Best software to Wipe HDD's

[Django x2]

HDD, use something like blanco. SSD, no point. Instead, you're better off formatting the drive and writing a large file (like a BD file, multiple times to the disk), that, or use Bitlocker so effectively the entire OS appears as one file.

 

[darael]

I like to use HD Tune as it wipes drives without a partition, meaning the space where the partition normally is will also be erased for best results.

 

[Pulseammo]

HDD, use something like blanco. SSD, no point. Instead, you're better off formatting the drive and writing a large file (like a BD file, multiple times to the disk), that, or use Bitlocker so effectively the entire OS appears as one file.

I think a lot of SSDs come with software for secure erase. I think the way it works is that the SSD's controller has an encryption key which encrypts and decrypts data to the drive. Secure erase just changes the key in the controller so it can no longer read the old data.

 

[OspreyO]

Once a disk is overwritten once its overwritten. Multiple passes is over kill. One pass is all you need.

Use Diskpart its built into Windows. I assume your using Windows 10.

admin cmd prompt
diskpart
select disk
clean all

Overwrites the whole disk and all the partitions once. A 500GB will take about an hour or so.
We create a bootable USB drives (windows recovery), and boot each PC up on the drive then drop down to diskpart and kick it off.

 

[OspreyO]

I think a lot of SSDs come with software for secure erase. I think the way it works is that the SSD's controller has an encryption key which encrypts and decrypts data to the drive. Secure erase just changes the key in the controller so it can no longer read the old data.

Mostly the above works. On some SSD the secure erase doesn't work. Also SSD reserve/cache some space, that you can't access. Hence you should encrypt them before you start using them.

Running mutiple passes on a SSD can damage them. They have limited write cycles. AFAIK.

 

[SourChipmunk]

I never worried about the platters on old drives as I like to tear them apart for the Neodymium magnets. Those things are great for a number of applications. Takes time to tear the drive apart, though. Then just go to town on the platters with whatever you feel like doing with them.

 

[stockhausen]

Are you hoping to sell these "10+ all old SATA drives"?
Why don't you just physically destroy them and then chuck them in the bin?

 

[this_is_gav]

I never worried about the platters on old drives as I like to tear them apart for the Neodymium magnets. Those things are great for a number of applications. Takes time to tear the drive apart, though. Then just go to town on the platters with whatever you feel like doing with them.

I used to use the platters as coasters.

Good, until you spill a tiny bit of coffee, walk down the corridor only to hear the loud noise of metal falling to the floor as the platter you didn't realise was stuck to the bottom of your mug suddenly becomes unstuck.