n00b question about hdd erasure

HWY 7

New Member
I know the different programs to use, etc.

what I am wondering about is the physical process involved.

I have 3 hdds i want to overwrite (not including my current hdd). Is it safe to hook them up one by one to the computer which I am currently running? Will I then be able to wipe them in windows?

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    eMachines - 1161-07
    CPU
    AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 6000+
    Motherboard
    eMachines MCP61PM-GM 2.2 OEM
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 9500 GT
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Au v6.6
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer LCD E181H
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768 pixels
    Hard Drives
    SATA 305GB 3.5-inch drive
    Lacie 500GB External
    Keyboard
    Standard
    Mouse
    HP Optical
    Internet Speed
    DSL 2MB
    Other Info
    BIOS Details:

    BIOS Vendor: Phoenix Technologies, LTD
    BIOS Type: AT/AT COMPATIBLE
    BIOS Version: 6.00 PG
    Copyright: GATEWA - 42302e31 orkstationBIOS v6.00PG
    Date: 10/29/2008
    Size: 1,024KB
Hello HWY7

Yes, just hook them all up at once, and load up disk management. Right click on the partitions and select delete. This will erase the HDDs.

~Lordbob
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 2.33GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS P5QC
    Memory
    2x2GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVidia GeForce 9500GT 1Gb
    Sound Card
    Mobo
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster 206bw
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SP2514N ATA 250Gb 7200RPM
    Samsung [Model] 1Tb 7200RPM SATA2
    PSU
    Cooler Master Real Power Pro 750W
    Keyboard
    Razer Tarantula
    Mouse
    Razer Lachesis
    Internet Speed
    not fast enough
Hello MagnumEgo,

Simple go into the start menu and type computer management. Then go into storage and select disk management.

~Lordbob
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 2.33GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS P5QC
    Memory
    2x2GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVidia GeForce 9500GT 1Gb
    Sound Card
    Mobo
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster 206bw
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SP2514N ATA 250Gb 7200RPM
    Samsung [Model] 1Tb 7200RPM SATA2
    PSU
    Cooler Master Real Power Pro 750W
    Keyboard
    Razer Tarantula
    Mouse
    Razer Lachesis
    Internet Speed
    not fast enough
Thanks for your help, you might be able to help with another question its in the 'External HDD is read-only' thread, i can't format it because it thinks its a cd drive

Thanks again
 

My Computer

Alright, I will check it out.

~Lordbob
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 2.33GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS P5QC
    Memory
    2x2GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVidia GeForce 9500GT 1Gb
    Sound Card
    Mobo
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster 206bw
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SP2514N ATA 250Gb 7200RPM
    Samsung [Model] 1Tb 7200RPM SATA2
    PSU
    Cooler Master Real Power Pro 750W
    Keyboard
    Razer Tarantula
    Mouse
    Razer Lachesis
    Internet Speed
    not fast enough
Actually, simply reformating a drive will not erase the data if you're looking for a Secure erase. It needs to be physically overwritten to do this and the Windows tools will not do this.
If you're simply looking to wipe them so you can use them again yourself, this will do but formatting doesn't physically remove any data except for the Master File Table (MFT) headers so Windows only Sees it as empty and will write to it.

For secure erasure, you need a tool like Eraser (Google it, free) that writes 1's or 0's to the drive.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Personal Build
    CPU
    Intel E6750 Core 2 Duo
    Motherboard
    Asus Commando MoBo (P965/ICH8R)
    Memory
    4G's Crucial Ballistix Tracer DDR2 PC26400 RAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    BFG 8800GTS OC2 320MB
    Sound Card
    Creative Sound Blaster X-FI Platinum FATAL1TY (next)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x 22" w2207 LCD Monitors
    Screen Resolution
    1- 1680 x 1050, 1 - 1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    3 x 500G SATA II WD Caviar HDD's
    PSU
    EnerMax NoiseTaker II 600W
    Case
    NZXT Lexa Classic (modified, dual doored & windowed)
    Cooling
    Zalman 9700 CPU cooler, 4-120mm fans, 1-90mm
    Mouse
    Logitech Optical Trackman trackball
    Other Info
    NZXT Lexa Classic Case, Zalman 9700 CPU Cooler, 2 DVD Burners c/w LightScribe (Sony, TSST), Enermax NoiseTaker II 600W PSU with Custom Chrome cable sleeving, Hauppauge HDTV TV Tuner Card, 5.1 Logitech Z5500 speakers, 15 in 1 Multi-card reader
Actually, simply reformating a drive will not erase the data if you're looking for a Secure erase. It needs to be physically overwritten to do this and the Windows tools will not do this.
If you're simply looking to wipe them so you can use them again yourself, this will do but formatting doesn't physically remove any data except for the Master File Table (MFT) headers so Windows only Sees it as empty and will write to it.

For secure erasure, you need a tool like Eraser (Google it, free) that writes 1's or 0's to the drive.
Ah. I was close. That would explain why it doesn't take long to format/delete partitions.

~Lordbob
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 2.33GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS P5QC
    Memory
    2x2GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVidia GeForce 9500GT 1Gb
    Sound Card
    Mobo
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster 206bw
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SP2514N ATA 250Gb 7200RPM
    Samsung [Model] 1Tb 7200RPM SATA2
    PSU
    Cooler Master Real Power Pro 750W
    Keyboard
    Razer Tarantula
    Mouse
    Razer Lachesis
    Internet Speed
    not fast enough
and if the drives are IDE, you will have to set master/slave jumpers.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Aleinware Area-51
    CPU
    core 2 extreme x9000 2.8 Ghz
    Memory
    4 Gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    (2) Nvidia 8800m GTX in Sli
    Sound Card
    Onboard RealTek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    42" JVC LCD HDTV
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080p 32 bit
    Hard Drives
    (2) seagate 7200rpm in RAID 0
    (1) maxtor external 1 terabyte firewire
    Case
    laptop
    Keyboard
    a really spiffy backlit one that i can change color ;>)
    Mouse
    logitech Anywhere Mouse and built-in touchpad
    Internet Speed
    Cable
Back
Top