PartedMagic secure (ATA) erase: NULL error

[Mac29]

I'm trying to get a hard drive working that has/had data on it. Tried OBCD's PartedMagic and 'Disk (External), writing 'dd' over all after I deleted the partition. Tried my 8.1 install disc but it gives Recovery error 'your pc needs to be repaired'.

Tried PM's secure erase 'Internal" w/writes zeros over all but get the error 'A password is to be used in conjunction w/this command.' Enter or use NULL, but when I try 'NULL' I receive 'In event of an unexpected issue ...' could brick the drive.

I'm afraid other methods may also brick the drive. Should I try FDISK or some other method from UBCD? If I can solve this I'm sure my install will work. Alternatively, might there be something in the Bios that's causing problems, w/I can alter using UBCD?


Thanks in advance for any assistance,

Mac

 

[razel]

You already wrote 'dd' all over it, so you erased it. I'd just move on. If you truly fear about the info contained in bad sectors or other areas that secure erase would do then, just don't get give the drive to anyone else, just remove the platters/chips and incinerate them, then spread the ashes around when you drive.

 

[Mac29]

If it was correctly erased why on earth would the install tell me 'Recovery'? I don't give a squat about the data, I want to be sure not to brick the drive. Please re-read my question.

 

[Fallen Kell]

If you used dd to the entire device (i.e. "dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sda") then it overwrote the partition/GPT tables, which need to be re-created. Typically parted will recognize this, but sometimes you need to kick it in the pants. I would perform a "dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sda bs=512 count=10" (replace /dev/sda with whatever device the disk is that you are attempting to clean). There is also an end of disk backup that GPT sets up, which should be clearred with "sgdisk --clear /dev/sda" (again, replace /dev/sda with the correct disk).

All of these tools are available on most linux rescue distributions (such as "SystemRescueCD"), or Live CD/DVD distributions.

 

[Mac29]

Thanks, I'll try the commands. I keep thinking the security steps used on the disk might be interfering w/these erase operations. Saving the drive pays for the new ram, hence my caution.

I read that my Mint install probably will be smoother if I install an MS OS first. Tried installing Mint first but had similar issues.

Thank you.


Mac