How can I permanently delete files on my HD?

[embalse]

I have a bad HD that I just purchased, which is bad and I am going to return it.

However the files on the HD are work related so I need to permanently delete them.

Simply formatting the HD does not do this permanently, (If I use a program like GetDataBack, they are still recoverable).

Whats the best way to completely format the drive?

 

[KIA]

Windows full format will zero the drive (Vista and above).

 

[andy_mk3]

Use something like dban which will do a couple of passes over the drive.

 

[Flying_Hellfish]

Use something like dban which will do a couple of passes over the drive.

+1 for dBan!

 

[bazzabear]

Format the drive, then fill it to bursting point with pornography.

This should overwrite the data making it unrecoverable, but will also mean that anyone looking at the drive will be too busy to look any deeper.

 

[embalse]

Thanks. dBan looks perfect.

 

[David Bisset]

Format the drive, then fill it to bursting point with pornography.

This should overwrite the data making it unrecoverable, but will also mean that anyone looking at the drive will be too busy to look any deeper.

Haha, awesome.... security through distraction.

 

[Redgie]

CCLeaner has a drive wipe option which allows you to pick how many times it writes over every byte.

 

[Nuclear Fusion]

You can also zero write the hard drive from command prompt and set it to multiple passes to make sure no data can be recovered. Just type ' format X: /fs:NTFS /p:Y ' into a command window where X is the drive letter and Y is the number of passes.

 

[cokecan]

I found a great tool a number of years ago called CBL Datashredder. Lets you zero a drive, do multiple passes based on "supposed" standards such as DoD etc and even lets you write your own random string to a drive instead of 0's......so it's entirely possible to TROLOLOLOLOL a drive too

 

[Nuclear Fusion]