Low-Level Format for Harddrives

[yaethom]

Hi, I'm looking for a piece of software that will format my harddrive by replacing the old data with random 1,0 bits of data on it. Not just a normal format, but one that will make my harddrive completely irrecoverable.

Thx for the help!!!

 

[yaethom]

^bump^

 

[debugger]

Hi! Although some BIOSes will do low-level formats (I haven't checked if my most recent one did let me do that), but I remember that Norton Utilities, in DOS days, had a utility to do just that. Maybe worth checking with them as they could still have that nestled somewhere in one of their multiple suites.

 

[Bahelion]

What brand? I know for older maxtor hard drives(Diamondmax) mud.exe had the LLF as part of the util package. We downloaded this from Maxtor's website. Have you checked the manufacturer website?

 

[easystreet]

Go to the website of your hard drive manufacturer and look for a zero fill utility. I think Ranish partition utility might have it too.

 

[human2k]

what is a low level format good for?

 

[wfbberzerker]

a low level format is used to really ensure the data is gone. by writing over all your data with 1's and 0's, it makes sure no traces of the data is left. (sometimes doing a normal format leaves magnetic traces - hypothetically, someone could retrieve that data) i believe the government uses a 7 stage low level format to ensure all data is gone from drives.