Nuking a HDD

[ddzc]

Hey all,

I have a harddrive here that needs to be re-formatted. What is the best application or method on formatting this hdd so the data can never be retrieved? Theres extremely important data on it so I need everything completely wiped.

I know about low level formatting but I heard this damages the disks. Is this true?

Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[edfair]

The zero fill utility from the drive manufacturer will effectively wipe things for normal operations.
There are further wipes to DOD specs available but it probably would be overkill.

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

 

[ddzc]

Isn't that was a lowel level format does? I heard this damages the harddrive...

 

[edfair]

A LLF would rewrite track and sector information as well. I know some drives are locked out from LLF but haven't traced the evolution. The last time I used one on IDE stuff was mid 486 timeframe.

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

 

[stduc]

The issue with - shall we say - malicious data recovery - is that it is possible to recover data from erased drives by using special techniques that read 'off track'. Only specialist companies and the government are able to do this at present.

The steps you need to take to nuke the drive rather depend upon what you plan to do with it next.

For instance.

If it is going in the trash - a simple format followed by putting a nail or three through the drive will suffice.

If it is staying in the organisation, or you are giving it to a good friend, then a zero fill, followed by a re-format should suffice. This is because their activity on the drive will obliterate any remaining traces of the original contents over time.

If you plan to sell it on, say, eBay, then you need to zero fill, re-format, then run a DOD standard wipe program on the drive (with it mounted as a slave). Then zero fill again. But even after this there's is a small chance the original data could be recovered. Albeit a very small chance.

It depends on the original contents and your level of paranoia.

[navy]When I married "Miss Right" I didn't realise her first name was 'always'. LOL[/navy]

 

[sggaunt]

The issue with - shall we say - malicious data recovery - is that it is possible to recover data from erased drives by using special techniques that read 'off track'. Only specialist companies and the government are able to do this at present.

Just as a matter of interest segate/maxtor dont belive that this is possible See here



Steve [The sane]: Delphi a feersum engin indeed.

 

[stduc]

Just as a matter of interest segate/maxtor dont believe that this is possible

Hmmm - interesting. There certainly are a lot of urban myths about data recovery. As I said, what you do largely depends on your level of paranoia. Personally I use the nail technique - it's fast and fun! But I agree that if you can sell or give the drive away for a second life then a zero fill is probably quite sufficient.

What is definitely not sufficient is a a 'quick format'.

There are quite a lot of reports to be found of personal data being being recovered from second hand PCs that have either not even been erased, or have just had personal folders deleted.

Here's one article on the subject of data recovered from second hand drives

[navy]When I married "Miss Right" I didn't realise her first name was 'always'. LOL[/navy]

 

[ArizonaGeek]

Download Darik's Boot and Nuke it is freeware that will do the highest "nuke" of a hard drive. You can also buy ($40 USD) Active@Killdisk either one you choose make sure you do a Gutmann wipe. It is slooo

http://wwwwww

depending on how fast the PC is and how big the hard drive is it could take a day or two but it is the most secure. I've been using Killdisk for about 2 years and LOVE it ... best $40 I've ever spent on software.

Cheers
Rob

 

[ArizonaGeek]

Oh I forgot, if you are that worried about the data to truly make it 110% unreadable I'd suggest a drill press and at least 4 holes. Or, if it were me, I'd take out to the desert and practice with my .45, the company I work for trusted the Gutmann wipes we did on the servers we donated to the local college.

Cheers
Rob

 

[firewolfrl]

you know!...

I would just google and download powermax and zero the drive 2 or 3 times...though...one time will work fine. and this is nondestructive to the drive...actually it is beneficial in the respect that it removes all the crap that builds up in the boot sector and the NTFS index data....and it cures some issues that are related to the boot sector. I have yet to see a negative with this program

now if you don't need the drive...the platters make great coasters and the magnets are great fridge magnets....holds a child's precious art....my son used them for a science experiment at school