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Formatting HD 1

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TarsierSpectral

IS-IT--Management
Oct 21, 2003
270
US
I need to zero out a HD. I am giving a computer away and I will not be installing any OS on it.

In the past used fdisk.exe run from a bootable floppy. How is this acomplished these days? I don't have A drive any more.

Thanks
 
These steps will show you how to write 0's to a hard disk to ensure no data is left behind.

Step 1: Insert a floppy disk (data on it will be lost)

Step 2: Download a Win98se boot disk:
Step 3: Run the Win98se boot disk exe file to create your boot disk

Step 4: Download the Wipe utility:
Step 5: Extract the files to the root of your boot disk

Step 6: Boot to the floppy drive and use the following command

wipe 0

The number is the fixed drive number
 
as I stated in my initial post. I do NOT have a floppy drive.

I used Freestone's suggestion
 
Don't forget to give Freestone a star for their help [wink]

Killdisk is in my list of "must have" software for any computer geek.

Cheers
Rob

The answer is always "PEBKAC!
 
Maggieddd - under the response of each person, there is a little link calle '* Thank <handle of person responding> for this valuable post!' hit this and it will guide you further...


ArizonaGeek - guess I'm not a computer geek, LOL... I use DBAN and ToolhouseOS (costs a bunch, but my boss swears by it, since it also tests your hardware)...

Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
 
BadBigBen said:
guess I'm not a computer geek, LOL... I use DBAN and ToolhouseOS

Ford vs Chevy my friend. Personal preference. I have been using Killdisk for many years, I just got Active@Bootdisk (with Killdisk as a feature of it) and love it. The data recovery software as well as Killdisk have been a huge help.

What is ToolhouseOS? I've never heard of it, I Googled it and didn't find it.

Cheers
Rob

The answer is always "PEBKAC!
 
You could always make a bootable CD and run it from DOS, that's a no brainer. so hence the ISO isn't necessary, but useful. IMO there are many ways to get through it without a FDD drive. Trust me...I know it because I've done it.


It's always great to have a bunch of geeks sharing info to help out. Every one does things differently, doesn't make anyone any less then that of it's counterparts.

 
I like the computer adjustment tool myself. Mine is an older model (lead pipe).

Burt
 
ArizonaGeek said:
What is ToolhouseOS? I've never heard of it, I Googled it and didn't find it.
My bad, it is Toolstar OS from Toolhouse...



Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
 
Toolhouse almost rhyme with ToolTime with Tim Allen..lol


Never heard of that but will check it out...
 
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