HP SimpleSave External Hard Drive

[cbark]

I recently received a HP SimpleSave 320 GB hard drive and I don't want the SimpleSave software to run. Will it ruin the drive to delete all of the software files and reformat the disk? I just want it to be an external drive, not automatically backup my files. Has anyone done this before?

 

[wahnula]

It should not matter. If in doubt, boot under a Live Linux CD, and see if the drive appears. This should mean that it's visible and usable without Windows software.

Of course any "one-touch backup" buttons on the enclosure will no longer work, but as I read your question that's not important to you.

Also, you should not need to delete the software files, formatting should take care of that, unless they reside on their own hidden partition. Good luck.

Tony

Users helping Users...

 

[cbark]

When I connect the drive, there is a HP virtual cd along with the drive itself. The HP software autoplays as soon as I connect it. I went to reformat it and I can only reformat the "drive" portion. I cannot reformat the virtual CD. Is there a way to remove the virtual CD?

 

[wahnula]

If you're SURE you want it gone, use DBAN (

http://sourceforge.net/projects/dban/)

to nuke the disk. I always disconnect all other HDDs from my system when I use DBAN as a precaution. Burn DBAN to CD, boot to the CD, run AutoNuke, that should take care of it.

Next REMOVE DBAN CD FROM THE TRAY, reconnect your HDD, boot to Windows, go into Disk Management, format the USB HDD and you should be good to go. It will be faster to connect the drive directly via SATA, but USB will work, it will just take a little longer. Good luck!

Tony

Users helping Users...

 

[kjv1611]

DBAN is a great option. However, the easiest for this situation may be to use Active KillDisk. It does the same thing, well the free version only allows for write-once 0 pass, but for your purposes, that's more than enough.

As Wahnula stated, either of these programs should do it. DBAN from a bootable CD, Active KillDisk can run from within Windows, so you'll be more sure to select the right drive without disconnecting the other(s). Once one of these programs is on the job, you can count on everything on a drive being toast.

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

 

[JimInKS]

Does Disk Manager show a non dos partition on the external drive?

You may be able to delete all the partitions on the external drive, create a new partition that fills the entire drive, and then format.

 

[cbark]

Thanks for all of the answers. I returned the drive yesterday because of the software issue. I now have a Seagate Freeagent Go that i was easily able to delete the included software on.