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    Do I need to use DBAN before reinstalling OS?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by vinuneuro, Jul 9, 2010.

  1. vinuneuro

    vinuneuro Notebook Virtuoso

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    I've already reinstalled Win 7 once or twice on this drive (none of the old files remaining). Would there be any benefit in using something like DBAN before reinstalling it again since it's been done a few times?

    Thanks.
     
    vinuneuro, Jul 9, 2010
    #1
  2. Keith

    Keith Notebook Deity

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    I would say no. The only time I personally use DBAN is when I sell a machine to someone. Otheriwse the wipe that Windows does is sufficient.
     
    Keith, Jul 9, 2010
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  3. jtcady

    jtcady Notebook Consultant

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    I use DBAN everytime I want a clean install. It does a great job even though it is time consuming. It gets every bit of info off of it.
     
    jtcady, Jul 9, 2010
    #3
  4. Pitabred

    Pitabred Linux geek con rat flail!

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    ...DBAN? Really? Why not just blast a bunch of zeros to the drive? A "secure" erase is a TON of wear on your hardware for no benefit over zeroing out the drive which is maybe 20-30 minutes, tops.

    If you think you can recover any information from a drive I have zeroed out, I will send you a drive at your cost and if you can even recover a single 100x100 gif image or the filesystem structure, I will pay you every bit of actual cash money I have access to (emptying out my checking account and savings, everything).
     
    Pitabred, Jul 9, 2010
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  5. Lithus

    Lithus NBR Janitor

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    Don't even bother zeroing out the drive. Having files on your system without a master file table is exactly the same to an OS as not having the files there at all. You're just wasting your time.
     
    Lithus, Jul 9, 2010
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  6. woofer00

    woofer00 Wanderer

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    If it's a personal machine, a quick format and I move on - odds are it'll just be new garbage written over it soon enough. Use DBAN only when there's some rule about data security. If I'm feeling slightly insecure, I might zero-write the whole thing, but it's a real PITA. Besides, what the heck is so important that you're saving to your OS drive? Your ? If it's important enough to warrant DBAN, I would NEVER save it to something as easily stolen and dismantled as a laptop.
     
    woofer00, Jul 9, 2010
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  7. vinuneuro

    vinuneuro Notebook Virtuoso

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    I asked this question with zero concern on security. Was only wondering if there might be some performance difference gain to use DBAN first. Sounds like there won't be, and I'm glad to hear it because this will be a lot easier.
     
    vinuneuro, Jul 9, 2010
    #7
  8. SoundOf1HandClapping

    SoundOf1HandClapping Was once a Forge

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    On a related note, what programs are used to write zeros in the first place?

    I have a program lying around called Eraser, but I've yet to actually use it.
     
    SoundOf1HandClapping, Jul 10, 2010
    #8