Delete everything on HD before sending in for repair?

Bonto · 25 May 2010

Hey there. My hard drive has failed me for the second time. First with a currupt partition and now with a corrupt MBR. Since I recently bought it, It is still in the manufacturer's warranty. Before I send it to them, should I run a command prompt (through Windows 7 disc) and do a clean all? I'm asking this because I'm curious if deleting all content on it would erase all proof that it has failed once again.

Note: The only way for me to run a command prompt is through my WIn. 7 disc. BUT For some reason when I boot the computer with my Win. 7 disc, it is not even loading it up. Even though I changed my BIOS boot settings to boot removable media first. Any fix for that?

Thanks for any future help.

ryo · 25 May 2010

i think that's a failure of hardware. and not affected to the system, if you want to do clean install. that's ok.

some of the reason hard disk failure is because the location hard disk is not flat. or the other reason.
hard disk is common electronic component nowadays and prone to failure especially desktop harddisk and getting old every single day/month/year. so if you have important data..please ensure you always have backup copy on it.

Cheers
Ryo~

HMonk · 25 May 2010

Are you suggesting that the corrupt partition/MBR is so because of a mechanical issue with the HDD (v. SW/OS issue)?

Regardless, if you just want to delete data on the disk, try Eraser It is a free, open source app that I find extremely proficient. You can select from any of several levels of security erasing and even overwrite sectors with nonsensical data. Install and it will place an icon in the tray. Right-click the icon, open the app, from the tool bar click the down-arrow next to ERASE SCHEDULE, select NEW TASK, click on ADD DATA at the bottom of the window, and then you can select FILES, FILE IN FOLDER, UNUSED DISC SPACE, RECYCLE BIN and erase whatever you wish.

If you bought it from a reputable retailer, I should not think anyone would question the validity of your claim. If questions arise, I would simply tell the truth: I erased sensitive data.

Monk

Bonto · 25 May 2010

Thanks for the suggestions. Though I can not even start my OS so the app you suggested won't help me. The reason I'm thinking about deleting in the first place is basic privacy. Though I doubt Western Digital would even look at any of the data on my hard drive its just the thought of some random low level employee getting to it. I'll keep trying with my OS disc and see if I can do a clean all command. If that doesn't work, I'll just send it in as is.

ryo · 25 May 2010

Bonto said:

Thanks for the suggestions. Though I can not even start my OS so the app you suggested won't help me. The reason I'm thinking about deleting in the first place is basic privacy. Though I doubt Western Digital would even look at any of the data on my hard drive its just the thought of some random low level employee getting to it. I'll keep trying with my OS disc and see if I can do a clean all command. If that doesn't work, I'll just send it in as is.

so your OS is corrupted?? did you already try to Repair Install.

Bonto · 25 May 2010

Since I can't even start my OS, I assume I would run that through my OS disc. Thats even if my OS disc starts. Last time I tried running the disc, my screen stayed black with the white line blinking. (After my corrupt MBR)

HMonk · 25 May 2010

Do you have the WD install disc? You can delete the partition/reformat with it assuming it will start from the ODD since it is a stand-alone app.

Monk

Bonto · 25 May 2010

I bought it OEM from Newegg. Here is my hard drive: Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar Black WD7501AALS 750GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive -Bare Drive

Bonto · 26 May 2010

So I have my Win. 7 OS disc running but I can not do a repair install. I'm running out of options here. Seems like all I can do is clean my entire drive using the command prompt and send it in, or send my hard drive in as is and hope for the best.

Remember: This is the second time my hard drive has corrupted my OS files so I'm pretty sure its an actual hardware issue. So even if I did a new install, this same problem would most likely just happen again.

If there are any more options I can take to somehow reclaim my data before I send it in, please inform me. If not, thank you for the suggestions I already received.

ryo · 26 May 2010

how about if you try to slave your hard disk, so you can slave to the other good PC and see the hard disk show up on it or not. if show up, try to access it, maybe can help to backup your data to the other hard disk before send to vendor.