Formatting A Hard Drive

[Livetrueordie]

http://dban.sourceforge.net/
all the information you need is right there. its an open-source prog that will clean a hard drive quick and easy. just boot up with the cd inside and your done.
id imagine this could cause some damage to networks and public outlets. don't be an ass if someone allows you access to their resources don't fuck them over

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

The only way to truly make sure that data is gone IMO is to physically destroy the disk, ie opening it up and scratching/breaking the disks inside, using a magnet to scratch is best.

[Clutch]

If you don't want to destroy a hard drive, try a low-level format or a zero fill.
Any data that used to be there will be erased beyond recovery and it even fixes bad sectors.

[Non-Sectarian Bastard!]

Originally posted by [email protected] 24 2005, 12:42 AM
The only way to truly make sure that data is gone IMO is to physically destroy the disk, ie opening it up and scratching/breaking the disks inside, using a magnet to scratch is best.
Don't forget to burn it afterwards untill it melts. There is no way, that any usefull data can be found then.

[Clutch]

Do a good enough job and people won't recognise it as a hard drive at all. ;)

[Elect Marx]

Originally posted by Non-Sectarian Bastard!+Sep 24 2005, 08:16 AM--> (Non-Sectarian Bastard! @ Sep 24 2005, 08:16 AM)
[email protected] 24 2005, 12:42 AM
The only way to truly make sure that data is gone IMO is to physically destroy the disk, ie opening it up and scratching/breaking the disks inside, using a magnet to scratch is best.
Don't forget to burn it afterwards untill it melts. There is no way, that any usefull data can be found then. [/b]
No, no, no! You have to cut it's head off and stab it with a stake... :D

Seriously though, will the information always leave a print or can it be completely removed?

Does Starbucks have any cyber cafe's? :ph34r:

[Livetrueordie]

this honestly will leave information irecoverable by anyone, but if you don't trust it do it twice... or three times. if you do, want to make the hdd not usable after, just run a magnet over it.

[Fascist-Hunter]

if you can't find a magnet just take some magnesium, put a pile of it on the disk and light it... its expensive, but very effective

[KC]

Physically damaging the disk isn't 100% effective. Feds have been known to retrive incriminating data from disks that have been fucked with a magnet, hit with a hammer, and thrown underwater or even buried underground.

There is a program that is completely effective in deleting EVERYTHING from a harddrive. It is called harddrive killer pro. If you would like to acquire it you can download it from a bunch of sites. Just google the name and you should be able to find it.

[Seeker]

Even after a format, the data is still there. Formatting just erases the ability to access the data using conventional software. The ones and zeros are left on the disk and can be recovered with some 'special' gear. Filling the drive with zeros will also leave recoverable traces of data - if the disk is looked at closely enough, you can know if it recently contained a one (mechanicaly speaking, computers run off a "good enough" principal, not absolutes, and a bit only has to look "enough like" a zero for commercial equipment to recognize it as a zero).

Running a magnet over it will fuck most of it, but a word of text here and fragment of an immage there will remain.

If you seriously cannot afford to have the information on that disk discovered, remove the disks from the metal casing, grind them into powder, burn the powder, magnetize the ash, then scatter it into a large body of water.

A slightly less surefire way is to, for each bit, write a zero, then a one, then a random character, then repeat the process as many times as you can stand. There are programs that will do this for you, and it is the method used by the American Department of Defense (according to public sources).

[KC]

Even after a format, the data is still there. Formatting just erases the ability to access the data using conventional software. The ones and zeros are left on the disk and can be recovered with some 'special' gear. Filling the drive with zeros will also leave recoverable traces of data - if the disk is looked at closely enough, you can know if it recently contained a one (mechanicaly speaking, computers run off a "good enough" principal, not absolutes, and a bit only has to look "enough like" a zero for commercial equipment to recognize it as a zero).

Running a magnet over it will fuck most of it, but a word of text here and fragment of an immage there will remain.

If you seriously cannot afford to have the information on that disk discovered, remove the disks from the metal casing, grind them into powder, burn the powder, magnetize the ash, then scatter it into a large body of water.

A slightly less surefire way is to, for each bit, write a zero, then a one, then a random character, then repeat the process as many times as you can stand. There are programs that will do this for you, and it is the method used by the American Department of Defense (according to public sources).

www.hackology.com/programs/hdkp/ginfo.shtml+%22hard+drive+killer+pro%22&hl=en]Hard (http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:lKzSg1wpxfsJ:[url) Drive Killer Pro[/url] It was designed to format harddrives to make the data stored on them completely irrecoverable (yes, this includes making it irrecoverable even from professionals such as the Feds).

[Goatse]

1. Run one of these wiper programs.
2. Run a magnet over the hard drive.
3. Hit it repeatedly with a hammer (this stage can be skipped but it'd sure be fun. Punish the evil box for ever crashing on you.)
4. Grind up the harddrive/pieces of the harddrive into powder in a metal tray and put it over a stove so the plastic casing melts over the disks.
5. Run the magnet over the pieces again.
6. Grind up again so it's even finer than before.
7. Cover it with lighter fluid/petrol and drop a match in.
8. Go as far out to sea as you can and throw the remains away in bags tied to rocks. Take a shit in the bag so if someone finds it before it sinks and is covered up by sand and stuff, they'll throw it back in the water with disgust.
9. Buy an identical model and fill it with games, invoices and porn.

Might be overkill, but could anyone ever find anything incriminating on that, even if they did find all the pieces and cleaned the shit off?

[ack]

Originally posted by 313C7 [email protected] 26 2005, 01:33 AM
Does Starbucks have any cyber cafe's? :ph34r:
Maybe, I know they have WiFi.

[Hiero]

This is a pretty retarded thread.

Why not have thread teaching people how to format their computers rather then a "1010 Anarchist Fucking Shit Up".


if you can't find a magnet just take some magnesium, put a pile of it on the disk and light it... its expensive, but very effective

If you cant find a magnet? Seriously, who doesn't have access to a magnet?

[Sir Aunty Christ]

Come to think of it, yeah, I'd say a magnet would be a lot less expensive than magnesium. (If one had a magnet deficiency.)

[DisIllusion]

Originally posted by [email protected] 23 2005, 03:08 PM
http://dban.sourceforge.net/
all the information you need is right there. its an open-source prog that will clean a hard drive quick and easy. just boot up with the cd inside and your done.
id imagine this could cause some damage to networks and public outlets. don't be an ass if someone allows you access to their resources don't fuck them over
How do you safely download that and burn it onto a CD?

[which doctor]

Originally posted by DisIllusion+Jan 7 2006, 01:03 AM--> (DisIllusion @ Jan 7 2006, 01:03 AM)
[email protected] 23 2005, 03:08 PM
http://dban.sourceforge.net/
all the information you need is right there. its an open-source prog that will clean a hard drive quick and easy. just boot up with the cd inside and your done.
id imagine this could cause some damage to networks and public outlets. don't be an ass if someone allows you access to their resources don't fuck them over
How do you safely download that and burn it onto a CD? [/b]
Q: How do I make a bootable CD with the ISO file?

A: Click on (CDR/CDRW version.) Download the ISO file to your desktop and double-click it.

If nothing happens when you double-click the ISO file, then you must obtain CD burning software, like one of these products:

* CDBurnerXP (Gratis)
* VSO Blindwrite (Shareware)
* Nero Burning ROM (Shareware)
* Roxio Easy Writer (Commercial)

If you burn DBAN to CD-R and see just one file when you open the CD-R afterwards, then you have burned DBAN incorrectly.

Use the cdrecord command if you have a Linux computer.

DBAN may not boot if you modify the ISO file or filesystem layout in any way, like by injecting files.

[h&s]

Unless your going to destroy (And I mean completely destroy it - incinerate the thing) the best way to clear a disk is to completely format it, then completely fill it up to capacity, and repeat the process a few times.
Though what you'd have on it the feds would want is beyond me.

[farleft]

You don't need to actually destroy the hard drive to erase all data, it doesn't leave permenant data on it, just insert a disk and it will format it.

If you use windows it may just erase everything when operating normally anyway.

[farleft]

Originally posted by Fist of Blood+Jan 7 2006, 06:17 AM--> (Fist of Blood @ Jan 7 2006, 06:17 AM)
Originally posted by [email protected] 7 2006, 01:03 AM

[email protected] 23 2005, 03:08 PM
http://dban.sourceforge.net/
all the information you need is right there. its an open-source prog that will clean a hard drive quick and easy. just boot up with the cd inside and your done.
id imagine this could cause some damage to networks and public outlets. don't be an ass if someone allows you access to their resources don't fuck them over
How do you safely download that and burn it onto a CD?
Q: How do I make a bootable CD with the ISO file?

A: Click on (CDR/CDRW version.) Download the ISO file to your desktop and double-click it.

If nothing happens when you double-click the ISO file, then you must obtain CD burning software, like one of these products:

* CDBurnerXP (Gratis)
* VSO Blindwrite (Shareware)
* Nero Burning ROM (Shareware)
* Roxio Easy Writer (Commercial)

If you burn DBAN to CD-R and see just one file when you open the CD-R afterwards, then you have burned DBAN incorrectly.

Use the cdrecord command if you have a Linux computer.

DBAN may not boot if you modify the ISO file or filesystem layout in any way, like by injecting files. [/b]
If you have Linux you can just click once on the iso file and it will automatically take you straight to the CD burn iso section, just insert a blank CD and burn.

[Fascist-Hunter]

Come to think of it, yeah, I'd say a magnet would be a lot less expensive than magnesium. (If one had a magnet deficiency.)

http://seilnacht.com/Lexikon/012pse2.JPG

hm, yes, you are right, Magnesium is very hard to get these days ;)

[bezdomni]

Sure...if you want to support the germans.

If you want to format your harddrive because you got a virus or something, or you want to donate an old computer but don't want to keep your personal information on there, you can do a non-destructive format. If you have windows, just put the disc (pirated, preferrably) back into the drive and a format option is available. This keeps an OS on the computer while effectively destroying your information. Of course, the government could restore most of the info, but an elementary schoolchild couldn't.

There are many good reasons to format your hard drive aside from destroying incriminating evidence! In which case, all of the above methods should work exceedingly well.

[djtannerandthefullhouse]

the magnet theory is your best shot but once a hard drive has been formated and reformated about four or five times it will be clear of any trace of what was orginally on it-and you will still be able to use again without completley destoying it

[Zero]

Umm.. by the way... Magnets can be reversed with Reverse Polarity testing in forensic labs..