What to do with old HDD?

[hondaf17]

I have enough old PCs and HDD laying around that I want to start getting rid of them.

I have read before that there are programs to wipe everything off your HDD so people can't pick one out of the trash and get access to some of your stuff.

What progam should I use to accomplish this? And, after using the program, could I then install XP on it? I'd like to do a complete clean wipe, re-install Windows, and then donate to charity or my church.

TYIA,

 

[razel]

You can use Vista/7's disk format. Just check the 'full format' checkbox. It will write zeros. If you're on XP there's tons of disk wipe software, but I recommend using the disk manufacture's diagnosis tool. I recommend it mostly just to check the drive's health, but it often includes an erase disk function. You also just need a basic single write. Skip the crazy multiple write stuff. It's beyond overkill.

 

[Gillbot]

dban

 

[KlokWyze]

dban

Yeah DBAN is probably the best for bootable apps. I would think a "full format" using mmc/disk management would be fine though. Also, Acronis Disk Cleanser. :thumbsup:

 

[jrodson69]

Can't go wrong with DBAN. Takes forever though.

 

[jaiello]

Better idea is to clone your primary computer's HD over to the old drive and have it sit there on the side in case something happens to the main. I do this once a month or so and then if my primary ever fails I can just pop in the old drive and I am up and running again in a few minutes while I try and figure out what happened to the primary drive. Let's face it the most failure prone devices in any computer are the HD and PS.

 

[iluvdeal]

Is there anything like DBAN but which runs within Windows? I have some HDDs I want to get rid of but I'd like to still be able to use my PC too while the wipe is going on.

 

[God Mode]

I take my old hard drives apart and gouge/sandpaper the disks. Not like I'm going to trust old drives to safely hold my data or such.

 

[corkyg]

Is there anything like DBAN but which runs within Windows? I have some HDDs I want to get rid of but I'd like to still be able to use my PC too while the wipe is going on.

Not really a great idea. Better to let the wipe operation happen while you are sleeping.

 

[hal2kilo]

You might also look for one of those USB 2.0 hydras that have both standard sizes of IDE sockets and a SATA connector. If you look for sales, you can get one for about $15 bucks. Then you don't even have to install it in a computer.

I don't know what to do with the collection of relatively small hard drives I have. Door stops? Paper weights?

 

[hondaf17]

Not really a great idea. Better to let the wipe operation happen while you are sleeping.

After I run DBAN will I still be able to install a fresh version of Windows XP, or is the HDD rendered unusable?

I just want it completely clean of all my personal data/files, do a fresh install of XP, then donate to church or charity.

 

[Gillbot]

it just wipes it clean

 

[bryanl]

Is there anything like DBAN but which runs within Windows? I have some HDDs I want to get rid of but I'd like to still be able to use my PC too while the wipe is going on.

Try this: http://www.hddscan.com/

 

[TheNinja]

I usually just take it apart and smash it with a hammer. I know it's destroyed then, plus I get to release some aggression Office Space style.

 

[hal2kilo]

I usually just take it apart and smash it with a hammer. I know it's destroyed then, plus I get to release some aggression Office Space style.

That's actually what the government does with TS drives.

 

[hondaf17]

Thanks for the suggestion of DBAN guys, running it now.

 

[her209]

I use the tool that comes with Western Digital drives... its call WinDLG.

Runs inside Windows.

 

[taltamir]

a full format in windows vista or windows 7 will also write 0s to the entire drive.
this is ALL you need. theoretical physicists claim that it might still be possible to recover data without multiple passes with random data... but we will sooner have a working warp drive than be able to do that.

don't install windowsXP on it before donating/selling it.
1. that is piracy.
2. that will not work, windows installs hardware specific drivers that are required to boot, it will just blue screen on them (unless they have near identical hardware) and besides, they will just format it themselves.

 

[tweakboy]

You need to erase your data off it. Then put a magnet on the drive then recycle it. gg and gl

 

[bryanl]

You need to erase your data off it. Then put a magnet on the drive then recycle it. gg and gl

A magnet will most likely do nothing, or it may render the drive unusable but still allow the data to be read by someone with the right equipment. Erasure through a utility that overwrites the sectors is a very secure solution and can be done faster by configuring dries in a mirror RAID.

 

[hondaf17]

a full format in windows vista or windows 7 will also write 0s to the entire drive.
this is ALL you need. theoretical physicists claim that it might still be possible to recover data without multiple passes with random data... but we will sooner have a working warp drive than be able to do that.

don't install windowsXP on it before donating/selling it.
1. that is piracy.
2. that will not work, windows installs hardware specific drivers that are required to boot, it will just blue screen on them (unless they have near identical hardware) and besides, they will just format it themselves.

Good point on #1. However on #2 I'd be donating the entire tower, not just the HDD, so XP would already be running everything they'd need.

 

[taltamir]

Good point on #1. However on #2 I'd be donating the entire tower, not just the HDD, so XP would already be running everything they'd need.

that would work.
also, if the computer in question came with windows XP, you can donate that license of winXP along with the rest of the computer if you are so inclined.

 

[RonniJamesDiode]

Spend a few minutes with a torx screwdriver and pull out the rare earth magnets. Those suckers are strong! By the time you're done cracking open the case and ripping the heads out you can be fairly confident that no one is going to ready those platters again.