Vista - n00b question about hdd erasure

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.

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

Another nooby question, how do you get into disk management in vista?

Hello MagnumEgo,

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

~Lordbob

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

Alright, I will check it out.

~Lordbob

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

and if the drives are IDE, you will have to set master/slave jumpers.