What is the best free HDD wiper-boot disk

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  1. Posts : 2
    Windows 7 64 bit
       #1

    What is the best free HDD wiper-boot disk


    I want a boot disk so I can securely wipe my whole drive from the boot disk. I have the old Autoclave boot disk, but it doesn't seem to recognize my laptops HDD....in short, it will not work on my new laptop

    Anyone?

    TIA,
    Marty
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 2,259
    W7 Professional x64
       #2

    Active @ has a program for free that will write zeros across a drive, and if you pay for it you can write random things with more passes and whatnot as well.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 19,383
    Windows 10 Pro x64 ; Xubuntu x64
       #3

    Hi,

    If you have a Windows 7 installation disk, then you can use DISKPART to do that.

    Disk - Clean and Clean All with Diskpart Command

    Contrary to popular belief, a Clean All with Diskpart is as good as wiping a disk than many commercilly available software.

    Regards,
    Golden
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 6,349
    Windows7 Pro 64bit SP-1; Windows XP Pro 32bit
       #4

    Goldens suggestion is good.

    Free and good I've used this.
    http://partedmagic.com/doku.php?id=downloads

    Top two downloads on the page. Either iso or zipped iso.
    Does about everything including write 0 up to multi pass military erase.
    Also useable on SSD's.



    Home page.
    http://partedmagic.com/doku.php?id=start
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 53,363
    Windows 10 Home x64
       #5

    Darik's Boot And Nuke

    Darik's Boot and Nuke ("DBAN") is a self-contained boot disk that securely wipes the hard disks of most computers. DBAN will automatically and completely delete the contents of any hard disk that it can detect, which makes it an appropriate utility for bulk or emergency data destruction.

    DBAN is a means of ensuring due diligence in computer recycling, a way of preventing identity theft if you want to sell a computer, and a good way to totally clean a Microsoft Windows installation of viruses and spyware. DBAN prevents or thoroughly hinders all known techniques of hard disk forensic analysis.

    DBAN is a free software product that can be used at home or in a business at zero cost. The only official place to obtain DBAN is by download at this web site. We do not sell DBAN media.
    Darik's Boot And Nuke | Hard Drive Disk Wipe and Data Clearing

    A Guy
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 99
    Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 x64
       #6

    DBAN as above, works a dream
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 2
    Windows 7 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Can you tell me if Darik's Boot and Nuke only writes over the HDD 1 time only or can it be set to write over a HDD 2, 3, 4, or more times? I'd like to write over my HDD 5-7 times (or more) without restarting it after just one pass.

    Marty
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 11,840
    64-bit Windows 8.1 Pro
       #8

    Unless you are trying to erase REALLY sensitive data, one pass with Dban should be sufficient for your needs!
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 99
    Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 x64
       #9

    by default DBAN does 3 passes iirc, but you can set it to more, never really checked myself, i just use the default and its more than good enough!
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 97
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #10

    Modern Disk Drives (PATA/SATA) can be effectively wiped with a DoD Short (3 pass) wipe. Doing this
    effectively renders the disk un-recoverable by most (if not all) utilities. The HPA (Host Protected Area)
    can be examined as well.

    The Secure Erase setting in SATA specs is quite effective at wiping out data on any SATA drive. If this
    is available, use it (or use the method above).

    DBAN works quite well along with DISKPART.
      My Computer


 
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