How to clear hard drive before returning/selling laptop?

I am returning an XP running store-bought laptop and I want to clean it as much as possible, or within reason I suppose. I know this generally isn't fool-proof.

So far I have erased all my My Documents files, cleared some program files and uninstalled most of my programs. I plan to re-install Windows.

What else should I do or can I do? I know there are tons of freeware programs out there....

 

You'd probably be ok with performing a full reformat using your restore discs (or Windows disc if you have one). However, there are programs out there that will completely destroy data like...

Darik's Boot and Nuke: http://dban.sourceforge.net/

 

I'm aware of DBAN but it seems like a little too much. I wonder if there is anything a little less extreme that can add a little insurance?

 

Definately use something like Boot and Nuke. Otherwise anything you delete can be recovered with simple recovery programs.

 

Boot and Nuke has a variety of options to destroy the data. The simplest (one pass of all 0's) is the least secure, but it only takes about 20 minutes.

It's not extreme at all. I do it whenever I reformat.

 

Just select the quick erase option it goes through fairly fast depending on your drive size and speed. The DoD erasures take a couple of hours and really aren't necessary unless you have very critical things on your drive.

 

DBAN or Eraser are good. Also you can look for Hiren's Boot Disk (believe it's at 9.5 so far) and boot to CD for all the utilities you could possibly need. Provides utilities as listed here:

http://www.hiren.info/pages/bootcd

Includes HDD Eraser 1.0 (Secure erase using a special feature built into most newer hard drives)

 

please please plesae

wipe your drive w/ one of many utilities available on the net, some of which others have listed above......

DOD 3 passes at a minimum

Or sell the PC w/ out it and take a hammer or drill to it!

there are many programs that can recover your private data like ssn and credit card numbers etc, if you just do any kind of format, or just do a clean install of an OS on it.!!!!!!

 

So burned an ISO image onto a CD, re-set my BIOS and successfully loaded DBAN. But when I go to Quick Erase I'm getting error! just my luck. Going to try again.

 

Screw this. It's almost midnight and I must return it tomorrow. It's going back to Dell and I've only had it a few weeks. Hopefully a re-install will suffice. How screwed am I?

 

I usually use the dban version on this CD. I have never had an error. It is worth a shot.

http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

I don't know man... Only god knows Dell's procedure with hard drives. But if it has only been a few weeks, then I doubt you could have logged too much personal info on there.

 

any way to do the reverse? ie recover deleted files?

 

Run any linux live CD, open a terminal, and type this command:

dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sda

This will write 0's to your primary SATA hard drive.

 

Yes. there are a few recovery programs located in the "best free software" sticky: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=206289

I personally recommend TestDisk because I used it and loved it:
http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk

Some have recommended Recuva:
http://www.recuva.com/

However, if you have taken methods to thoroughly erase the data (such as we are suggesting to the original poster), then it may be difficult to recover.

 

http://www.fileshredder.org/

Wouldn't this be good enough?

 

Do a couple formats, usually 3-4 formats should destroy the data beyond recognition if you don`t want to use those apps.
But it is safer to do that, I used Eraser in the past and it was sufficient.

 

Okay, an update...a triumphant update! I finally got DBAN to work. (For anybody who is curious: It took 4 1/2 hours.) It took downloading their Beta ISO. I read a note from their support that the current DBAN does not always work with with the Core 2 Duo chipset...so I gave their Beta version a try, burned the ISO and voila. So if anybody asks about DBAN on these boards in the future, they should try the beta (or, I've read, an earlier version if you can find it may work too).

Right now I'm re-formatting, so hopefully that goes smoothly....

 

There you go. I`ll also have to use this in a feature, thanks for the heads up on the Beta and the Core2Duo issue.

 

Why make it so difficult if a simple shredder can do the work?
http://www.fileshredder.org/

 

Formats don't do anything to the raw data on the magnetic platter.

You have to overwrite it repeatedly with random data, and then a final pass with zeros.

 

That looks like a good program, but doesn't it just shred specific files you chose? If someone isn't familiar with where Windows stores certain personal data, then it wouldn't be securely erased.

It takes a lot longer to use a program like dban, but a person can be positive that all data is securely erased.

 

Yes true, one would have to know exactly where all information is stored.

 

gregory is cheap: thanks alot mate

 

hey phil, do u happen to know about the different algorithms? the link at their website has an error. it brings me back to the same help page.

http://www.fileshredder.org/fileshredder-help.php
see the line on algorithm.

 

try Eraser......

There is a 32b and 64 b version. It is freeware.

It has several diff algorithms- the home page and help option explain them well.

Just simply delete all the data, then Erase the Free Space- it has numerous options, or use the whole disk option which uses dban

EDIT
Eraser Home Page

 

nobscot6: cool. thanks a lot matey.

 

'Course you could just go the easy (but expensive) route - pull the old hdd, thrash it with a sledge-hammer and dump the remains somewheres like in the middle of the ocean, and then buy a new hdd and put that in the system.