free hard drive eraser/wipe tools


  1. Posts : 38
    32 bits window7
       #1

    free hard drive eraser/wipe tools


    hi guys,
    if i was looking to use a free hard drive eraser/wipe tool, what do you guys use/recommend,

    thanks for your time, bluesfloyd,
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 20,583
    Win-7-Pro64bit 7-H-Prem-64bit
       #2
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 90
    Windows 7 x64, ultimate/pro/home, SLES x86 & ia64
       #3

    depends on a single pass of zeroes is good enough, or if you want something more elaborate.
    diskwipe.org is not bad.
    CCleaner from piriform.com can also accomplish a disk wipe and wipe free space,
    both of those need windows 7 already running to run their program.

    hard to beat dban.org. it can do a quick wipe or an elaborate time consuming one, does not need a computer with a running operating system other than to make the bootable cd.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 4,776
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
       #4

    It depends upon what you want to do.

    Erase entire HD - Personally I use Dban

    Wipe free space and MFT Free Space - I Sdelete (SysInternals)

    Wipe folders or files - I use Blank and Secure
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 38
    32 bits window7
    Thread Starter
       #5

    hi,
    if i had a old laptop running slow, and wish to reinstall windows 7 to it, would you wipe the drive first and then reinstall win7 for best results???? or only reinstall win7 to the old laptop,

    thanks for your time, bluesfloyd
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 90
    Windows 7 x64, ultimate/pro/home, SLES x86 & ia64
       #6

    wiping the drive would not give better results.
    I would boot on your win7 reinstall dvd, choose customize and delete all the partitions on the hard drive before starting the actual install. This will result in a clean install of win7 onto the drive; win7 will not know any better what has been done to the drive prior to doing this.
    Also, remove all other hard drives from your system to be safe so you don't accidentally choose the wrong drive to unpartition.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 33
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #7

    its active killdisk for me
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 20,583
    Win-7-Pro64bit 7-H-Prem-64bit
       #8

    bluesfloyd said:
    hi,
    if i had a old laptop running slow, and wish to reinstall windows 7 to it, would you wipe the drive first and then reinstall win7 for best results???? or only reinstall win7 to the old laptop,

    thanks for your time, bluesfloyd
    So was there any viruses or malware/ rootkits involved with the bad performance ?

    Laptops do not improve with age :)
    It might be time to step up to installing a ssd it is the single best performance gain on any machine but especially an older laptop.
    Samsung/ Crucial are just my 2 favorite brands of ssd's and best of all they are getting a lot more affordable.
      My Computer


 

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