norton UnErase or a similiar application.

true...
 

SnapIT

Banned
Jul 8, 2002
4,355
1
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Originally posted by: TheEvil1
a program called Window Washer will "Clean" you comp to teh level that not even the NSA can retreive teh data

No it will not... try it, then use a hex editor and look at the hdd, sector for sector... not even a low level format kills all sectors...

The ONLY way to do it is to use an extreme magnet, that would be a 35000W electromagnet...
 

MaxDSP

Lifer
May 15, 2001
10,056
0
71
now that I think about it, who are you selling your computer to? if its an average joe, then you can just press the delete button. :p