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    Question About Selling Hard Drive

    Discussion in '2015+ Alienware 13 / 15 / 17' started by wrathofdeath, Jun 28, 2016.

  1. wrathofdeath

    wrathofdeath Notebook Evangelist

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    So I'd like to sell my Alienware m11x with a hard drive in it that is full of data.

    My question is; what's the most secure way of wiping all of my data but keeping Windows 7 on the machine?

    My buddy suggested I get a new drive and install windows on it, but that'd cut into the money I'd make off the laptop.

    Any suggestions?
     
    wrathofdeath, Jun 28, 2016
    #1
  2. Porter

    Porter Notebook Virtuoso

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    Use a program to wipe the drive's empty space. Personally I use "Eraser" and have for many years without issue.

    First uninstall all of your programs and delete any folders you may have created. Another simple thing is to create a new account for the new buyer (I usually call it "User") and delete your old account and files. Then wipe the whole drive's empty space, you can even wipe cluster tips of the used space if you want.

    The more passes you make the more secure it is. Some say realistically you only need to do one pass, some say many passes. I usually do whatever can be done in 24 hrs. Some larger drives could take weeks to wipe with the higher pass methods.

    http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-hard-drive-eraser.htm
     
    Last edited: Jun 28, 2016
    Porter, Jun 28, 2016
    #2
  3. cruisin5268d

    cruisin5268d Notebook Evangelist

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    I'm a Server Engineer for a government entity. The standard we use for "D.O.D wiping" a hard drive is minimum of 4 pass, 7 pass preferred. If time permits there's no reason not to do a 7 pass. If the drive you want to wipe clean is a SSD then a normal multi pass wipe process is not effective nor is it needed.
     
    cruisin5268d, Jul 11, 2016
    #3
  4. scottdrmyers

    scottdrmyers Notebook Consultant

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    Why don't you just extract the Windows 7 key from the Windows install using a number of free programs available, wipe the drive and reinstall windows 7 on using the same key? I'm not sure what you're trying to do but you're making the process way more complicated than it needs to be.
     
    scottdrmyers, Jul 11, 2016
    #4
  5. Alienware-L_Porras

    Alienware-L_Porras Company Representative

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    I agree with this. Leaving information there isn't secure. I'd just wipe the drive and give it at least 3 passes on a cleaning software.
     
    Alienware-L_Porras, Jul 15, 2016
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  6. vkt62

    vkt62 Notebook Consultant

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    I would suggest reinstalling Windows on the computer and do a empty space drive wipe using ccleaner with atleast 4 passes.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
    vkt62, Sep 5, 2016
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  7. Vasudev

    Vasudev Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    If you're familiar with Hard Disk sentinel or similar SW, use destructive write test or choose re-initialise disk surface option to wipe everything clean and then install Linux to possibly clear data structures created and used by windows incl. MFT entries and $USN journal files.
     
    Vasudev, Sep 5, 2016
    #7