Permanently delete files on hard disk

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raycomp

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I want to sell a couple of old hard disks and need any suggestions on what software is best to delete all files on the disk to make recovery almost impossible. I do realize that specialized companies will still be able to do so at cost but I want to prevent from the average user not to do it himself.
 
jacksonc said:
abzo said:
I thought shift + delete...
Click to expand...
One sure way is to write data u wont need there, it will ocuppy the sectors even after deleting
Click to expand...

Using Shift + Delete only removes the references to the data from the file system, think of it like deleting a shortcut or removing a line from a database that lists what files are on the drive. After all if you delete a large 14GB file how else could it take only a second, if it actually overwrites each bit of the file (lets say with 0's, or 1's or a random combination) it could take just as long as to copy the file onto the drive and deleting things at that speed would be generally useless and slow down the entire machine.

You will have to overwrite the data multiple times to be certain, if I remember right 4 - 7 is standard.


ed,

If you want to wipe and entire drive something like Boot and Nuke will work but if you ever want to just delete a certain file search for something like file shredder or secure delete etc.
 
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My first P1 could do that from the BIOS. There was an option somewhere to do a low-level format and write 0's to the drive. Took almost a day to do a 800meg harddrive!
 
Al-Gore-flamethrower.jpg
 
Ccleaner has this function.you can even set it for like 37 passes or something crazy like that. i did one pass on my flash drive, and tried recuva, and every file it picked up couldnt be recovered because it was over-written.
 
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