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Windows 7: Reformat and secure data deletion

17 Feb 2011   #1

Windows 7 Home Premium x64 SP 1
Florida
 
 
Reformat and secure data deletion

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 System SpecsSystem Spec

17 Feb 2011   #2

32bit: XP, Win7 H.P. / 64bit: 2008R2, Win7 Pro, Ultimate / Several flavors of Linux
Denver, Colorado
 
 

Quote   Quote: Originally Posted by gogreen View Post
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.
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
My System SpecsSystem Spec
17 Feb 2011   #3

Windows 7 Home Premium x64 OEM --> RTM clean install
The Mighty Maspujols, Spain
 
 

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 System SpecsSystem Spec
.


17 Feb 2011   #4

32bit: XP, Win7 H.P. / 64bit: 2008R2, Win7 Pro, Ultimate / Several flavors of Linux
Denver, Colorado
 
 

Quote   Quote: Originally Posted by allend66 View Post
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.
Thanks for remembering that - old habits die slowly...but does the XP version have that switch?

Regards,
GEWB
My System SpecsSystem Spec
17 Feb 2011   #5

Windows 7 Home Premium x64 OEM --> RTM clean install
The Mighty Maspujols, Spain
 
 

Quote   Quote: Originally Posted by GEWB View Post
Quote   Quote: Originally Posted by allend66 View Post
Also see Microsoft's page for extra info.
Thanks for remembering that - old habits die slowly...but does the XP version have that switch?

Regards,
GEWB
The link above seems to say so.
My System SpecsSystem Spec
17 Feb 2011   #6

Windows 7 Home Premium x64 SP 1
Florida
 
 

Hmmm. Would wiping the free space with CCleaner do it?
My System SpecsSystem Spec
17 Feb 2011   #7

Win7 x 6 PC's
California, Florida, Boston
 
 

Not CCleaner, use free Partition Wizard bootable CD if you need a GUI.

Otherwise boot the Windows 7 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.
My System SpecsSystem Spec
18 Feb 2011   #8

Windows 7 Home Premium x64 SP 1
Florida
 
 

Quote   Quote: Originally Posted by gregrocker View Post
Not CCleaner, use free Partition Wizard bootable CD if you need a GUI.

Otherwise boot the Windows 7 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.
Are these directions the same for an XP machine?
My System SpecsSystem Spec
18 Feb 2011   #9

ME/XP/Vista/Win7
uk Hampshire
 
 

If using Win XP CD.

Reformat and secure data deletion-capture.png

Reformat and secure data deletion-capture2.png

Type in command line
DISKPART
LIST DISK
SELECT DISK # (win HD)
CLEAN ALL



SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation
My System SpecsSystem Spec
18 Feb 2011   #10

Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
Philadelphia, PA
 
 

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/
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