Erase Hard Drive - Completely 3

[micker377]

Use to get rid of overlays and get disk back to factory specs.

**********************************************************

CAUTION: Use this at your own risk (desperation). It will totally erase your harddrive, with no way to restore.

DOS boot disk with at least Debug, Fdisk, and Format on it (Win98 Emergency Boot Disk has it all).
Boot to A: prompt - type DEBUG. a "-" will appear, start typing, and hit <enter> after each line.

The x's are for reference only, do not type. The rest of "Address" will appear on it's own.

Addresses What you type
--------- -------------
F 200 L1000 0 (ZEROS)
A CS:100
xxxx:0100 MOV AX,0301
xxxx:0103 MOV BX,0200
xxxx:0106 MOV CX,0001
xxxx:0109 MOV DX,0080
xxxx:010C INT 13
xxxx:010E INT 20
xxxx:0110 <ENTER> (Just hit enter key)
G
Q


The "G" means GO, and it should give a message like "program terminated normally" (This is from the original instructions, it may be too fast to read on new systems).
The "Q" means Quit, and should return you to the A: prompt.
Note: if you try to access the hard drive at this time, you should get a "Drive not ready" error. Re-boot the DOS disk, partition and format the usual way.
*********************************************************

<<<<<<<<<Remember - proceed at your own risk>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

 

[edfair]

Great. Now how about putting it in the FAQs, so it is there for us to reference it without having to search back through the old posts?
And thank you.

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[Freestone]

Never satisfied with just seeing assembly instructions without knowing its purpose, I found the following information regarding micker's post.

From

http://www.ctyme.com/intr/rb-0608.htm

AH = 03h = Disk - Write Disk Sector(s)
AL = number of sectors to write (must be nonzero)
CH = low eight bits of cylinder number
CL = sector number 1-63 (bits 0-5)
high two bits of cylinder (bits 6-7, hard disk only)
DH = head number
DL = drive number (bit 7 set for hard disk)
ES:BX -> data buffer


AL = 01 = writes 1 sector with data addressed by ES:BX
BX = 0200 = data start
CH = 00 = cylinder 0
CL = 01 = sector 1
DH = 00 = head 0
DL = 80 = hard drive 0

So, in effect, this program is zeroing the Master Boot Record on the first hard drive in the system, assuming that one performed the fill command (F 200 L1000 0) prior.

http://www.pcguide.com/ref/hdd/file/structMBR-c.html

 

[garebo]

Or get the free prog called killdisk?

Would killdisk do the same?
I'm certainly asking and not telling as the only thing i have ever done is to fdisk and format a drive to delete any data on it.

thanks





Good advice + great people = tek-tips

 

[Frank4d]

I have used the above Debug script successfully on one PC that previously had a NTFS partition downgraded to FAT32 where Windows 98 wouldn't install, another that previously had OS/2, and a couple of others that had the OnTrack disk manager. Kills them all.

 

[braddds]

Just a quick question. Is this the same as a low level format?

Cheers

 

[Frank4d]

No, it just wipes the MBR which is usually good enough to make a drive usable again if it previously contained data that prevents an OS from being properly installed on it. If you're concerned about someone accessing data on a drive that you are selling or throwing in the trash, then you need to low level format it.

 

[braddds]

Frank4d

Thanks for the info!

Cheers

 

[cdogg]

In addition to Frank's post, this method helps reset the MBR header. It does not destroy data "physically stored" on the hard drive.

If you're concerned about security:
The best method to use is a utility that will randomly write 1's and 0's to every sector of the drive, making several passes (7 passes is a standard secure wipe that government agencies use). First you format, then wipe it clean with such a utility.

Keep in mind that the only way to really secure lost data is to destroy the hard drive platters. Any number of data recovery services out there have methods to recover even from a secure 7-pass wipe.

~cdogg
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[Frank4d]

A sledgehammer works (don't laugh, I have actually done this).

 

[vivaquebec]

if you want to get rid of the data the best and safest way is to get the platters and scratch them.

 

[cdogg]

vivaquebec,
Are you sure a sledgehammer isn't the best option! I kind of like that idea...



~cdogg
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[mainegeek]

Thank you for the useful info.

My neighbors will appreciate it too.. as I can finally say good bye to the ole "Fence Post & Rifle" method.

 

[BaudKarma]

Take the drive apart. Rub each platter surface briskly with magnetized steel wool. Take a sledgehammer to the platters and pulverize them. Then blowtorch them.

Overkill, but very satisfying to the psyche.



I try not to let my ignorance prevent me from offering a strong opinion.