Computer Question

M

maury

Joined
Sep 24, 2000
Messages
606
I will be getting a new computer next week and would like to wipe the hard drive clean on my old one before I pass it on to a new owner.

I sort of remember there being programs that I can download to do this: anyone recomend a site to me?

Thanks!
 
Google is your friend, search for a utility that does DOD wiping. There are more thorough ways to wipe a disk, but that should be plenty.
 
Consider taking the hard drive out of your old computer and having it installed in your new one as a second hard drive. This way, all your old files will just transfer right over. You can have a new hard drive put into the old computer for about $100.
 
If you know who makes the hard drive you can go to the manufacturers website and download their utility programs. This will be free, and as far as I know all of them have a program that will do exactly what you want quit well. What you want to do is format the drive. Then write all 0's to it to wipe out any last spec of data might be left.

It is really pretty easy to do, and will come with instructions. Generally though what you need to do is stick the program on a 3.5" floppy disk, this disk will become a bootable disk. Then reboot the computer with the disk in the drive, and it will give you all the options of what you can do. First let it format the drive, then choose to 0 fill it.

Or you could follow Chuck's recommendation which is a great idea. You get some extra HD space, easily keep any files you want, and can be absolutely certain that no sensitive information got to the new owner.
 
Of course, if you want to be really sure just take it apart and take to the disk with a bit of emery paper. All that oxide containing your 1s and 0s will now be scattered all over the place. As a bonus you'll get one or two REALLY strong magnets from the head mechanism which make excellent fridge magnets. :)
 
Mr. Ssblood's newegg place has an 80MByte Maxstore for $61.45 including FexEx shipping. You can't beat that with a stick.

Replacing the old hard drive in your old computer is trivial if you're at all handy.

Installing that old hard drive in your new computer as a second drive is just one or two notches above trivial, but you can probably do it.
 
You can never have too much hard drive space.
Just format the drive and put it in the new computer if you don't need any of the old files.

It's really really easy to put in. It just makes it easier if you have formatted the drive before you put it in the new computer. You can use it to put junk in.

I have my second hard drive for my porn, mp3's and back ups.
 
formatting the drive does not erase files particularly well. If you want real security, you need to use a disk wiper such as has been mentioned.

Phil
 
Gollnick has it right man, use that hard drive as a secondary for the new desktop. If thats a daunting task for you, keep it anyways, and put it away somewhere safe if you have serious personal info on it. I would never pass on a hard dirve when I can get a replacement as cheaply as they are available these days. Data recovery specialists exist commercially, so it pays to be as thorough as possible when it comes to security.
 
I am always amazed at the folks on this forum! Your willingness to share info is most appreciated. After reading all the replies, I figure the safest thing to do is take out the old hard drive and go for those magnets. Transfering it to the new machine just might bring along some of the germlins that I don't seem to be able to get rid of.

Thanks again to all!
 
What gremlins? Just format the whole thing and nothing will be left. You can use it for the new computer. It just seems like such a waste to destroy the hard drive. If you want to give it to someone else you're going to need to use a better utility to make sure everything is totally wiped out.
 
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