Reformat and secure data deletion

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gogreen

New member
I erased the old Windows XP partition and created and formatted a new one, and reinstalled Windows XP. All this on a machine I want to sell. Does this securely erase data I previously had on the hard drive? Thanks.
 

My Computer

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Dell Studio XPS 8100, Dell XPS 15 laptop
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Windows 10 Home, 64 bit
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Intel Core i7 860 @ 2.8 GHz
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Dell 0T568R (CPU1)
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nVidia GeForce GTS 240
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977 GB Western Digital WDC WD1001FAES-75W7A0 (SCSI)
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gogreen said:
I erased the old Windows XP partition and created and formatted a new one, and reinstalled Windows XP. All this on a machine I want to sell. Does this securely erase data I previously had on the hard drive? Thanks.
Click to expand...

No, you need a "wipe" utility to overwrite all free space.

Do a search as there are many free utilities to do this. (It helps to delete cache and temp directory files, empty trash, then defrag before running the wipe utility).

Regards,
GEWB
 

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(7 different computers booting up to 10 systems)
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Linux Mint / XP / Win7 Home, Pro, Ultimate / Win8.1 / Win10
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Four desktops, two laptops, one notebook and one tablet
I don't think you need a 3rd party app. Following Bare Foot Kid's excellent tutorial using the diskpart command should sort you out.

Also see Microsoft's page for extra info.
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Toshiba Satellite L500
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Windows 7 Home Premium x64 OEM --> RTM clean install
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Intel T4400
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? - laptop inbuilt ?
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4Gb
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? - Mobile Intel(R) 4 Series Express Chipset Family ?
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Realtek
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? + extended to a 42" LG55PC plasma tele!
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A LOWLY LAPTOP!
allend66 said:
I don't think you need a 3rd party app. Following Bare Foot Kid's excellent tutorial using the diskpart command should sort you out.

Also see Microsoft's page for extra info.
Click to expand...

Thanks for remembering that - old habits die slowly...but does the XP version have that switch?

Regards,
GEWB
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
(7 different computers booting up to 10 systems)
OS
Linux Mint / XP / Win7 Home, Pro, Ultimate / Win8.1 / Win10
Other Info
Four desktops, two laptops, one notebook and one tablet

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Toshiba Satellite L500
OS
Windows 7 Home Premium x64 OEM --> RTM clean install
CPU
Intel T4400
Motherboard
? - laptop inbuilt ?
Memory
4Gb
Graphics Card(s)
? - Mobile Intel(R) 4 Series Express Chipset Family ?
Sound Card
Realtek
Monitor(s) Displays
? + extended to a 42" LG55PC plasma tele!
Screen Resolution
1366 * 768
Hard Drives
320Gb 5500rpm
PSU
?
Case
?
Cooling
?
Internet Speed
3Meg, when it works.
Other Info
A LOWLY LAPTOP!
Hmmm. Would wiping the free space with CCleaner do it?
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Dell Studio XPS 8100, Dell XPS 15 laptop
OS
Windows 10 Home, 64 bit
CPU
Intel Core i7 860 @ 2.8 GHz
Motherboard
Dell 0T568R (CPU1)
Memory
8.0 GB Dual Channel DDR3 @ 664 MHz (9-9-9-24)
Graphics Card(s)
nVidia GeForce GTS 240
Sound Card
M-Audio Delta Audiophile 2496
Monitor(s) Displays
Dell 2407WFP
Screen Resolution
1920x1200
Hard Drives
977 GB Western Digital WDC WD1001FAES-75W7A0 (SCSI)
Antivirus
Windows Defender, MalwareBytes Anti-Malware, AdwCleaner
Browser
Firefox, occasionally IE and Edge
Other Info
Mozilla Firefox, Mozilla Thunderbird. Western Digital Passport 250 GB external HD, two Mushkin Enhanced Mulholland 32GB USB flash drives, AKG K240 Studio headphones, Asus AC-1900 dual band wireless router.
Not CCleaner, use free Partition Wizard bootable CD if you need a GUI.

Otherwise boot the WIn7 DVD or Repair CD, press Shift + F10 at first screen, type in Command Box:

DISKPART
LIST DISK
SELECT DISK # (use target HD #)
CLEAN ALL
EXIT

Takes about 1 hour per 300 gb to write zeroes to entire HD.
 
gregrocker said:
Not CCleaner, use free Partition Wizard bootable CD if you need a GUI.

Otherwise boot the WIn7 DVD or Repair CD, press Shift + F10 at first screen, type in Command Box:

DISKPART
LIST DISK
SELECT DISK # (use target HD #)
CLEAN ALL
EXIT

Takes about 1 hour per 300 gb to write zeroes to entire HD.
Click to expand...

Are these directions the same for an XP machine?
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Dell Studio XPS 8100, Dell XPS 15 laptop
OS
Windows 10 Home, 64 bit
CPU
Intel Core i7 860 @ 2.8 GHz
Motherboard
Dell 0T568R (CPU1)
Memory
8.0 GB Dual Channel DDR3 @ 664 MHz (9-9-9-24)
Graphics Card(s)
nVidia GeForce GTS 240
Sound Card
M-Audio Delta Audiophile 2496
Monitor(s) Displays
Dell 2407WFP
Screen Resolution
1920x1200
Hard Drives
977 GB Western Digital WDC WD1001FAES-75W7A0 (SCSI)
Antivirus
Windows Defender, MalwareBytes Anti-Malware, AdwCleaner
Browser
Firefox, occasionally IE and Edge
Other Info
Mozilla Firefox, Mozilla Thunderbird. Western Digital Passport 250 GB external HD, two Mushkin Enhanced Mulholland 32GB USB flash drives, AKG K240 Studio headphones, Asus AC-1900 dual band wireless router.
DISKPART will work, but if you want something else as an alternative, DBAN is a very small, but effective program that you download in the form of an .iso file. You'll get choices as to the level of over-writing/wiping you can achieve.

http://www.dban.org/
 

My Computer

OS
Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
CPU
Intel Core i7-2600
Motherboard
Gigabyte GA-P67A-UD3P-B3
Memory
12 GB Patriot Extreme DDR3-1333
Graphics Card(s)
Nvidia GTX 470
Monitor(s) Displays
Dell UltraSharp 2209WA
Hard Drives
OCZ Agility3 240 GB, WD5001AALS, WD7501AALS
PSU
OCZ ModStream 700W
Case
CoolerMaster HAF 912 Advanced
Cooling
CoolerMaster Hyper 212 Plus
Well, I found DISKPART a bit too complicated for me, so I downloaded Dban's iso file and have it working on the XP machine right now. It'll take about 2 hours. It's set for autonuke, which I believe is DoD Short. Do you think that is sufficient?

Thanks!
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Dell Studio XPS 8100, Dell XPS 15 laptop
OS
Windows 10 Home, 64 bit
CPU
Intel Core i7 860 @ 2.8 GHz
Motherboard
Dell 0T568R (CPU1)
Memory
8.0 GB Dual Channel DDR3 @ 664 MHz (9-9-9-24)
Graphics Card(s)
nVidia GeForce GTS 240
Sound Card
M-Audio Delta Audiophile 2496
Monitor(s) Displays
Dell 2407WFP
Screen Resolution
1920x1200
Hard Drives
977 GB Western Digital WDC WD1001FAES-75W7A0 (SCSI)
Antivirus
Windows Defender, MalwareBytes Anti-Malware, AdwCleaner
Browser
Firefox, occasionally IE and Edge
Other Info
Mozilla Firefox, Mozilla Thunderbird. Western Digital Passport 250 GB external HD, two Mushkin Enhanced Mulholland 32GB USB flash drives, AKG K240 Studio headphones, Asus AC-1900 dual band wireless router.
One set of zeroes is sufficient to overwrite any infected or corrupt code. Any more than that is for making data unrecoverable.
 
gregrocker said:
One set of zeroes is sufficient to overwrite any infected or corrupt code. Any more than that is for making data unrecoverable.
Click to expand...

My goal is to make any data unrecoverable--I should have mentioned that. Sorry. So is the autonuke DoD Short method OK for that? Thanks.
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Dell Studio XPS 8100, Dell XPS 15 laptop
OS
Windows 10 Home, 64 bit
CPU
Intel Core i7 860 @ 2.8 GHz
Motherboard
Dell 0T568R (CPU1)
Memory
8.0 GB Dual Channel DDR3 @ 664 MHz (9-9-9-24)
Graphics Card(s)
nVidia GeForce GTS 240
Sound Card
M-Audio Delta Audiophile 2496
Monitor(s) Displays
Dell 2407WFP
Screen Resolution
1920x1200
Hard Drives
977 GB Western Digital WDC WD1001FAES-75W7A0 (SCSI)
Antivirus
Windows Defender, MalwareBytes Anti-Malware, AdwCleaner
Browser
Firefox, occasionally IE and Edge
Other Info
Mozilla Firefox, Mozilla Thunderbird. Western Digital Passport 250 GB external HD, two Mushkin Enhanced Mulholland 32GB USB flash drives, AKG K240 Studio headphones, Asus AC-1900 dual band wireless router.
I'm surprised you thought the DBAN method was the easiest. DISKPART is very simple to use, and you were even given the commands to use in order.

Anyway, yes, that should be sufficient for data destruction.
 

My Computer

OS
Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
CPU
Intel Core i7-2600
Motherboard
Gigabyte GA-P67A-UD3P-B3
Memory
12 GB Patriot Extreme DDR3-1333
Graphics Card(s)
Nvidia GTX 470
Monitor(s) Displays
Dell UltraSharp 2209WA
Hard Drives
OCZ Agility3 240 GB, WD5001AALS, WD7501AALS
PSU
OCZ ModStream 700W
Case
CoolerMaster HAF 912 Advanced
Cooling
CoolerMaster Hyper 212 Plus
DeaconFrost said:
I'm surprised you thought the DBAN method was the easiest. DISKPART is very simple to use, and you were even given the commands to use in order.

Anyway, yes, that should be sufficient for data destruction.
Click to expand...

Microsoft's instructions for DISKPART for Windows XP, at least, seemed complicated to me. Anyway, DBAN worked perfectly, and I'm now reinstalling Windows XP--all in preparation to selling the computer. Thanks for the word on the data destruction.
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Dell Studio XPS 8100, Dell XPS 15 laptop
OS
Windows 10 Home, 64 bit
CPU
Intel Core i7 860 @ 2.8 GHz
Motherboard
Dell 0T568R (CPU1)
Memory
8.0 GB Dual Channel DDR3 @ 664 MHz (9-9-9-24)
Graphics Card(s)
nVidia GeForce GTS 240
Sound Card
M-Audio Delta Audiophile 2496
Monitor(s) Displays
Dell 2407WFP
Screen Resolution
1920x1200
Hard Drives
977 GB Western Digital WDC WD1001FAES-75W7A0 (SCSI)
Antivirus
Windows Defender, MalwareBytes Anti-Malware, AdwCleaner
Browser
Firefox, occasionally IE and Edge
Other Info
Mozilla Firefox, Mozilla Thunderbird. Western Digital Passport 250 GB external HD, two Mushkin Enhanced Mulholland 32GB USB flash drives, AKG K240 Studio headphones, Asus AC-1900 dual band wireless router.
All data is unrecoverable after one pass of 0's to the full drive. Doing more passes than one is superfluous.
 

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XP / Win7 x64 Pro
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Intel Quad-Core Q9450 @ 3.2GHz
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Asus P5-E
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NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GTS (EVGA)
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Dell 2408WFP
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1920x1200
FliGi7 said:
All data is unrecoverable after one pass of 0's to the full drive. Doing more passes than one is superfluous.
Click to expand...

Good to know. And a real time-saver for the next time! Thanks.
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Dell Studio XPS 8100, Dell XPS 15 laptop
OS
Windows 10 Home, 64 bit
CPU
Intel Core i7 860 @ 2.8 GHz
Motherboard
Dell 0T568R (CPU1)
Memory
8.0 GB Dual Channel DDR3 @ 664 MHz (9-9-9-24)
Graphics Card(s)
nVidia GeForce GTS 240
Sound Card
M-Audio Delta Audiophile 2496
Monitor(s) Displays
Dell 2407WFP
Screen Resolution
1920x1200
Hard Drives
977 GB Western Digital WDC WD1001FAES-75W7A0 (SCSI)
Antivirus
Windows Defender, MalwareBytes Anti-Malware, AdwCleaner
Browser
Firefox, occasionally IE and Edge
Other Info
Mozilla Firefox, Mozilla Thunderbird. Western Digital Passport 250 GB external HD, two Mushkin Enhanced Mulholland 32GB USB flash drives, AKG K240 Studio headphones, Asus AC-1900 dual band wireless router.
FliGi7 said:
All data is unrecoverable after one pass of 0's to the full drive. Doing more passes than one is superfluous.
Click to expand...
If seen plenty of people suggesting otherwise. I don't know enough to say which is right, but considering what a person has to lose, it is well worth the extra time to do a DoD wipe, just to be sure. I do them when I sell a disc online or through eBay to someone I don't know. I use a zero-only option when I give a drive to a friend or family member. When I'm dealing with releasing my drives to the wild, I prefer to know for sure that my data is gone. If it takes an extra hour or so, I'm fine with that.
gogreen said:
Microsoft's instructions for DISKPART for Windows XP, at least, seemed complicated to me.
Click to expand...
theog posted the commands in above. Especially in Windows 7, it is a very easy app to use, and very handy. It's handy enough that it made me stop using gdisk, which was my go to app for a decade. When you boot from a Windows 7 install disc, and get to the title screen, hit Shift+F10, I believe, and it will bring up a console to run DISKPART in. Then the commands given above by theog will work as well.
 

My Computer

OS
Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
CPU
Intel Core i7-2600
Motherboard
Gigabyte GA-P67A-UD3P-B3
Memory
12 GB Patriot Extreme DDR3-1333
Graphics Card(s)
Nvidia GTX 470
Monitor(s) Displays
Dell UltraSharp 2209WA
Hard Drives
OCZ Agility3 240 GB, WD5001AALS, WD7501AALS
PSU
OCZ ModStream 700W
Case
CoolerMaster HAF 912 Advanced
Cooling
CoolerMaster Hyper 212 Plus
DeaconFrost said:
DISKPART will work, but if you want something else as an alternative, DBAN is a very small, but effective program that you download in the form of an .iso file. You'll get choices as to the level of over-writing/wiping you can achieve.

Darik's Boot And Nuke | Hard Drive Disk Wipe and Data Clearing
Click to expand...
I just want to add a word of caution here regarding DBAN.

I turned two older scsi drives into door stops when I used DBAN to wipe them.

Both drives worked prior to running DBAN, but both were dead when I went to install Windows.

I doubt if anyone here is still using scsi drives, so this is just a heads up.
 

My Computer

OS
Win 7 Ultimate x64
gogreen said:
gregrocker said:
One set of zeroes is sufficient to overwrite any infected or corrupt code. Any more than that is for making data unrecoverable.
Click to expand...

My goal is to make any data unrecoverable--I should have mentioned that. Sorry. So is the autonuke DoD Short method OK for that? Thanks.
Click to expand...
nothing short of an electron microscope, will recover data after a single pass with any of the major drive wipe apps.

the dod standard is for ultra critical top secret data.

no one is going to invest that much time, effort, and money in recovering your data.
 

My Computer

OS
Win 7 Ultimate x64
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