Questions about erasing data from HD

[darkcyber20]

What is the best way to securely erase data from a hd while leaving the OS intact? Using some kind of a shredder program, CrapCleaner's Wipe Free Space option...etc? or what?

Also, if you use a program that writes all zeros to a hd, that completely destroys all data on that hd, can that hd be used again? If so, do you just do a simple format of the hd to make it functional again?

 

[paul878]

What is the best way to securely erase data from a hd while leaving the OS intact? Using some kind of a shredder program, CrapCleaner's Wipe Free Space option...etc? or what?

CCleaner is a nice free program that you can you to Wipe Free Space Only.


Also, if you use a program that writes all zeros to a hd, that completely destroys all data on that hd, can that hd be used again? If so, do you just do a simple format of the hd to make it functional again?

yes.

 

[darkcyber20]

By using CrapCleaner I meant first delete the data and clear up that space and then use CCleaner's wipe free space option.

 

[Atheus]

Wait hang on... is it just a simple set of files, or the whole HDD you want to delete _apart_ from the OS?

If the latter - not possible. If the former, just delete the files, and go CCleaner like they said.

 

[mindless1]

What is the best way to securely erase data from a hd while leaving the OS intact? Using some kind of a shredder program, CrapCleaner's Wipe Free Space option...etc? or what?

Also, if you use a program that writes all zeros to a hd, that completely destroys all data on that hd, can that hd be used again? If so, do you just do a simple format of the hd to make it functional again?

1) Yes you can shred as you delete, or mass delete then multipass overwrite the free space with (pseudo/) random data.

2) If the program only writes zeros for one pass, the files will be unrecoverable to all computer geeks 'n gurus but not to a forensic lab... so if you're just giving the system to someone a single pass of zeros will suffice but if you're trying to hide your plans to overthrow the government and start a zombie revolution, better go for the multipass random overwrite scheme... which any standard wipe 'n shred type program supports these days.

3) If you wipe the entire drive by writing zeros, yes the drive is still fully functional. You then need to partition it first, and then format it to have a filesystem again before data can be put on it, or by installing most modern OS the setup program for that OS will usually offer to do this for you on any storage medium it detects.

Since (windows) and a multitude of apps can scatter personal data files all over your HDD, I usually find it more reassuring to wipe the whole drive then do a fresh OS install. Well, actually if I was the first owner I'll have made a partition backup image right after I had done a fresh OS install + drivers the first time so I'd only need to restore that clean image to the HDD instead of repeating the OS & driver installation process again.

 

[DirkGently1]

Eraser:

http://www.heidi.ie/eraser/

That is all.

 

[BoomerD]

Just wipe the entire drive (multiple passes) then reinstall the OS.

 

[darkcyber20]

Thanks everyone for the answers. Well, this is not my pc, I have someone that has asked me about wiping the "private data" from their system...whatever that involves I don't know, haven't seen the system. I agree, doing a complete HD wipe and doing an OS install is the way to go, but I have no clue if this person has the original Windows install discs, restoration partition,...etc. So, I was trying to gather some information before I looked at the system so I will know how involved this will be, depending on what they do or do not have.